Association of Food Scientists and Technologists India (AFST(I)), organised Ayansh – The National Conference on Ayur Aahara Nutraceuticals and Non-Specified Products for Health at Hotel Taj Lands in Mumbai recently. Stakeholders from various companies like, Johnson & Johnson, Marico Limited, Omni Activ, FSSAI and others, also attended the event and shared an in-depth knowledge on the booming industry of Ayur, Aahaar and Nutraceuticals.
With the welcome address given by Dr. Alok Shrivastava, President, AFST(I) and Ms. Subhaprada Nishtala, President, AFST(I) Mumbai Chapter, the dignitaries, guest of honour and chief guest were invited on the stage for the lamp lighting. With Dr. N Bhaskar, Advisor, FSSAI as Chief Guest, the event was also graced with Dr. Ravishankar, C.N Director & Vice – Chancellor, ICAR – CIF and Ms. Pritee Chaudhary, IRS, Regional Director, FSSAI WR as Guest of Honour.
Ms. Pritee Chaudhary, IRS, Director FSSAI West Region said, “FSSAI, as the principal food regulatory authority is creating a framework of standards to enable safe innovation in the emerging sectors of ayur Ahara and nutraceuticals with the aim of making Ayur Aahara a globally recognisable name”
Dr. N Bhaskar, Advisor (Science and Standards), FSSAI said, “FSSAI, encourages the stakeholders to apply the concept of RESET (Regulatory requirements – Evidences – Safety – Emerging Risk – Transformation) and contribute to the establishment of an evidence-based system to validate product safety parameters, that allows framing a holistic and continually relevant regulations”.
Followed by this was a plenary session: CEO Conclave on “Lead Talk”. As the name suggests itself, the session was about leaders addressing concerns and explaining the 5 W’s of the Food Industry. Industry leaders such as, Dr. Monica Puniya, Dy. Director, FSSAI, and Dr. P Karthikeyan, Joint Director FSSAI provided enlightening insights on topics like Non-Specific Food Products and Labelling and Claims. The leaders shared their experiences and simplified the regulation provisions for the audience. The cherry on the cake was the final lead talk by Dr. D B A Narayana, Member Sc. Panel of Ayur Aahara on FSSAI Ayur Aahara Regulation.
Dr. Prabodh Halde, Past-President, AFSTI said, “highlighting the remarkable contribution this stakeholder conversation will have in structuring a more transformative and target-specific industry in the AyANSH sector through innovative and experience-based ideas put forth by the learned senior experts”.
Ms Subhaprada Nishtala, President, AFSTI Mumbai Chapter, said,”it gives me immense pleasure and satisfaction to help create a platform that will help nurture the enablement of industries involved in the sectors of Nutraceutical, Ayur Aahara and health products through “AyANSH”.
The event further had 3 insightful and technical sessions, with each having a panel discussion with industry experts, a moderator and a rapporteur. First one being on, Regulatory Conversation was a discussion held between the FSSAI Directors and Chairman, which was beautifully moderated by Dr Prabodh Halde. The second session spoke about the need of the hour, Supply Chain & sustainability. Sitting on the panel were directors from Nutraworks, Manas Ayurveda and others, who spoke about the current scenario and the way forward. This session was moderated by Mr Nilesh Lele, Vice President AFST(I),Mumbai.
The third and final session was on Quality & Standards with various stakeholders including Samyog Health Foods, Envirocare Labs, EIA Mumbai and others which was moderated by Mr Umesh Kamble Vice President AFST Mumbai Chapter. The industry leaders at the panel discussion provided valuable insights and opinions on the various issues faced by both parties, the consumer and manufacturer. The discussions across the panels incited the inquisitive audience to interact with the regulators, industry and academia and resolve their queries. The stakeholder conversation AyANSH has paved the pathway for an exciting journey for the Ayur, Aahar and Ayurceuticals segment of the industry. The stakeholders appreciated and encouraged the organizers to arrange many such programs in the future.
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