January 02, 2002

    The Government has amended the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Rules, 1955 making changes in the specifications of honey, edible vegetable oils and fats, edible common salt, iodised salt and iron fortified salt.

    According to the new amendment, detailed specifications of honey have been laid down to align with international specifications, i.e., Codex. Additional requirements of ash, acidity (expressed as formic acid), and Hydroxy methyl furfural, have been incorporated in the specification.

    The amendment makes it mandatory that test for argemone oil shall be negative in all edible vegetable oils and fats and the Public Analyst Laboratories / Central Food Laboratories shall test the samples for the presence of argemone oil compulsorily.

    In respect of edible common salt, iodised salt and iron fortified salt, anti-caking agents have been permitted in quantities not exceeding 2.0 per cent either singly or in combination. These agents include carbonates of calcium and magnesium; phosphate of calcium and magnesium; silicates of calcium, magnesium, aluminium or sodium or silicon dioxide; myristates, palmitates or sterates of aluminium, ammonium, calcium, potassium or sodium.