. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/IND/34 
10 January 2006 
 (06-0078) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  INDIA
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Food items including processed food items 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  All 
trading partners exporting products mentioned under item 3 to India 
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Notification no. G.S.R. 
659(E)- 9 November 2005 (20 pages) (Available in English and Hindi)  
6. Description of content:  Through this amendment in the Prevention of Food Adulteration 
Rules (PFA) in Rules 22 after table, the "Note" has been enlarged as "Food sold in packaged 
condition (sealed container or package) shall be  sent for analysis in its original condition, 
without opening the package as far as practicab le, to constitute approximate quantity along 
with original label.  In case of bulk packages wherever preservatives are to be added, as per 
the requirement under these rules, the sample shall be taken after opening sealed container 
or package and the contents of the original la bel shall also be sent along with the sample for 
analysis.  However, such samples shall not be fit for microbiological analysis".  
7. Objective and rationale: [ X ] food safety,  [   ] animal health,  [   ] plant protection, 
[   ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [   ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests   To ensure food safety 
8. International standard, guideline or recommendation: 
[ X ] Codex Alimentarius Commission,  [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention,  [   ] None 
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:  Codex standards and guidelines, wherever exist 
have been considered.  
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  The Gazette of India 
Extraordinary PART II – Section 3 – Sub-Sect ion (i), dated 11 November 2005 (Available in 
English and Hindi)  
10. Proposed date of adoption:  Already in force G/SPS/N/IND/34 
Page 2  
 
 11. Proposed date of entry into force:  Already in force 
12. Final date for comments:  No comment period has been given as changes made through 
this amendment is minor and does not have any significant trade effect and are also broadly 
based on the relevant international guidelines. 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification 
authority, [   ] National enquiry point,  or address, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
Joint Secretary, Department of Health  
Ministry of Health and Family welfare  Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi-110-011 India Fax:  00-91-11-23068842 
 E-mail:  jsrt@nb.nic.in
 
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notifica tion authority, [   ] National enquiry point, 
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:   
Website of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare,  Government of India, 
http://www.mohfw.nic.in/pfa:htm  
Joint Secretary, Department of Health  
Ministry of Health and Family welfare  
Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi-110-011 
India Fax:  00-91-11-23068842 
 E-mail:  jsrt@nb.nic.in