Lok Sabha Question No. 111 (STARRED), answered on 2022-12-14
Subject: Distribution of Fortified Rice in Kerala
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.111 To BE ANSWERED ON 14TH DECEMBER, 2022

## DISTRIBUTION OF FORTIFIED RICE IN KERALA

## *111. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC

- (a) whether the Government has directed the Kerala Government to distribute 'fortified rice' through ration shops in all districts from next year and if the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Chamba (Matta) variety of rice that is currently being distributed in the State is rich in nutrients requires fortification and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has implemented any measure to avoid situations of excess iron intake due to consumption of fortified rice by persons with medical conditions such as sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia etc ; and
- (d) if the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWE R

MINISTER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY, CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION AND TEXTILES (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (d):

STATEMENT REFERRED To IN REPLY To PARTS (a) To (d) OF THE STARRED QUESTION NO.111 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 14.12.2022 IN THE LOK SABHA

- (a): The Government has approved the supply of fortified rice throughout the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and in Other Welfare Schemes of Government of India in all States and Union Territories (UTs) including Kerala by the year 2024 in a phased manrler: Further; under Phase-Il of the Rice Fortification Initiative; the Aspirational District of Wayanad in Kerala has commenced distribution from August 2022.
- (b): Under NFSA, the FCI supplies two categories of rice viz. 'common' and 'Grade A' With regard to the other varieties of rice locally procured by States/UTs including Chamba (Matta) rice; the nutritional content can be ascertained by the State in consultation with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI): Besides, Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulation, 2018 provides standards for fortified rice, which is Rice when fortified with micronutrients. Under the Government initiative of rice fortification, these micronutrients viz. Iron, Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid are blended in the form of Fortified Rice Kernels (FRKs) in the normal rice in the ratio of 1: 100.
- (c) and (d): The Government has circulated the Gazette notification titled Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) First Amendment Regulations, 2021 (Annexure) issued by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India   (FSSAI) to all StateslUTs for strict  compliance: The notification vide point no. 2 (1) states that #Every package of food, fortified with Iron shall carry a statement ~People with Thalassemia may take under medical supervision and persons with Sickle Cell Anaemia are advised not to consume iron fortified food products;" AlI States/UTs have been requested to bring it to the notice of all concerned and ensure strict compliance: States/UTs have also been requested to display it at the Fair Price Shops appropriately along with the posterslbanners about fortified rice.

Besides, various State Governments including Government of Kerala have organized programmes to create awareness on benefits of fortified rice and its positive impact on nutritional security in the tribal areas of the country: Accordingly, workshopslseminars in 9 districts having tribal population in the States of Gujarat (Vapi), Maharashtra (Nashik ard Jharkhand (East Singhbhum), Madhya Pradesh (Shahdol; Mandla, Barwani) and Kerala (Wayanad) were conducted under the aegis of DFPD, FCI and other stakeholders such as Field Experts including Medical Professionals, members of the Media, prominent personalities, local leaders and Development Partners. Awareness campaigns all over the country are continuous efforts:

## MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

(Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)

## NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the 27th August, 2021

and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Amendment Regulations, 2020. were published as required under sub-section (1) of section 92 of the Food Salety and Standards Act, 2006 (34 of 2006), vide notification of the Food Safery and Standards Authority of' India number F Gazette of India, Extraordinary Part IIL. Section 4, inviting objections and suggestions from the persons likely to be affected thereby before the expiry of the period of days from the date on which the copies of the Official Gazette containing the said notification were made available to the public; Safely sixty

And whereas the copies of the said Gazette were made available to the public on the 13" November, 2020:

And whereas the objections and suggestions received the public in respect of the said draft regulations have been considered by the Food Safety and standards Authority of India; from

Vow. therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by clauses (e) of sub-section (2) of section 92 of the said Act; the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India hereby makes the following regulations further to amend the Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 20[8, namely:

## Regulations

- Short   title and These  regulations may be called the Food  Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) First Amendment Regulations. 2024\_
- (2) shall come into force on and food business   operator shall comply with all the   provisions of these   regulations with effect from They
- 2 In the Food and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations 2018. Safety
- for sub-regulations (4) of regulations 7, the following shall be substituted, namely:
- ~(4) Every package of food, fortified with People with Thalassemia may Iake under medical supervision and persons with Sickle Cell Anaemia are advised not t0 consume iron fortified food products: Jron
- (2) in Schedule-[,
- (a) in clause [, in table, under column ( 1), at serial number 1, for the entries under column (2) to (4) , relating to "lodine Content" the following shall be substituted\_ namely

| SNo:   | Component      | Level of nutrients                             | Source of Nutrients   |
|--------|----------------|------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|
|        | Iodinc content | 15-30 part  per  million (on dry weight basis. | Potassium lodate      |

- (b) in Clause 3, related t0 the Fortified Milk'\_ after the existing tablc; the followi shall be inserted, namnely ing

## "JA. Fortified Milk Powder:

- () Milk powder; when fortified shall be fortified with such levels of Vitamin A and D, specified in Clause 3 of Schedule-I related to 'Fortified Milk' when constituted as directions mentioned on the product label per the
- (ii)  It   shall   only be   used in the   Government Funded of purpose
- (iii) In addition tO the provisions mentioned under Food Safety and Standards Regulations, the label of Fortified Milk Powder shall also carry the following statement: labelling
- (b) ONLY FOR USE UNDER (Name of the Govemment Funded Programme):
- (a) VOT RECOMMENDED FOR DIRECT CONSUMPTION;
- () TO BE CONSUMED ONLY AFTER RECONSTITUTION OF THE ENTIRE CONTENT AS PER THE DIRECTIONS ON THE LABEL.
- (d) PACK ONCE OPENED, TO BE CONSUMED ON THE SAME DAY
- (c) for clause 6, related to 'Fortified Raw Rice the following shall be substituted, namely: ~6. Fortified Rice

ARUN SINGHAL, Chief Executive Officer vide notification number File No. 11/03 'Fortification/2014, dated the subsequently amended vide notification numbers and Reg