The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a gazette notification of the amended regulations for vertical standards for fish and fish products. Called the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Eleventh Amendment Regulations, 2017, these regulations will standardise fish and fish products, including frozen fish, canned fish and smoked fish products like shrimp, fin fish, crustaceans, molluscs and fish fillets. The notification states the conditions for the freezing process, requirements, potential contaminants, food additives, hygiene, toxins and residues, packaging and labelling regulations for the final fish products. It
also includes regulations on such products as ready-to-eat fish or shellfish curry, sardine oil, edible fish powder, fish pickles, frozen minced fish meat, freeze dried prawns and clam meat. It mentions the freezing process as it shall be carried out, with appropriate equipment, in such a way that the range of temperature of maximum crystallisation is passed quickly. The freezing process shall not be regarded as complete until the product temperature has reached -18°C or lower at the thermal centre after thermal stabilisation. The water used for cooking shall be of potable quality or clean seawater meeting the same microbiological standards as potable water, free from potential contaminants and deepfrozen to maintain the quality during transportation, storage and distribution.

(Source: F n B News)