Trade seeks separate law for nutraceuticals
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is ill-equipped to handle nutraceuticals
Drug manufacturers in India are seeking separate regulations for the fast growing but unregulated nutraceutical sector in the country. Nutraceuticals are described as any product derived from food sources with extra health benefits, in addition to the basic nutritional value found in foods industry.
The present status of regulations, say manufacturers, see these products fall under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which is ill-equipped to handle them.
'There are two branches in the medical products industry: the sickness industry and the wellness industry. Right now, there is sufficient regulation for the sickness industry that comprises the drug industry. However, the nutraceutical products are lumped with the foods and this is not ideal,' said M. Rajarathinam, Chairman, Tamil Nadu chapter of Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA).
According to IDMA, the lack of regulation for this industry sees a lot of fly-by-night operators who have no accountability for the quality of products as long as they cause no harm when ingested.
'There are strict regulations for drugs. However, for these nutraceutical products, which claim to prevent sickness, there is virtually none,' he said.
