According to a statement issued by the Union Health Ministry, a review meeting was held in the State capital to discuss various issues pertaining to the regulations in Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) 2006 with emphasis on those affecting the food processing industry. The meeting was attended by the Secretary, Department of Food Processing, Chairman & CEO, FSSAI, officials of Union Health Ministry and other stake holders from the food processing industry.
A welcome outcome of the meeting was the attention given to streamlining the process for time bound approval of food products. The Union Health Ministry and the FSSAI will be working to reform the process so that pending food products, that have not been yet been approved, can be cleared for approval in a faster and timely manner.
The Union health Minister JP Nadda said that not only will the pending proposals for food products be cleared but the domestic food industry would also get the much needed impetus especially if the “make in India” dream has to be realised.
Even though there is a need to make the food product approval process more efficient but the Minister emphasised that there can be no compromise on the quality and safety of food products. The manufacturing process cannot deviate from the standards and procedures that are already mandated under the Food Safety and Standard Authority (FSSA) Act 2006. The FSSAI mandate will continue as it is needed to ensure that consumers get safe, healthy and wholesome foods.
Various other regulation issues under the FSS Act, 2006 were taken up for discussion. The Union Health Minister also emphasized that under The ‘Make in India’ campaign local manufacturers of food products should also ensure that they manufacture wholesome, safe and healthy food for consumers.
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