The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on October 12, 2023, issued a notification regarding the Inclusion of QR Codes on Food Products for Accessibility by Visually Impaired Individuals.
The FSSAI is committed to ensuring access to safe food for the citizens of India, including individuals with special needs such as visually impaired individuals.
FSSAI under its Food Safety and Standards (Labeling and Display) Regulations, 2020, has comprehensively outlined the information to be included on the labels of food products. This information includes product names, shelf life, nutrition facts, vegetarian/non-vegetarian logos, ingredient lists, allergen warnings, and other product-specific labeling requirements. This wealth of information empowers consumers to make informed choices when selecting food products.
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 recognizes the rights and needs of individuals with disabilities, which emphasizes accessibility and the promotion of health for persons with disabilities. Ensuring inclusive access to information is a fundamental right of citizens, and it is imperative that food products are labeled in a manner that ensures accessibility to all consumers, including those with visual impairments
To enhance this accessibility Food Business Operators (FBOs) are encouraged to incorporate provisions that facilitate easy access to nutritional information for visually impaired individuals. One effective means to achieve this is by incorporating Quick Response (QR) codes on product labels. These QR codes should encompass comprehensive details about the product including, but not limited to, ingredients, nutritional information allergens, manufacturing date, best before/expiry/use by date, allergen warning, and contact information for customer inquiries
It is pertinent to note that the inclusion of a QR code for the accessibility of information does not replace or negate the requirement to provide mandatory information on the product label, as prescribed by relevant regulations
[Notification No. SS-M017/1/2023-Standard-FSSAI]
