1[37-B. Labeling of infant milk substitute and infant food.- (1) Without prejudice to any other provisions relating to labelling requirements contained in these rules, every container of infant milk substitute or infant food or any label affixed thereto shall indicate in a clear, conspicuous and in an easily readable manner, the words “IMPORTANT NOTICE” in capital letters and indicating thereunder the following particulars,. namely:-
(a) A statement “MOTHER’S MILK IS BEST FOR YOUR BABY” in capital letters. The types of letters used shall not be less than five millimeters and the text of such statement shall be in the Central Panel of every container of infant milk substitute or infant food or any label affixed thereto. The colour of the text printed or used shall be different from that of the background of the label, container of the advertisement, as the case may be. In case of infant food, a statement indicating “infant food shall be introduced only after four months of age” shall also be given ;
(b) A statement that infant milk substitute or infant food should be used only on the advice of a health worker as to the need for its use and the proper method of its use ;
(c) A warning that infant milk substitute or infant food is not the sole source of nourishment of an infant;
(d) A statement indicating the process of manufacture (spray or roller dried) except in ease of infant foods, instruction for appropriate and hygienic preparation including cleaning of utensils, bottles and teats and warning against health hazards of inappropriate preparations, as under :
“Warning/Caution Careful and hygienic preparation of infant foods/infant milk substitute is most essential for health .Do not use fewer scoops than directed since diluted feeding will not provide adequate nutrients needed by your infant. Do not use more scoops than directed since concentrated food will not provide the water needed by your infant” ;
(e) The approximate composition of nutrients per 100 gms. of the product including its energy value in Kilo Calories/Joules ;
(f) The storage conditions specially stating “store in a cool and dry place in an air tight container” or the like;
(g) The feeding chart and directions for use and instruction for discarding left-over feed ;
(h) Instruction for use of measuring scoop (level or heaped) and the quantity per scoop (scoop to be given with pack);
(i) Indicating the Batch No., Month and Year of its manufacture and month and year before which it is to be consumed :
(j) The protein efficiency ratio (PER) which shall be minimum 2.5 if the product other than infant milk substitute is claimed to have higher quality protein.
(2) No container or label referred to in sub-rule (1) relating to infant milk substitute and any advertisement relating thereto shall have a picture of infant or woman or both. It shall not have picture or other graphic materials or phrases designed to increase the sale ability of the infant milk substitute. The terms “Humanised” or “Maternalised” or any other similar words shall not be used. The package and/or the label and/or the advertisement of infant foods/infant milk substitute shall not exhibit the words “Full Protein Food”, “Complete! Food” or “Health Food”, or any other similar expression.
(3) The containers of infant milk substitute meant for low birth weight infant less than 2500 gm) or labels affixed thereto shall indicate the following additional information, namely :-
(a) The words “LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (LESS THAN 2.5 KG)” in capital letters along with the product name in central panel ;
(b) A statement “the low birth weight infant milk substitute shall be withdrawn under medical advice as soon as the mother’s milk is sufficiently available”; and
(c) A statement “TO BE TAKEN UNDER MEDICAL ADVICE” in capital letters.
(4) The product which contains neither milk nor any milk derivatives shall be labelled “contains no milk or milk product” in conspicuous manner.
(5) The container of infant milk substitute for lactose intolerant infants or label affixed thereto shall indicate conspicuously “LACTOSE FREE” in capital letter and statement “TO BE TAKEN UNDER MEDICAL ADVICE”.]
1. Ins. By G.S.R. 147 (E), dated 14th March, 1997 (w.e.f. 14th September, 1997).
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