Shillong, November 21 : The Commissionerate of Food Safety, Meghalaya, has directed the immediate removal of all products labelled as “ORS Drink” or using the term “ORS” in a misleading manner from retail shelves and stores across the state.
In an official notification issued by D.B.S. Mukhim, Deputy Commissioner (Food Safety) – Enforcement, under the Health & Family Welfare Department, all wholesalers, distributors, and retailers, including pharmacies and doctors’ clinics, have been instructed to recall such products and send them back to manufacturers for re-labelling as per FSSAI directives.
The directive follows the clarification issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) through Order No. RCD-15001/6/2021-Regulatory-FSSAI [E-1475] dated October 15, 2025.
According to the FSSAI, ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts) formulations are therapeutic medical products meant for treating dehydration and cannot be marketed or sold as beverages. Any drink using the term “ORS” without adhering to the approved therapeutic composition and standards is considered misbranded and misleading.
The order mandates that such non-compliant products be withdrawn from markets, pharmacies, and clinics without delay.
The Commissionerate stated that the enforcement will be strictly monitored by Designated Officers and Food Safety Officers across all districts of the state. Manufacturers are instructed to follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)to ensure complete traceability and compliance. “The enforcement and supervision of this action will be carried out with immediate effect to protect consumers from misleading and substandard products,” the notification said.
The Commissionerate has appealed for full cooperation from stakeholders to ensure that consumers are not misled by falsely marketed “ORS drinks.” It reiterated that only standardised ORS formulations meeting FSSAI-approved therapeutic composition may be sold for medical use, while all products misusing the term for general consumption must be withdrawn immediately.
