Publicly Available Specifications for zinc-, iron-, and vitamin A-enriched grains set out nutritional requirements for biofortified products. Adoption and application of these standards by food market participants and governments provides assurance for buyers that they are receiving quality biofortified products, increasing market confidence, and spurring growth in trade.
Guidelines for integrating biofortification in the food industry have also been developed to ensure regulatory compliance with food legislation and standard food labeling requirements.
Publicly Available Specifications (PAS)
International, independent standards that determine the amount of micronutrient required within a crop for it to be designated biofortified or nutrient enriched. These standards include requirements for concentrations of nutrients, sampling, packaging, and labeling of biofortified products.
- Specification for zinc enriched wheat, maize, and rice grain (PAS 233: 2021)
- Specification for iron enriched bean and pearl millet grain (PAS 234: 2021)
- Specification for provitamin A carotenoids enriched maize grain, cassava, and sweet potato roots (PAS 235:2022)
Labelling Biofortified Foods
Knowing how to label and market biofortified foods is essential for food manufacturers to communicate their benefits to consumers. The following guidelines were developed for food businesses and others on how to label and market biofortified foods:
- Food labelling and marketing provisions for fortified and biofortified foods in Pakistan (English)
- Food labelling and marketing provisions for fortified and biofortified foods in Pakistan (Urdu)
- Food labelling and marketing provisions for iron pearl millet and zinc wheat in India
- Food labelling and marketing provisions for vitamin A maize and vitamin A cassava in Nigeria
- Differentiating and communicating biofortified products in the current regulatory landscape: Global labelling guide
- Enhancement of manufactured foods with biofortification
- Consumer attitudes and perceptions of biofortification and biofortified foods