FSSAI specifies Comprehensive Group Standard for Millets.

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has specified a comprehensive group standard for millets with effect from 1st September 2023.
• Currently, individual standards for only a few millets like Sorghum (Jowar), whole and decorticated Pearl Millet grain (Bajra), Finger Millet (Ragi) and Amaranth are prescribed by FSSAI in 2011.
• FSSAI has now framed a comprehensive group standard for 15 types of millets specifying 8 quality parameters to ensure availability of good quality (standardized) millets in domestic and global markets.
• These are–
  • maximum limits for moisture content,
  • uric acid content,
  • extraneous matter,
  • other edible grains,
  • defects,
  • weevilled grains, and
  • immature and shrivelled grains.
• Those brought under the quality cover are Amaranthus (Chaulai or Rajgira), Barnyard Millet (Samakechawal or Sanwa or Jhangora), Brown top (Korale), Buckwheat (Kuttu), Crab finger (Sikiya), Finger Millet (Ragi or Mandua), Fonio (Acha), Foxtail Millet (Kangni or Kakun), Job’s tears (Adlay), Kodo Millet (Kodo), Little Millet (Kutki), Pearl Millet (Bajra), Proso Millet (Cheena), Sorghum (Jowar) and Teff (Lovegrass).

About Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

• FSSAI has been established under Food Safety and Standards , 2006.
• It has been created for laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
• The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India is the Administrative Ministry for FSSAI.

About Millets

• Millets are a group of small-grained cereal food crops that are highly tolerant to drought and other extreme weather conditions and require low chemical inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides.
• Millets are also gluten-free; low in Glycemic Index (GI); and rich in dietary fibre and micronutrients, including calcium, iron, phosphorus etc.
• In order to enhance awareness and promote millets, in 2018, millets were rebranded as “Nutri Cereals” and “2018” was designated as the National Year of Millets.
• Later, the United Nations General Assembly at its 75th session declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYOM 2023).