New Delhi
During its 46th session in Rome, Italy, the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), an international body on food safety and quality standards with 188 member countries, commended India’s Standards on Millets. The comprehensive group standard for 15 millet types, outlining 8 quality parameters, received acclaim at the meeting. India proposed global standards for millets, including Finger millet, Barnyard millet, Kodo millet, Proso millet, and little millet as group standards, a proposal unanimously endorsed by representatives from 161 member countries, including the European Union.
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, lauded the Indian delegation during the CAC session, coinciding with the celebration of 2023 as the International Year of Millets. He emphasized India’s pivotal role in promoting millets globally, stating that the proposal sets a benchmark for highlighting millet benefits worldwide.
The Indian delegation, led by FSSAI CEO G Kamala Vardhana Rao, advocated for international group standards for millets, considering the International Year of Millets and the increasing global trade in these products. With CAC endorsement, India will initiate work on project documents and draft standards, using the proposed group standards for millets, specifying moisture content, uric acid content, extraneous matter, edible grains, defects, weevilled grains, and immature and shriveled grains. The 46th session also marked the 60th anniversary of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, of which India has been a member since 1964. India, having chaired 12 EWGs and co-chaired 28 EWGs, proposed important standards for various products, contributing significantly to Codex standards and guidelines.
