New Delhi: After directing dairy companies last week to remove claims regarding A! and A2 milk from labels of milk and milk-related products, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), on Monday (August 26) said that it was withdrawing this advisory.
The decision to withdraw the advisory was taken after a member of the Governing Body of the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) criticised the move and called for the need of a high-level committee being constituted to examine the issue, reported thehindubusinessline.com.
“This is to inform that the advisory dated August 21 (clarification regarding selling/ marketing of milk and milk products such as ghee, milk etc in the name of A1 and A2) stands withdrawn for further consultation and engagement with stakeholders,” the FSSAI said in a statement issued on Monday (August 26).
Earlier, FSSAI had deemed such claims “misleading,” and last week had asked food business operators to remove A1 and A1-related claims terming from the labels of their dairy products.
It had also directed e-commerce companies to immediately remove all such claims from their websites.
At the time, many experts had lauded the move saying that the advisory would help in eliminating misleading and unscientific claims which in result would protect consumers.
However, Venugopal Badaravada, a member of the Governing Body of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Health Minister J P Nadda, demanding that a committee of experts should be formed to examine the matter.
“We humbly request that the Prime Minister advise the Minister of Health & Family Welfare to withdraw the decision on A1 and A2 Milk and Milk Products Regulations and instead constitute a high-level committee,” the letter stated, reported thehindubusinessline.com.