Ayurvedic Aahar Products:

In order to recognize India’s age old principles of Ayurveda and the Aahara prepared as per ancient texts, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has formulated Food Safety and Standards (Ayurveda Aahara) Regulations, 2022 in consultation with the Ministry of Ayush and notified the regulations in the official gazette on 5th May, 2022.

The regulations define “Ayurveda Aahara” a food prepared in accordance with the recipes or ingredients or processes as per method described in the authoritative books of Ayurveda listed under ‘Schedule A’ of these regulations. The Regulations, inter-alia, exclude:

  • Ayurvedic drugs or proprietary Ayurvedic medicines and medicinal products, cosmetics, narcotic or psychotropic substances,
  • Herbs listed under Schedule E-1 of Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules 1945 there under.
  • Metals based Ayurvedic drugs or medicines, bhasma or pishti,
  • Any other ingredients notified by the Authority from time to time,
  • Food items in daily use (pulses, rice, flour, vegetables) without addition of Ayurveda ingredients.

For ease of identification and assurance about genuineness of the product, all such products shall carry word “AYURVEDA AAHARA” in close proximity to the product; and the specified logo in front of the pack of the label. The label shall carry statutory warning – ‘ONLY FOR DIETARY USE’. Other labelling requirements have also been specified.

FSSAI has formulated a logo for Ayurveda Aahar to create its unique identity for easy identification and the same was launched by the Minister for Health and Family Welfare on June 07,2022. FSSAI has undertaken widespread publicity of the Ayurveda Aahar logo through the website as well as across social media platforms.           

Under the Convergence of Poshan Abhiyan, Ministry of Ayush is a key partner of Ministry of Women and Child Development. Ministry of Ayush has actively participated in the Jan andolan activities under Poshan Abhiyan celebrated as Poshan Pakhwada (around March) and Poshan Maah (during the month of September) every year. During the Rashtriya Poshan Maah theme wise activities are conducted throughout the country. These activities include awareness campaigns on Ayurveda for well being, awareness about regional and seasonal food, traditional food for healthy mother and child, recipe competition etc. Ministry had also chosen the theme “Ayurveda for Poshan” for the 6th Ayurveda Day that was celebrated on 2nd November, 2021. 

Ministry of Ayush also participated in the celebration of Poshan Maah and Poshan Pakhwada organized by the Ministry of Women and Child Development through the National Institutes/Research Councils under the Ministry and had also requested to all the Ayush Departments of all the States/UTs for the same. The week wise activities covered under Rashtriya Poshan Maah to promote “Ayush Aahar” in the country are as under:

  • First Week: Plantation activity in the form of Poshan Vatika at the spaces available in Aanganwadi Centres, Gram Panchayat, Schools, etc.
  • Second Week: Yoga and Ayush for Nutrition (Yoga Sessions targeted for various groups like pregnant women, children and adolescent girls).
  • Third Week: Distribution of Nutrition Kits comprising of regional nutritious food to beneficiaries of Aanganwadi along with IEC material in high burden districts.
  • Fourth Week: Identification of Severely Acute Malnourished (SAM) children and organising Community Kitchen for the beneficiaries.

                  National Institutes and Research Councils under Ministry of Ayush has taken following measures to create awareness regarding ‘Ayurvedic Aahar’ –

  1. All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) under Ministry of Ayush has organized Awareness lectures, camps to propagate significance of Ayurveda Ahara in nutrition. Further, following activities has also been conducted  by AIIA –
  • Development of IEC materials in public interest and propagation of Ayurveda Ahara through social media platforms,
  •  Organization of state and National level fairs, expo and food festivals of Ayurveda
  • Development of Ayurveda Aharaat institutional level.
  1. Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar has organized a Health Expo from 09th to 12th December, 2021 for spreading awareness in common public on Ayurveda for Poshan. An Ayurvedic food festival was conducted in 12 stalls with traditional and forgotten recipes of foods such as RagiIdli, Dhaniya Shots, Cereal and Ragi Soup, Ayurvedicbhel, Curcuminchocolates, Brahmi Sharbat, Drumstick leaves mixed Thepla, Amla Jam and Papaya barfi etc.  Overall 22 different live food items and 34 packaged items were kept under selling in the Health Expo.
  2. National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA)  under Ministry of Ayush had organised a three day long Ayush Expo and Food festival from 11th to 13th March’2022 at Shilpgram , Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur. The expo was an extension to the expo held on 2nd November 2021 for Ayurveda day 2021 themed “Ayurveda for Poshan”.  The main purpose of the event was to propagate and promote the idea of healthy Ayurveda nutrition amongst the general public of Rajasthan.
  3. Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has also conducted various activities including conduct of public lectures, Webinars, Distribution of Ayurvedic poshan recipes and guidelines, Ayurveda Nutrition Camps, Ayush Food Festival, Distribution of Medicinal plants having nutrition value (such as Amlaki etc.), Quiz/Poster/Essay competitions and Nukkadnatak at colleges and schools . CCRAS has developed a short Film on “You’re What You Eat- Ayurveda for Poshan” conveying the Scientific insights of Ayurveda in light of Poshan Abhiyan initiatives by the Ministry of Ayush.

   CCRAS has also published “Nutritional Advocacy in Ayurveda – A Pictorial Guide” which is intended as ready reference for awareness about Ayurveda based nutritional principles and nutritional benefits of the different commonly used food items prescribed by Ayurveda classics among masses.

   Under the ambit of focused theme of 06th Ayurveda Day“Ayurveda for Poshan”, CCRAS & its peripheral institutes has created awareness regarding AyurvedicAahar through National/State level Arogyamelas, Health camps, exhibitions particularly during celebrations of Ayurveda Day, Poshan Maah etc. and also through CCRAS outreach programs viz. Swasthya Rakshan Program (SRP), Schedule Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) Research Program, Tribal Health Care Research Program (THCRP), etc. in different states of the country. Further, CCRAS has developed research based formulations like Antarctica Teato be used as Rasayana /Nutrition Supplement and distributed widely during 06thAyurveda Day celebrations and ArogyaMelas.

This information was given by Minister of Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

***

  Food Safety & Standards (Ayurveda Aahara) Regulations, 2021

  • Ayurveda aahara can be termed as the food prepared as per steps using the same recipes or ingredients and/or processes as per the procedure described in the Ayurveda books which are listed under ‘Schedule A’ of these regulations.
  • It also includes all those products which consist of botanical ingredients as per the rules and concept of Ayurveda Aahar.
  • It does not include ayurvedic drugs or proprietary Ayurvedic medicines and medicinal products, cosmetics, etc. listed under schedule E of the Drug and Cosmetic Act, 1940 and rules 1945.

 Ayurveda Aahara Regulations

  1. As per the regulations, the manufacturing and marketing of “Ayurveda Aahara” products will now be regulated strictly as per the Food Safety and Standards (Ayurveda Aahara) Regulations, 2022. And Ayurveda Aahara products will be available in the market if they have license/ approval from FSSAI.
  2. As per this regulation, any food prepared as per the rules and recipes/ ingredients mentioned in the books of Ayurveda can be termed as Ayurveda Aahara.

Schedule A-List of authoritative books for Ayurveda Aahara

    1. All those food recipes and ingredients mentioned in the book which promoted health, physical needs and food mentioned to consume during or after the disease, or disorders can be called “Pathya”, which is also regulated under these regulations.
    2. The “Ayurveda Aahara” does not include any ayurvedic medicines or drugs or products, cosmetics, narcotics, or drugs related to mental illness.
    3. Under the Ministry of Ayush, an expert committee is formed which consists of relevant experts, and FSSAI representatives who are helping by providing their advice on approval of claims made and also addressing the issues related to registration, licensing, certificates, testing, and quality of Ayurveda food products.
    4. If Ayurveda Aahara need prior approval as per Schedule B of these regulations, the same shall be in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards (Approval for Non-Specific Food and Food Ingredients) Regulation, 2017.
    5. The products covered under contaminants regulations shall comply with the safety requirements which are specially specified in Schedule D of these regulations.
    6. Any food item which is packed and is used in daily life for dietary purposes for eg., pulses, rice, flour, vegetable, and other foods specified under Food Safety and Standards Regulations are not allowed to be covered under these regulations unless otherwise, they meet the requirements of these regulations.
    7. Minimally processed food items involving processes such as cleaning, polishing, dehiscing, and grading do not come under these regulations.
    8. For the new-born or infants
      Manufacturers are not allowed to manufacture or sell Ayurveda Aahara whose target customers are up to the age of 24 months OR 2 years of age which means infants up to the age of 24 months or 2 years cannot be administrated Ayurveda aahara.
    9. Requirements of labelling along with logo

A special logo has been designed for the Ayurveda Aahara, a category so that the Ayurveda aahara products can be identified easily and can support the quality of Ayurveda food products.

  1. The labeling of “Ayurveda Aahara” needs to mention the intended uses, the customers they are targeting, duration of use, quantity to use, and other important things.
  2. It will be mandatory for manufacturers of Ayurveda food products to display the logo with the warning stating “strictly for dietary purpose and use” on the label.
  3. The word AYURVEDA AAHARA needs to be printed close to the brand name of the product.
  4. The labeling should have a warning or precautions wherever necessary about the side effects if any;
  5. A warning about the way of consumption of product whether oral consumption or any other use.
  6. The regulations also stated that no one is allowed to market the products with claims of treating or curing the diseases. Thus, no advertisement or label on Ayurveda food products can claim that they have the power to cure or treat any human disease.
  7. Even if still manufacturers want to claim that their product can “reduce the disease risk” then they have to take “based on evidence prior approval” from the food safety authority of India. For any claims related to health, no such approval would be required if the claims have evidence from the Ayurveda texts.
  8. Regulations for Additives
    The regulations also consist of a list of additives that are permitted to use in Ayurveda Aahara. It is also stated that vitamins, minerals, and amino acids cannot be used in these products.
  9. The manufacturer needs to make a declaration on the natural presence of vitamins and minerals in Ayurveda food products.
  10. The manufacturer also needs to provide information on the criteria of purity used for the ingredients during the licensing and any changes.
  11. The only food additives allowed to use are mentioned in schedule C of these regulations.

SCHEDULE C- LIST OF ADDITIVES

  • As per the agreement with Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had drafted regulations on “Food Safety and Standards (Ayurveda Aahar) Regulation 2021”.
  • The rules and regulations are available to the public from 5th July 2021.
  • These regulations can be termed the Food Safety and Standards (Ayurveda Aahara) Regulations, 2022.
  • This is the first time in India that separate regulations have been formed especially for Ayurveda Aahara.
  • The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) along with the ministry of Ayush have formed regulations to control the quality and increase the safety of food products falling under the “Ayurveda Aahara” category.
  • The main aim of these regulations is to ensure that while manufacturing the Ayurveda food products quality is maintained and will help India to further expand its “Make In India” products to other countries.
  • No person will be allowed to manufacture, sell, or market Ayurveda products if they fail to follow these regulations
  • The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) was established under the Food and Safety Act, 2006 which consists of various acts and orders that inform how to handle various issues in ministries and departments related to food.
  • “Schedule” here means a schedule mentioned in these regulations.