India’s newly implemented Food Standards and Safety Act (FSSA) will boost foreign investment in the sector now that health supplements are clearly featured in the country’s food laws, the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplements (IADSA) has said.

Speaking at the 7th Nutra India Summit in Bangalore, India, last month, IADSA Regulatory Affairs Manager Cashmer Dirampaten said that the Act’s reinforced commitment to food safety by also requiring the establishment of science-based and product category specific regulations for food, is a positive move towards encouraging health supplement companies to explore the country’s market potential.

The Act requires the country’s Food Standards Authority to develop specific regulation on novel food, genetically modified articles of food, irradiated food, organic foods, foods for special dietary uses, functional foods, nutraceuticals, health supplements and proprietary foods.

“The Food Standards and Safety Act will certainly contribute to the positive image of India to both local and foreign investors,” said Ms Dirampaten. “We look forward to the positive outcomes that the full implementation of the law will bring to the health supplement industry as a whole.”