Lok Sabha Question No. 1078 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-25
Subject: Ban on Restricted Additives
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1078 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH JULY, 2025

## BAN ON RESTRICTED ADDITIVES

## 1078. DR. PRADEEPKUMAR PANIGRAHY:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that global food regulators (including US FDA and EU EFSA) have banned additives such as titanium dioxide (E171) and potassium bromate due to potential health risks and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether such additives are permitted in India and if so, the scientific basis for the continued permission of the said substances;

(c) whether the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is currently reviewing the said additives with independent specialist panels with a clear deadline for updating our national food standards to reflect the current safety research and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether a large number of food additives five times more than European Union (EU) including 43 classified as "possibly carcinogenic" by the WHO is allowed in India and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the time by which the 'precautionary principle' is going to be adopted and impose ban on prohibited substances which is not safe and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) and (b): The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has a mandate to lay down science-based standards through risk assessment for food articles to ensure safe and wholesome food for the citizens of India and regulate the entire food supply chain. The Food Safety Standards are based on the scientific advice provided by independent risk assessment bodies i.e. Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee and are harmonised with the internationally accepted Codex standards.

The additive Potassium bromate is not permitted as per the Food Safety and Standards Regulation, 2011. The Titanium dioxide is a permitted Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) additive in Food Safety and Standards Regulation, 2011, which is on par with Codex.

(c): Review of specifications of various additives by the Scientific Panel on Food additives, Flavoring & processing aids based on available scientific evidenc is a continuous process.

(d): The additives permitted in Food Safety and Standards Regulation, 2011 are harmonised with the internationally accepted Codex standards. The General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) is adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), an international food standards body established jointly by the Food and Agriculture organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) with the objective of protecting consumer ' s health and ensuring fair practices in food trade.

(e): The adoption of precautionary principle is based on the weight of available evidence and recommendations from risk assessments carried out globally.

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