Prohibited
Health Supplement PABA (Para amino Benzoic Acid) not to be cleared at any Point
of Entry (E-commerce)
[CBIC Instruction No.16/2020-Customs dated 24th
July 2020]
Subject: Prohibition of selling of Health Supplement containing PABA (Para Amino Benzoic Acid) a
banned ingredient.
Kind
attention is drawn to the advisory dated 16.07.2020 on the mentioned
subject issued vide File No.4(12) 2017/ Gujarat/RCD/FSSAI by the
Joint Director (RCD), Food Safety & Standard Authority of India, Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare, Regulatory Compliance Division enclosing FSSAI Order
No.
Stds/Nutr(DGCI)/FSSAI-2017
(Pt.l) dated 29-06-2018 (copy enclosed).The operative
para 2 of the advisory is reiterated below for ease of reference:
"2.
FSSAI vide Order No. Stds/Nutr(DGCI}/FSSA/-2017 {Pt.l) dated 29-06-2018 (copy enclosed) has banned the use of PABA (Para
Amino Benzoic Acid) in the products
covered under Nutraceuticals
Regulations due to safety concerns with immediate effect. Para No. 2 (c) of the said order dlso directs
the FBOs that no further manufacturing of products using this ingredient is allowed. Any product containing
such ingredient which is already
manufactured/ imported shall be withdrawn from the market immediately. However, it has come to the
notice that several health supplements and nutraceutical products containing
PABA are still being sold on e-commerce platform."
2. The advisory
has been issued with a request to circulate Order dated 29.06.2018
to all Customs
Officials working as Authorized Officers to comply and to ensure that imported
products
containing banned ingredient shall not be
cleared through their respective point of entries.
3. Suitable instruction
may be issued
for mandatory compliance by the departmental officers and the trade.
4. Any
issues faced in implementation of this instruction may be
brought to the
notice of the Board.
F.No.401/21/2020-Cus.lll