Voluntary Report - Public distribution

**Date:** 12/18/2007

**GAIN Report Number:** IN7116

IN7116

**India**

**FAIRS Product Specific**

**GOI Proposed Amendment to the PFA Rules Relating to Wax Coating of
Fruits**

**2007**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Gerald Smith

U.S. Embassy

**Prepared by:**

Santosh Kr. Singh

**Report Highlights:**

On December 5, 2007, the Department of Health, Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare, Government of India (GOI) issued a draft Gazette
notification to amend the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules (PFA),
1955, pertaining to wax coating of fresh fruits for public comments.
Earlier on December 29, 2006, the Ministry had issued a final
notification to amend the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Rules on
waxing of fruits (IN7004), which had been deferred for implementation
till January 1, 2008 (IN7029). This amendment has not yet been notified
to the WTO.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Trade Report

New Delhi \[IN1\]

\[IN\]

**Introduction:** This report provides a brief overview of the draft
Gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
on proposed amendment to the PFA rules, 1955, pertaining to application
of waxes on fresh fruits. This amendment has not been notified to the
WTO.

**Disclaimer:** This summary is based on a *cursory* review of the
subject announcement and therefore should not under any circumstances,
be viewed as a definitive reading of the regulation in question, or of
its implications for U.S. agricultural export trade interests.

**Type of Regulation**: Draft

**Important Dates**:

-   **Publication Date**: December 5, 2007.

-   **Date of Implementation**: Upon final gazette notification.

-   **Time period for receiving Comments/Suggestions**: Thirty days
    (January 4, 2008).

-   **WTO Notification Date**: Not yet notified.

**Products Affected:** Fresh Fruits

**Agency in Charge:** Department of Health, Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare, GOI.

**Proposed Changes:**

# Begin Quote

....

2\. In the prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955, (hereinafter
referred to as said rules), in rule 42, after sub-rule (ZZZ) (25), the
following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely:-

"(ZZZ) (25) Every package of fresh fruit **if coated with wax** shall
carry the following label, namely,-

.....

4\. In rule 48-E of the said rules, for the proviso, the following shall
be substituted, namely:-

"Provided that fresh fruits may be coated with bees wax (white and
yellow) or carnauba wax or shellac wax at level not exceeding Good
Manufacturing Practices under proper label declaration as provided in
sub-rule (ZZZ)(25) of rule 42."

....

# End Quote

**Post Comments:**

The major changes in the proposed amendment in PFA Rules on waxing of
fresh fruits are:

1.  Removes the requirement of 'Best before Date \-\-- ' on the label.

2.  Includes shellac wax as an approved wax for surface coating of fresh
    fruits.

The Ministry had earlier issued a final notification amending the PFA
Rules pertaining to wax coating of fruits (IN7004), which was deferred
for implementation till January 1, 2008 (IN7029). The United States
Government (USG) commented on India's proposed draft regulation
(G/SPS/N/IND/40) to the Ministry of Health on July 28, 2006. The USG
comments expressed concerns on proposed labeling requirements and
requested India to remove these requirements. The USG also requested
India to approve the use of shellac food grade wax as a surface coating
for fresh fruits as it is considered safe by CODEX and FDA.

**For More Information:** Contact the Department of Prevention of Food
Adulteration website: <http://mohfw.nic.in/pfa.htm>

This website is mentioned for readers' convenience; USDA does **NOT** in
any way endorse, guarantee the accuracy of, or necessarily concur with
the information contained in the above website.