FSSAI Orders Removal of A1 and A2 Claims from Milk Products in India

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed all food businesses, including e-commerce platforms, to remove claims of A1 and A2 types from the packaging of milk and milk products. According to an FSSAI release, the use of any A2 claims on milk fat products is misleading and not in line with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and its regulations.

The FSSAI noted that several Food Business Operators (FBOs) are marketing milk products like ghee, butter, and curd under the A1 and A2 labels using their FSSAI license and Registration Certificate Numbers. The regulatory body emphasized that the standards for milk specified in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, do not recognize any differentiation based on A1 and A2 types.

The FBOs are instructed to remove such claims from their products, and e-commerce FBOs must remove all related claims from their websites immediately. The concerned FBOs must ensure strict compliance from the date of issuance of this direction, as stated in the release dated August 21. The release also mentioned that FBOs are allowed to use existing pre-printed labels within six months from the issuance date, with no further extensions granted.