Lok Sabha Question No. 2594 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-11
Subject: Processing of Fortified Rice Kernels
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Arvind Dharmapuri

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.2594 TO BE ANSWERED  ON lITH DECEMBER, 2024

## PROCESSING OF FORTIFIED  RICE KERNELS

## 2594.  SHRI ARVIND DHARMAPURI:

Will  the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION wit%r qq8,  ©r© aiT In#gfjq;  fbawr =Ht be pleased to  state:

- (a) whether the Government maintains records  of companies involved in the processing of Fortified Rice Kernels (FRKs) and if  so, the details thereof;

- (b) whether the Government regulates or monitors quality  control for FRKs and if  so, the details of the quality  standards and control  mechanisms in place;

- (C) the criteria established by the Government to determine eligible  producers of FRKs; and

- (d) the steps taken by the Government to make FRKs accessible to the general public along with the details of both online and offline  distribution  initiatives?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIM ATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIYA)

- (a) Yes. The Food Safety and Standards Authority  of India (FSSAI) maintains the records of companies involved in the manufacturing of Fortified Rice Kernels (FRKs). The details are enclosed at Annexure.
- (b) Yes. The steps taken by FSSAI to regulate and monitor the quality control of Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK) are as follows:
- > The  FSSAI  has classified  FRK  under  High  Risk  category.  This  rnandates pre-license inspection of all  FRK  manufacturers as well  as third  party audit once in a year for  Central licensed FRK  manufacturers.
- The FSSAI has notified standards for Vitamin-Mineral Premix for preparation of FRK and Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK). >
- The standardized methods have been developed for testing of fortificants  (Iron, Folic  Acid and B 12) in FRK and prem\_ix for FRK. >
- The guidelines  on sampling  of FRK  and premix  for FRK  have been published. >

- > The FSSAI has mandated every batch testing of FRKs and upload such test reports on Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) portal and mandatory mentioning  of  source of  iron on the test reports of FRK  and Premix for FRK.
- > A  dedicated portal,  FoRTRACE (Fortified  Rice  Traceability) has been launched for traceability purpose of rice fortification starting from manufacturing of premix to Fortified Rice production.
- > The FSSAI regularly issues list  of  laboratories having capability to analyse fortificants (Iron,  Vitamin B9  and Vitamin B12)  in  FRK  and premix for  FRK  to  minimise anomalies and variation in results. This list  is updated from time to time. Currently, there are 29 labs for FRK and 11 labs for premix and 3 referral labs for FRK and 2 referral labs for premix.
- The FSSAI barred petty manufacturers from  obtaining registration and allowed only licenses for  manufacturing of  FRK  in  order to  ensure greater amount of  compliance and documentation. >
- The designated officers  and Food Safety Officers  at State / Central Level  conducts regular inspection of food businesses and sampling of  food products including FRK at regular interval in their jurisdiction. >

(c):  The manufactures/producers  of FRKs shall comply with hygiene and sanitary conditions of  the premises as specified under Part II  of  Schedule 4  of  Food Safety and Standards (Licensing  and Registration  of Food Businesses) Regulation,  2011.

(d): The  Food  Safety  and  Standards (Food  Products  Standards and  Food  Additives) Regulation, 2011 under sub regulation 2.4.6 (24c) for  Fortified Rice Kernel states that "Fortified  Rice Kernel  shall only be sold for  industrial purpose for  manufacturing fortified  rice and shall neither be sold in loose form nor be sold directly to the consumer." Hence, the FRK is not available for  distribution to the general public for  direct consumption.

##88

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2594 DUE FOR AN SWER ON 11.12.2024 IN LOK SABHA

## The details on the active manufactures of Fortified Rice Kernels as on 30.11.2024 is tabulated as under:

| State             |   Central License | State License   |
|-------------------|-------------------|-----------------|
| Andhra Pradesh    |                 6 | 6               |
| Assam             |                 2 | 8               |
| Biha              |                13 | 18              |
| Chhattisgarh      |                85 | 69              |
| Delhi             |                 2 | 2               |
| Gujarat           |                 7 |                 |
| Haryana           |                38 | 3               |
| Jarnmuand Kashmir |                 8 | a               |
| Jharkhand         |                 6 |                 |
| Madhya Pradesh    |               -16 | 26              |
| Maharashtra       |                 6 | 6               |
| Odish;            |                31 | 4               |
| Punjab            |               162 | 43              |
| Rajasthan         |                 7 | a J             |
| Tamil Nadu        |                 4 | 110             |
| Telangana         |                19 | 16              |
| Uttar Pradesh-    |                36 | 25              |
| Uttarakhand       |                 2 | 0               |
| WestBengal        |                12 | 25              |
| Himachal Pradesh  |                 0 |                 |
| KarIm             |                 0 | HI /            |
| Kerala            |                 0 | 9               |
| Total             |               472 | 376             |

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