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India played a leading role in the 44th session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU), held from October 2 to 6, 2024, in Dresden, Germany. During the session, India made key interventions on critical agenda items, including updated guidelines for probiotics and nutrient reference values for children aged 6 to 36 months. India's proposals gained international backing from countries such as Canada, New Zealand, and Chile, underscoring its influence in shaping global food safety and nutrition standards.
India's Push for Updated Probiotic Guidelines
One of the central themes discussed during the meeting was the need for revised guidelines on probiotics in food and dietary supplements. India argued that the current guidelines, set by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) over two decades ago, no longer align with contemporary scientific advancements. India’s proposal emphasized the importance of international harmonization in probiotic regulation, noting that the lack of cohesive guidelines could hinder global trade practices.The committee agreed to revisit the FAO/WHO documents, including the ‘Health & Nutrition Properties of Probiotics in Food including Powder Milk with Live Lactic Acid Bacteria’ (2001) and the ‘Guidelines for the Evaluation of Probiotics in Food’ (2002). FAO and WHO have been tasked with reviewing these documents, considering new scientific evidence on probiotics, and developing a new work proposal for future discussion at CCNFSDU.
Nutrient Reference Values and Follow-up Formula
India also made significant contributions in discussions surrounding nutrient reference values for children aged 6 to 36 months. India advocated for calculating the combined NRV-R (Nutrient Reference Value-Requirement) by taking the average of the two sub-groups: 6-12 months and 12-36 months. This approach was supported by the committee and included in the final report.Furthermore, India opposed the European Union’s proposal for sensory testing to assess the sweetness of carbohydrate sources in follow-up formulas, citing a lack of scientific validation for national legislation. The USA, Canada, and others backed India's position, leading to the discontinuation of the proposal for now.
Global Collaboration and Future Directions
The meeting saw participation from key delegates from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Ministry of Women and Child Development. These representatives played an active role in advocating for India's stance on food safety, consumer health, and trade-related issues. The final report officially incorporated India's suggestions, marking a significant contribution to global food safety.During the session, FAO and WHO announced the creation of a Joint Statement on Healthy Diet Principles and shared updates on their review of Alternative Animal Source Foods (A-ASFs). FAO also introduced a new “Food and Diet” section on the FAOSTAT database, aimed at providing valuable insights into global food systems.
Conclusion
India’s proactive role at the 44th CCNFSDU session solidifies its position as a key player in the global food safety landscape. With international backing, India’s contributions on probiotics and nutrient standards will help shape updated guidelines that reflect modern scientific advances, ensuring safer and more consistent food practices worldwide.
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