Packaging of Dairy Products

Module 8. Coding and labeling of food packages

Lesson 27
DIFFERENT METHODS OF CODING AND STANDARDS OF LABELING OF FOOD PACKAGES

27.1 Introduction

Most of the packaging related regulatory initiatives are concerned to the Product quality, Public Health and Hygiene, Safety, Export Promotion, Transportation and Consumer protection.

The international markets are governed by various packaging rules and regulations that make it mandatory for an exporting country to abide by them. Therefore, packaging for exports should comply with global norms to match with international standards. Government of India has instituted various laws and regulations. All these legislations are classified into two types i.e. Compulsory and Voluntary Standards.

To ensure product quality and provide safety to the consumer, it is important to regulate manufacturing, distribution, marketing and retailing of packaged products. This can be achieved by mandating rules and regulations. Food laws in India have been enforced in the country since, 1899. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which consolidates various acts and orders that have handled food related issues in various Ministries and Departments. FSSAI has been created for laying 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 Indian Parliament has passed the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 that overrides all other food related laws. It was followed by Food safety and Standards Rules 2011 & Food Safety and Standards Regulation 2011.

27.2 The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011

These rules may be called “The legal metrology (packaged commodities) Rules, 2011. These shall come into force from 1st March 2011. The commodities specified in the second schedule shall be packed for sale, distribution or delivery in such standard quantities is specified in that schedule.

Declaration to be made on every package

1. The name and address of the manufacturer

2. The common generic names of the commodity contained in the package

3. The net quantity in terms of standard unit of weight or measure of the commodity

4. The month and year in which the commodities is manufactured

5. The retail sale price of the package

6. Such other matter as are specified in these rules

Maximum permissible errors on net quantity declared by weight or volume.

(1) The maximum permissible error, in excess or in deficiency, in the net quantity by weight or volume of any commodity shall be as specified below-

Commodities to be packed in specified quantities

27.3 Package of Food to Carry a Label

(1)Every package of food shall carry a label and unless otherwise provided in these rules, there shall be specified on every label:

(a) The name, trade name or description of food contained in the package;

(b) The names of ingredients used in the product in descending order of their composition by weight or volume as the case may be;

Provided that in the case of artificial flavouring substances, the label may not declare the chemical names of the flavours, but in the case of natural flavouring substances or nature-identical flavouring substances, the common name of flavours shall be mentioned on the label. Provided also that whenever Gelatine is used as an ingredient, a declaration to this effect shall be made on the label by inserting the word "Gelatine-Animal Origin."

In case of packages of confectionery weighing 20 gm or less, which are also exempted from the declaration of ingredients, will be exempted from the declaration of "Animal Origin" even if it contains Gelatine provided that such declaration shall be given on the multi- piece package in such a manner that the same is readable even without opening the package.

(2) The maximum permissible error specified as percentage shall be rounded off to the nearest one-tenth of a g or ml, for a declared quantities less than or equal to 1000 g or ml and to the next whole g or ml for declared quantities above 1000 g or ml.

Provided also that when any article of food contains whole or part of any animal including birds, fresh water or marine animals or eggs or product of any animal origin, but not including milk or milk products, as ingredient

(a) A declaration to this effect shall be made by a symbol and colour code so stipulated for this purpose to indicate that the product is Non-Vegetarian Food. The symbol shall consist of a brown colour filled circle having a diameter not less than the minimum size specified in the Table given below, inside the square with brown outline having side double the diameter of the circle, as indicated in clause (16) of sub-rule (ZZZ) of rule 42;

Table 27.1 Area and Diameter of Non-vegetarian symbol to be printed on package

(b) The symbol shall be prominently displayed

1. On the package having contrast background on principal display panel,

2. Just close in proximity to the name or brand name of the product, and

3. On the labels, containers, pamphlets, leaflets, advertisements in any media;

Provided also that where any article of food contains egg only as Non-Vegetarian ingredient, the manufacturer, or packer or seller may give declaration to this effect in addition to the said symbol.

Provided further that the provisions of these rules shall not apply in respect of any Non-Vegetarian Food which is manufactured and packed without the symbol before the commencement of the Prevention of Food Adulteration (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2001.

Provided also that for all Vegetarian Food

(a) A declaration to this effect shall be made by a symbol and colour code so stipulated for this purpose to indicate that the product is Vegetarian Food. The symbol shall consist of a green colour filled circle, having a diameter not less than the minimum size specified in the Table given below, inside the square with green outline having size double the diameter of the circle, as indicated in clause (17) of sub-rule (ZZZ) of rule 42;

Table 27.2 Area and Diameter of Vegetarian symbol to be printed on package

(b) The symbol shall be prominently displayed,

1. On the package having contrast background on principal display panel,

2. Just close in proximity to the name or brand name of the product, and

3. On the labels, containers, pamphlets, leaflets, advertisements in any media;

Provided further that the provisions of these rules shall not apply in respect of any Vegetarian Food which is manufactured and packed without the symbol before the commencement of the Prevention of Food Adulteration (9th Amendment) Rules, 2001.
Provided also that the provisions of the these rules shall not apply in respect of mineral water or packaged drinking water or carbonated water or liquid and powdered milk.

Provided further that when statement regarding addition of colours or flavours is displayed on the label in accordance with rule 24 and rule 64 BB respectively, addition of such colours or flavours need not be mentioned in the list of ingredients.

Provided also that in case both colour and flavour are used in the product, one of the following combined statements in capital letters shall be displayed just beneath the list of ingredients on the label attached to any package of food, so coloured and flavoured, namely:

(I) CONTAINS PERMITTED NATURAL COLOUR (S) AND ADDED FLAVOUR(S)

OR

(II) CONTAINS PERMITTED SYNTHETIC FOOD COLOUR(S) AND ADDED FLAVOUR(S)

OR

(III) CONTAINS PERMITTED NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC FOOD COLOUR(S) AND ADDED FLAVOUR (S)

OR

(IV) CONTAINS PERMITTED NATURAL*/AND* SYNTHETIC* COLOURS AND ADDED FLAVOURS

NOTE: A specific name shall be used for ingredients in the list of ingredients:

Provided that for ingredients falling in the falling in the respective classes the following class titles may be used, namely in dairy industry:

Table 27.3 Declaration of Additives like fat, oil etc are used in food

Provided further that for food additives falling in the respective classes and appearing in lists of food additives permitted for use in foods generally, the following class titles shall be used together with the specific names or recognized international numerical identifications:

Acidity Regulator, Acids, Anticaking Agent, Antifoaming Agent, Antioxidant, Bulking Agent, Colour, Colour Retention Agent, Emulsifier, Emulsifying Salt, Firming Agent, Flour Treatment Agent, Flavour Enhancer, Foaming Agent, Gelling Agent, Glazing Agent, Humectants, Preservative, Propellant, Raising Agent, Stabilizer, Sweetener, Thickener.

Provided also that for declaration of flavours on the label the class of flavours namely, Natural Flavours and Natural Flavouring Substances or Natural-Identical Flavouring Substances or Artificial Flavouring Substances as the case may be, shall be declared on the label.

(c) Following points should also be considered;

(i) The name and complete address of the manufacturer and the manufacturing unit, if these are located at different places and in case the manufacturer is not the packer or bottler, the name and complete address of the packing or bottling unit as the case may be;

(ii) Where an article of food is manufactured or packed or bottled by a person or a company under the written authority of some other manufacturer or company, under this or its brand name, the label shall carry the name and complete address of the manufacturing or packing or bottling unit as the case may be, and also the name and complete address of the manufacturer or the company, for and on whose behalf it is manufactured or packed or bottled;

(iii) Where an article of food is imported into India, the package of food shall also carry the name and complete address of the importer in India.

Provided that where any food article manufactured outside India is packed or bottled in India, the package containing the such food article shall also bear on the label, the name of the country of origin of the food article and the name and complete address of the importer and the premises of the packing or bottling in India.

(d) The net weight or number or measure of volume of contents as the circumstances may require, except in the case of biscuits, breads, confectionery and sweets where the weight may be expressed in terms of either average net weight or minimum net weight.

Note: In declaring the net quantity of the commodity contained in the package, the weight of the wrappers and materials other than commodity shall be excluded.

Provided that where a package contains a large number of small items of confectionery, each of which is separately wrapped and it is not reasonably practicable to exclude from the net weight of the commodity, the weight of such immediate wrappers of all the items of the confectionery contained in the package, the net weight declared on the package, containing such confectionery or on the label thereof may include the weight of such immediate wrapper if, and only if the total weight of such immediate wrapper does not exceed.

(i) 8 per cent where such immediate wrapper is a waxed paper or any other paper with wax or aluminium foil under strip; or

(ii) 6 per cent in the case of any other paper, of the total net weight of all the items of confectionery contained in the package minus the weight of immediate wrapper.

(e) A distinctive batch number or lot number or code number, either in numerical or alphabets or in combination, representing the batch number or lot number or code number being preceded by the words 'Batch No" or "Batch" or Lot No" or, Lot or any distinguishing prefix.

Provided, that in case of canned food, the batch number may be given at the bottom, or on the lid of the container, but the words "Batch No", given at the bottom or on the lid, shall appear on the body of the container.

(f) The month and year in which the commodity is manufactured or prepacked;

Provided that in case of package weighting 20 g or less and liquid products marketed in bottles which are recycled for refilling, particulars under clause (b) need not be specified.

Provided also that such declarations shall be given on the label of multipiece package either on the label of multipiece package or in a separate slip inside the multipiece package in such a manner that the same is readable even without opening the package.

Provided further that in case of carbonated water containers and the packages of biscuits, confectionery and sweets, containing more than 60g, but not more than 120g, and food packages weighing not more than 60g. Particulars under clauses (d) and (e) need not be specified.

Provided also that in case of packages containing bread and milk including sterilised milk, particulars under clause (e) need not be specified.

“Provided also that in case of any package containing bread or liquid milk, sterilized or Ultra High Temperature treated milk, Soya milk, flavoured milk, any package containing dhokla, bhelpuri, pizza, doughnuts, khoa, paneer or any uncanned package of fruits, vegetables, meat, fish or any other like commodity which has a short shelf life, the date, month and year in which the commodity is manufactured or prepared or prepacked shall be mentioned, on the label:

Provided that in case of wholesale packages the particulars under clauses (b), (f), (g), (h) and this clause need not be specified.

Provided further that in case of package or bottle containing sterilised or Ultra High Temperature treated milk, soya milk, flavoured milk, any package containing bread, dhokla, bhelpuri, pizza, doughnuts, khoa, paneer, or any uncanned package of fruits, vegetable, meat, fish or any other like commodity, the declaration be made as follows:

"BEST BEFORE.................DATE/MONTH/YEAR"

OR

"BEST BEFORE .............. DAYS FROM PACKAGING"

OR

"BEST BEFORE ................DAYS FROM MANUFACTURE"

OR

"BEST BEFORE UPTO.... DATE/MONTH/YEAR

OR

"BEST BEFORE WITHIN ...........DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PACKAGING/MANUFACTURE"

Note:

(i) Blank be filled up

(ii) Month and Year may be used in numerals.

(iii) Year may be given in two digits.

Provided also that in case of a package containing confectionery weighing 20g or less, the particulars under clause (i) may not be specified.

Provided also that the above declaration of best before consumption shall not be applicable to the Packages of Aspartame and Infant milk substitute and Infant food".

“Provided also that in case of any bottle containing liquid milk or liquid beverage having milk as an ingredient, soft drink, carbonated water or ready-to-serve fruit beverages, the declarations with regard to addition of fruit pulp and fruit juice as well as the “dated of manufacture” and “best before date” shall invariably appear on the body of the bottle.

Provided also that in case of returnable bottle which are recycled for refilling where the label declarations are given on the crown, the declaration referred to in the above proviso, with regard to addition to fruit pulp and fruit juice shall be enforced as per the Schedule given below. The bottles on which the year of manufacture is not embossed the dated of replacing such bottle shall be the 1st day of April, 2008.

Table 27.4 Schedule

Provided also that the returnable new glass bottle manufactures and used for packing of such beverages on the date of commencement of the Prevention of Food Adulteration (8th Amendment) Rules 2002 shall carry these declarations on its body”

Provided also that the above provisions except date of manufacture and “best before date” shall not apply in respect of carbonated water (plain soda) potable water impregnated with carbon dioxide under pressure) packed in returnable glass bottles.

Explanation-I

The term 'label' means a display of written, marked, graphic, printed, perforated, stencilled, embossed or stamped matter upon the container, cover, lid or crown of any food package.

Explanation-II

Complete address (omitted)

Explanation-III

For the purpose of declaration of month and year of manufacture, the provision under the rule 6(B) of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977 shall apply.

Explanation-IV

A Batch Number or Code Number or Lot Number is a mark of identification by which the food can be traced in manufacture and identified in distribution.

Explanation-V

'Multipiece package' means a package containing two or more individually packaged or labelled pieces of the same commodity of identical quality, intended for retail either in individual pieces or package as a whole.

Explanation-VI

"Wholesale package" means a package containing.

a) A number of retail packages, where such first mentioned package is intended for sale, distribution or delivery to an intermediary and is not intended for sale direct to a single consumer; or

b) A commodity of food sold to an intermediary in bulk to enable such intermediary to sell, distribute or deliver such commodity of food to the consumer in smaller quantities.

Explanation-VII

Prepacked commodity with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions means a commodity of food with or without the purchaser being present, is placed in a package of whatever nature so that the quality of the commodity contained therein has predetermined value and such value cannot be altered without the package or its lid or cap, as the case may be, being opened or undergoing a perceptible modification.

Explanation-VIII

(i) Best Before" means the date which signifies the end of the period under any stated storage conditions during which the product will remain fully marketable and will retain any specific qualities for which tacit or express claims have been made. However, provided that beyond the date the food may still be perfectly satisfactory.

(ii) In addition to the date of best before, any special conditions for the storage of the food shall be declared on the label if the validity of the date depends on such storage.
Note - The expression 'package', wherever it occurs in these rules, shall be construed as package containing prepacked commodity of food articles".

Explanation-IX

Non-Vegetarian Food' means an article of food which contains whole or part of any animal including birds, fresh water or marine animals or eggs or products of any animal origin, but not including milk or milk products, as an ingredient.",

Explanation-X

"Vegetarian Food" means any article of Food other than the Non-Vegetarian Food as defined in Explanation IX of this rule;

27.4 Nutritional Food

The food claimed to be enriched with nutrients such as minerals; proteins or vitamins shall give quantities of such added nutrients on the label.

27.5 Languages of the Particulars or Declaration on the Label

The particulars of declaration required under these rules to be specified on the label shall be in English or Hindi in Devnagri script:-
Provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the use of any other language in addition to the language required under this rule.

27.6 Declaration to be Surrounded by Line

There shall be a surrounding line enclosing the declaration and where the words ["unsuitable for babies"] are required to be used there shall be another such line enclosing these words.

27.7 Distance of Surrounding Line

The distance between any part of the words ["unsuitable for babies;"] and the surrounding line enclosing these words shall not be less than [1.5mm.].

27.8 Principal Display Panel, its Area, Size and Letter, etc,

(1) Principal Display Panel means that part of a label which is intended or is likely to be displayed, presented or shown or examined by the customer under normal and customary conditions of display, sale or purchase of the commodity of food contained in the package:

(2) The area of the principal display panel shall not be less than-

(a) in the case of a rectangular container, forty percent of the product of height and width of the panel of such container having the largest area:

(b) in case of cylindrical or nearly cylindrical, round or nearly round, oval or nearly oval container, twenty percent of the product of the height and average circumference of such container; or

(c) in the case of a container of any other shape, twenty percent of the total surface area of the container except where there is label, securely affixed to the container such label shall have a surface area of not less than ten percent of the total surface area of the container.

(3) In computing the area of the principal display panel, the tops, bottoms, flanges at top and bottoms of cans, and shoulders and necks of bottles or jars shall be excluded.

(4) In the case of package having a capacity of five cubic centimeters or less, the principal display panel may be card or tape affixed firmly to the package or container and bearing the required information under these rules.

(5) The height of any numeral in the declaration required under rules, on the principal display panel shall not be less than.

(i) As shown in Table 27.5 below if the net quantity is declared in terms of weight or volume.

Table 27.5 Height and size of letters to be printed for net quantity declared in terms of weight or volume on label

(ii) As shown in Table 27.6 below if the net quantity is declared in terms of length, area or number.

Table 27.6 Height and size of letters to be printed for net quantity declared in terms of length, area or number on label

(6) The height of letters in the declaration under sub-rule (5) shall not be less than 1 mm height. When blown, formed, moulded, embossed or perforated, the height of letters shall not be less than 2mm. Provided that the width of the letter or numeral shall not be less than one third of its height, but this provision shall not apply in the case of numeral 'I' and letters i, I and 1 Provided also that the size of letter specified under this rule shall be applicable to declaration made only under rule 32 or 32-A of these rules.

(7) Every declaration which is required to be made on package under these rule shall be-

• Legible, prominent, definite, plain and unambiguous;

• Conspicuous as to size number and colour, and

• As far as practicable, in such style or type or lettering as to be boldly, clearly and conspicuously present in distinct contrast to the other type, lettering or graphic material used on the package, and shall be printed or inscribed on the package in a colour that contrasts conspicuously with the background of the label.
  

Provided that -

• Where any label information is blown, formed or moulded on a glass or plastic surface or where such information is embossed or perforated on a package, that information shall not be required to be presented in a contrasting colour;

• Where any declaration on a package is printed either in the form of a handwriting or hand script, such declaration shall be clear, unambiguous and legible.

(8) No declaration shall be made so as to require it to read through any liquid commodity contained in the package.

(9) Where a package is provided with an outside container or wrapper such container or wrapper shall also contain all the declarations which are required to appear on the package except where such container or wrapper itself is transparent and the declarations on the package are easily readable through such outside container or wrapper."

27.9 Labels not to Contain False or Misleading Statements

A label shall not contain any statement, claim, design, device, fancy name or abbreviation which is false or misleading in any particular concerning the food contained in the package, or concerning the quantity or the nutritive value or in relation to the place of origin of the said food:

Provided that this rule shall not apply in respect of established trade or fancy names of confectionery, biscuits and sweets such as Barley Sugar, Bulls Eye, Cream Cracker, or in respect of aerated waters such as Ginger Beer or Gold Spot or any other name in existence in international trade practice.

27.9.1 Manufacture of proprietary foods and infant foods

1. An article of infant milk substitutes/ infant foods whose standards are not prescribed in Appendix 'B' shall be manufactured for sale, exhibited for sale or stored for sale only after obtaining the approval of such article of food and its label from Government of India.

2. In case of proprietary foods the name of the food or category under which it falls in these rules shall be mentioned on the label.

27.9.2 Labelling of infant milk substitute and infant food

(1) Without prejudice to any other provisions relating to labelling requirements contained in these rules, every container of infant milk substitute or infant food or any label affixed thereto shall indicate in a clear, conspicuous and in an easily readable manner, the words, "IMPORTANT NOTICE" in capital letters and indicating there under the following particulars, namely:

(a) A statement "MOTHER'S MILK IS BEST FOR YOUR BABY" in capital letters. The types of letters used shall not be less than five millimetres and the text of such statement shall be in the Central Panel of every container of infant milk substitute or infant food or any label affixed thereto. The colour of the text printed or used shall be different from that of the background of the label, container or the advertisement, as the case may be. In case of infant food, a statement indicating “infant food shall be introduced only after six months and up to the age of two years” shall also be given.

(b) A statement that infant milk substitute or infant food should be used only on the advice of a health worker as to the need for its use and the proper method of its use;

(c) A warning that infant milk substitute or infant food in not the sole source of nourishment of an infant;

(d) A statement indicating the process of manufacture (spray or roller dried) except in case of infant foods, instruction for appropriate and hygienic preparation including cleaning of utensils, bottles and teats and warning against health hazards of in-appropriate, as under:-

“Warning/caution-Careful and hygienic preparation of infant foods/infant milk substitutes is most essential for health. Do not use fewer scoops than directed since diluted feeding will not provide adequate nutrients needed by your infant. Do not use more scoops than directed since concentrated feed will not provide the water needed by your infant”

(e) The approximate composition of nutrients per 100/gms. Of the product including its energy value in Kilo Calories/Joules;

(f) The storage condition specifically stating “store in a cool and dry place in an air tight container” or the like;

(g) The feeding chart and directions for use and instruction for use and instruction for discarding left over feed;

(h) Instruction for use of measuring scoop (level or heaped) and the quantity per scoop (scoop to be given with pack);

(i) Indicating the Batch No. Month and Year of its manufacture and month and year before which it is to be consumed,

(j) The protein efficiency ratio (PER) which shall be minimum 2.5, if the product other than infant milk substitute is claimed to have higher quality protein.

(2) No container or label referred to in sub-rule (1) relating to infant milk substitute and any advertisement relating thereto shall have a picture of infant or woman or both. It shall not have picture of other graphic materials or phrases designed to increase the saleability of the infant milk substitute. The terms “Humanised” or “Maternalised” or any other similar words shall not be used. The package and/or the label and / or the advertisement of infant foods/infant milk substitute shall not exhibit the words “Full protein food” “energy food” “complete food” or “Health Food” or any other similar expression.

(3) The containers of infant milk substitute meant for low birth weight infant (less than 2500gm) or labels affixed thereto shall indicate the following additional information, namely:

(a) The words “Low Birth weight (Less Than 2.5 kg)” in capital letters along with the product name in central panel;

(b) A statement “the low birth weight infant milk substitute shall be withdrawn under medical advice as soon as the mother’s milk is sufficiently available”, and

(c) A statement “TO BE TAKEN UNDER MEDICAL ADVICE” in capital letters.

(4) The product which contains neither milk nor any milk derivatives shall be labelled “Contains no milk or milk product” in conspicuous manner.

(5) The container of infant milk substitute for lactose intolerant infants or label affixed thereto shall indicate conspicuously “LACTOSE FREE” in capital letters and statement “TO BE TAKEN UNDER MEDICAL ADVICE”.

27.10 Labels not to Contain Reference to Act or Rules Contradictory to Required Particulars

The label shall not contain any reference to the Act or any of these rules or any comment on , or reference to or explanation of any particulars or declaration required by the Act or any of these rules to be included in the label which directly or by implication, contradicts, qualifies or modifies such particulars or declaration.

27.11 Labels not to use Words Implying Recommendations by Medical Profession

There shall not appear in the label of any package containing food for sale the words "recommended by the medical profession" or any words which imply or suggest that the food is recommended, prescribed, or approved by medical practitioners 2or approved for medical purpose.

27.12 Unauthorized Use of Words Showing Imitation Prohibited

(1) There shall not be written in the statement or label attached to any package containing any article of food the word "imitation" or any word, or words implying that the article is a substitute for any food, unless the use of the said words is specifically permitted under these rules.

(2) Any fruit syrup, fruit juice, fruit squash, beverage or cordial or crush which does not contain the prescribed amount of fruit juice, shall not be described as a fruit juice, fruit squash, fruit beverage or cordial or crush, as the case may be, and shall be described as a synthetic product. Every synthetic product shall be clearly and conspicuously marked on the label as 'SYNTHETIC" and no container containing such product shall have a label, whether attached thereto or printed on the wrapper of such container or otherwise, which may lead the consumer into believing that it is a fruit product. Neither the word "FRUIT" shall be used in describing such a product nor shall it be sold under the cover of label which carries picture of any fruit..... Carbonated water containing no fruit juice or pulp shall not have a label which leads the consumer into believing that it is fruit product.

(3) Any fruit and vegetable product alleged to be fortified with vitamin C shall contain not less than 40 mg of ascorbic acid per 100 gm of the product.

27.13 Imitations not to be Marked "pure"

The word "pure" or any word or words of the same significance shall not be included in the label of a package that contains imitation of any food.

27.14 Form of Labels

(A) Condensed milk or desiccated (dried) milk

(i) Every package containing condensed milk or desiccated (dried) milk shall bear a label upon which is printed such one of the following declarations as may be applicable or such other declaration substantially to the like effect as may be allowed by the State Government.

(a) In the case of condensed milk (unsweetened);

(b) In the case of condensed milk (sweetened);

(c) In the case of condensed skimmed milk (unsweetened):

(d) In the case of condensed skimmed milk(sweetened)

(e) In the case of condensed milk (sweetened and flavoured):

(f) In the case of condensed milk/condensed skimmed milk (unsweetened) sterilised by Ultra High Temperature (UHT) treatment:

(g) In the case of milk powder:

(h) In the case of milk powder which contain lecithin:

(i) In the case of partly skimmed milk powder:

(j) In the case of skimmed milk powder:

(ii) The declaration shall in each case be completed by inserting at (x) the appropriate number in figures' for example, "One and half (1/1/2)", any fraction being expressed as eight quarters or a half, as the case may be

(iii) There shall not be placed on any package containing condensed milk or desiccated (dried) milk any comment on, explanation of, or reference to either the statement of equivalence, contained in the prescribed declaration or on the words "machine skimmed" skimmed" or unsuitable for babies" except instructions as to dilution as follows :

"To make a fluid not below the composition of toned milk or skimmed milk (as the case may be) with the contents of this package, add (here insert the number of parts) of water by volume to one part by volume of this condensed milk or desiccated (dried) milk.
Sweetened condensed milk and other similar products which are not suitable for infant feeding shall not contain any instructions for modifying them for infant formula.

(iv) Wherever the word "milk" appears on the label of a package of condensed skimmed milk or of (dried) skimmed milk as the description or part of the description of the contents, it shall be immediately preceded or followed by the word "machine skimmed" or "partly skimmed", as the case may be.

(B) Fluid Milk

The caps of the milk bottles shall clearly indicate the nature of the milk contained in them. The indication may be either in full or abbreviation shown below:

1. Buffalo milk may be denoted by the letter 'B'.

2. Cow milk may be denoted by the letter 'C'.

3. Goat milk may be denoted by the letter 'G'.

4. Standardized milk may be denoted by the letter 'S'.

5. Toned milk may be denoted by the letter 'T'.

6. Double toned milk may be denoted by the letters 'DT'.

7. Skimmed milk may be denoted by the letter 'K'.

8. Pasteurized milk may be denoted by the letter 'P' followed by the class of milk.For example, Pasteurized Buffalo milk shall bear the letter 'PB.

Alternatively colours of the caps of the milk bottles shall be indicative of the nature of milk contained in them, the classification of colours being displayed at places where milk is sold/ stored or exhibited for sale, provided that the same had been simultaneously intimated to the concerned Local (Health) Authority. Other media of information like Press may also be utilized;

Ice-Cream

Every dealer in ice cream or mixed ice cream who, in the street or other place of public resort, sells or offers or exposes for sale, ice-cream or ice-candy, from a stall or from a cart, barrow or other vehicle, or from a basket, phial, tray or other container used without a staff or a vehicle shall have his name and address along with the name and address of the manufacturer, if any, legibly and conspicuously displayed on the stall, vehicle or container as the case may be.

Every package of synthetic food colour preparation and mixture shall bear a label upon which is printed a declaration giving the percentage of total dye content.
Unless otherwise provided in these rules, every package of malted milk food which contains added natural colouring matter except caramel shall bear the following label:

(ZZZ) (1) Every package of food which is permitted to contain artificial sweetener mentioned in table given in rule 47 and advertisement for such food shall carry the following label, namely:

ZZZ) (1) (A) In addition to the declaration under rule (ZZZ) (1), every package of food which is permitted to contain artificial sweetener mentioned in table in rule 47 and an advertisement for such food shall carry the following label, namely:

(ZZZ) (1) (B) The declaration under sub-rule (ZZZ) (1) (A) shall be provided along with name or trade name of product and shall be of the half of the size of the name/trade name. The declaration may be given in two sentences, but in the same box:

Provided that the provision of these rules shall not apply in respect of any food which is manufactured and packed before the commencement of Prevention of Food Adulteration (Ist Amendment) Rules, 2004.

(ZZZ) (5) Every package containing Fat-Spread shall carry the following labels, namely

(ZZZ) (9) Every package of Cheese (hard), surface treated with Natamycin, shall bear the following lable namely:

ZZZ) (16) Every package of Non-Vegetarian Food shall bear the following symbol on the principal display panel just close in proximity to the name or brand name of food namely:

(ZZZ) (17) Every package of Vegetarian Food shall bear the following symbol in green colour on the principal display panel just close in proximity to name or brand name of the Food, namely:

Provided if caffeine is added in the products, it shall be declared on the body of the container/bottle.

Provided also that in case of returnable glass bottles, which are recycled for refilling the declaration of caffeine, may be given on the crown.

27.15 Notice of Addition, Admixture or Deficiency in Food

(1) Every advertisement and every price or trade list or label for an article of food which contains an addition, admixture or deficiency shall describe the food as containing such addition, admixture or deficiency and shall also specify the nature and quantity of such addition, admixture or deficiency. No such advertisement or label attached to the container of the food shall contain any words which might imply that the food is pure:

Provided that for the purpose of this rule the following shall not be deemed as an admixture or an addition, namely:

(a) Salt in butter or margarine;
(b) Vitamins in food.

(2) Every package, containing a food which is not pure by reason of any addition, admixture or deficiency shall be labelled with an adhesive label, which, shall have the following declaration:

(a) Here insert the name of food.
(b) Here insert the quantity of admixture which may be present.
(c) Here insert the name of the admixture or the name of the ingredient which is deficient.

Where the context demands it, the words' contains an admixture of' shall be replaced by the words 'contains an addition of or is deficient in;

(3) Unless the vendor of a food containing an addition, admixture or deficiency, has reason to believe that the purchaser is able to read and understand the declaratory label, he shall give the purchaser, if asked, the information contained in the declaratory label by word of mouth at the time of sale.

(4) Nothing contained in this rule shall be deemed to authorize any person to sell any article of food required under the Act or these rules to be sold in pure condition, otherwise than in its pure condition.

(5) Nothing contained in the rule shall apply in the case of sweets, confectionery, biscuits, bakery products, processed fruits, aerated water, vegetables and flavouring agents.

27.15.1 Restriction on Advertisement

There shall be no advertisement of any food which is misleading or contravening the provisions of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 (37 of 1954) or the rules made thereunder.

Explanation
The term 'Advertisement' means any visible representation or announcement made by means of any light, sound, smoke gas, print, electronic media, internet or website"

Bar Code Definition

A bar code is a series of bars and spaces arranged according to the encodation rules of a particular specification in order to represent data.

Benefits of the codes: The main purpose is to represent information in a form that is machine-readable, and work can be speed and accuracy. Compared to manual key entry, capturing data automatically by reading bar code can be done in a fraction of a second. Generally the error rate is extremely low, of the order of one error per 10 lakhs readings.

Advantages:

Computer Aided Checkout.
Avoidance of over and under charging.
Self-service.
Instant inventory control.
Market survey – products sold and rate.

Ex. of Bar Code Symbols:

Code 39: The code 39 symbology introduced in 1975 is widely used for industrial applications.

ITF: Inter leaved two of five (ITF) is well adapted to materials and printing conditions frequently used on fibreboard cases.

Code 128: Code 128 was developed to address the need of a compact alpha-numeric code symbol that could be used to encode complex data, capable of being printed by existing data processing printers.

EAN/UPC: European Article Numbering (EAN) system and Universal Products Code (UPC) system is a continuous symbology encoding fixed length number digits. Several variants exist, known as EAN-8, EAN-13, UPC-A and UPC-E. In addition, the symbology enables to encode 2 small symbols encoding 2 and 5 digits. These are called add-ons.

Two-Dimensional Symbology: PDF 417: As distinct from the linear symbology, a system such as PDF 417 is a two-dimensional stacked bar-code symbology. In this, the basic data unit or minimum segment containing interpretable data is called a codeword.

Printing and Reading of Bar Codes: Any printing technology can be of use in printing bar codes, provided it achieves enough accuracy with required quality at the right level.

There are many types of bar code readers available. They all illuminate the symbol and analyse the resulting reflectance. High reflectance areas are interpreted as spaces while areas of low-reflectance are represented as bars.

The decoder assigns binary values to the signal and forms a complete message. This is checked by the decoder and transformed into data.

Applications

The bar coding technology has numerous applications. Now a days, all packaging forms right from the ultimate consumer to biggest transport units bear one or several codes, carrying their identification number and other data relevant to agencies of shipping, carrying and receiving goods.

Scanning at retail point of sale is a major application relying on the EAN/UPC identification number and the associated bar code symbol. Scanning at point of sale enables automatically to register the sales through price-lookup files. Further extensions include inventory management, automatic re-ordering and sales analyses.

Bar coding technology is also applied to supply chain goods ready for shipment are packed and each package is numbered and bar-coded with a unique number when processed by the receiver, the original message is matched and what has been ordered and delivered can be checked. Inventories can then be updated automatically.