Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Amendment Regulations, 2024
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Context and Introduction
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has introduced the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins, and Residues) Amendment Regulations, 2024, aimed at enhancing food safety and curbing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). These regulations, set to come into effect in 2025, will regulate the use of antibiotics in the production of food animals, addressing growing concerns over AMR, which poses a significant threat to both public health and agriculture.
Background and Need for the Amendment
Previous Regulations
In 2018, the FSSAI had implemented the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins, and Residues) Amendment Regulations, which outlined specific tolerance limits for antibiotics in food products. These limits were designed to ensure the safety of food items, preventing excessive residues that could pose health risks.
Ban on Colistin
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) had previously imposed a ban on the use of colistin in food-producing animals. Colistin, a critical antibiotic used as a last-resort treatment for multi-drug-resistant infections, was found to contribute to the development of resistant strains of bacteria, making its use in food production a public health concern.
Draft Order on Agricultural Antibiotics
Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW) issued a draft order to restrict the use of streptomycin and tetracycline in agriculture. These antibiotics, although used for controlling bacterial diseases in crops, contribute to AMR when overused. The draft order targets reducing antibiotic resistance by limiting their presence in both crops and livestock.
Key Provisions of the 2024 Amendment
Antibiotic Prohibition
The 2024 amendment introduces a comprehensive ban on the use of certain antibiotics at any stage in the production of milk, meat, poultry, eggs, and aquaculture products. This measure aims to prevent the entry of harmful antibiotic residues into the food chain, which could affect human health, particularly by exacerbating the problem of antimicrobial resistance.
Banned Antibiotics
The amendment specifically bans several classes and types of antibiotics known to contribute to AMR. These include:
- Classes of Antibiotics Banned: Glycopeptides, Nitrofurans, Nitroimidazoles.
- Individual Antibiotics Banned: Carbadox, Chloramphenicol, Colistin, Streptomycin, Sulphamethoxazole
Revised Tolerance Limits
In addition to the blanket antibiotic prohibitions, the regulations also revise tolerance limits for various contaminants and residues in food products. These changes aim to enhance food safety standards, ensuring that consumers are not exposed to harmful levels of antibiotics or other toxic substances in their food.
Implications of the Amendment
Impact on Food Safety
The regulations are a step towards strengthening food safety in India, as they will reduce the likelihood of harmful antibiotic residues entering the food supply. The revision of tolerance limits ensures that food products will be subject to stricter monitoring, thus protecting consumer health.
Combating Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
The amendment represents a significant effort in the fight against AMR. By limiting the use of antibiotics in food production, the government aims to slow down the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which is one of the major public health threats of the modern era. This will not only safeguard human health but also help protect the efficacy of antibiotics for future medical treatments.
