FSSAI withdraws its order on A1 and A2 milk products
FSSAI has withdrawn its recent order banning the sale of dairy products labeled as A1 and A2 milk. The authority has announced that a final decision will be made following consultations with the dairy industry and stakeholders
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has withdrawn its recent order banning the sale of dairy products labeled as A1 and A2 milk. In a clarification issued, FSSAI stated that the matter will now be discussed in detail with industry stakeholders and experts before making a final decision. Until then, the original ban stands withdrawn.
On August 21, 2024, FSSAI had labeled the claims surrounding A1 and A2 milk as misleading and a violation of the Food Safety Standards Act. The order directed companies to immediately stop promoting their products with these claims, citing that the difference between A1 and A2 pertains only to protein structure, which could confuse consumers.
Additionally, FSSAI noted that the 2011 Food Safety and Standards Regulations do not recognize A1 or A2 classifications as standard criteria for milk. FSSAI had initially allowed a six-month period for businesses to phase out existing pre-printed labels.
FSSAI order issued on 21 August
The Indian Dairy Association and various experts welcomed this move, believing it would curb unscientific claims about the superiority of A2 over A1 milk. However, just a few days later, FSSAI has withdrawn its order.
