Lok Sabha Question No. 1081 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-05
Subject: Ensuring the Quality of Nutraceuticals
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. K Sudhakar

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1081 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH DECEMBER, 2025

## ENSURING THE QUALITY OF NUTRACEUTICALS

## 1081. DR. K SUDHAKAR:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has noticed a huge raise in nutraceuticals in the country in the recent years and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure quality of nutraceuticals in this regard;
- (c) whether it is true that a large number of health supplements including protein powders, weight loss drugs are available in plenty in the Indian market that may pose a threat to human health and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to regulate this sector;
- (d) whether Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is ensuring the quality of food available in roadside eateries across the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure that Indian food quality standards are in equivalence with the global standards even for domestic consumption?

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

(a) to (e): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is mandated to lay down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.

The standards for health supplements including protein powders, weight loss products are notified under the Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Food and Novel Food)

Regulations, 2016, where permissible ingredients, their limits, labelling requirements and safety provisions are specified for such products.

Further, taking cognizance of the complaints, reports/issues circulated on social media and global trends/alerts, FSSAI conducts nationwide or localised/targeted special enforcement and surveillance drives on various food commodities including nutraceuticals through States/UTs and Regional Offices including extensive inspections, sampling and testing at the manufacturing units of such products manufactured for selling/distribution for consumption in the country.

As per Section 31 of Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, no person shall commence or carry on any Food Business except under a license/registration, whichever is applicable. Therefore, all Food Business Operators (FBOs) including Petty Food Manufacturers and Retailers like street vendors and small retailers including caterers and restaurants have to comply with prescribed standards and the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Regulations.

Also, every FBO has to follow the Schedule 4, relating to sanitary and hygienic requirements and other requirements as prescribed under Food Safety and Standards (Licensing &Registration) Regulation 2011 based on the type and scale of the food business.

The domestic standards are harmonized with internationally accepted Codex standards after carrying out risk assessment. India, as a member country of the Codex Alimentarius Commission contributes in the development of Codex standards to facilitate international trade.

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