FSSAI's Compendium of Millet Standards [UPSC Notes]

In the Global Millet (Sri Anna) Conference held in March 2023, the Food Safety and Standards of India (FSSAI) released a compendium on millet standards. From September 2023 the FSSAI also aims to enforce comprehensive group standards for 15 millet varieties and millet products. Know more about the millet standards released by FSSAI in this article, for the IAS exam.

Millet Standards

• Designation of 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYOM) provides an opportunity to spread awareness about the goodness of millets and thereby increase production, processing and use of millet as a substitute in crop rotation to include it as a major component of the food basket.
• Millets are small-grained crops which are resilient to climate change impacts such as drought and extreme weather conditions.
• Millets also require low inputs such as water and chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Most of the millet is native to India and rich in nutrition which is required for the human body.
• Millets are ideal for daily diet as they are rich in dietary fibre and micronutrients, including calcium, iron, phosphorus, etc. They are also gluten-free and low in glycemic index.
• Under Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011, at present individual standards for a few millets like Sorghum (Jowar), Whole and decorticated Pearl Millet grain (Bajra), Finger Millet (Ragi) and Amaranth are prescribed.
• FSSAI has now specified 8 quality parameters for 15 types of millets. The eight quality parameters are:
  • Maximum limits for moisture content
  • Uric acid content 
  • Extraneous matter 
  • Other edible grains
  • Defects
  • Weevilled grains
  • Immature and shrivelled grains                       

The FSSAI-notified standards are applicable to the following 15 millets.:

1. Amaranthus (Chaulai or Rajgira)
2. Barnyard Millet (Samakechawal or  Sanwa or Jhangora)
3. Brown top (Korale)
4. Buckwheat (Kuttu)
5. Crab finger (Sikiya)
6. Finger Millet (Ragi or Mandua)
7. Fonio (Acha)
8. Foxtail Millet (Kangni or Kakun)
9. Job’s tears (Adlay)
10. Kodo Millet (Kodo)
11. Little Millet (Kutki)
12. Pearl Millet (Bajra)
13. Proso Millet (Cheena)
14. Sorghum (Jowar)
15. Teff (Lovegrass)

The standards will ensure the availability of high-quality standard millets in domestic and global markets and also promote the consumption of millets by spreading awareness.

FSSAI’s Compendium of Millet Standards:- Download PDF Here