Brief Interpretation:
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated the review of standards of various food articles prescribed under Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, in order to harmonize the Indian Food Standards with International Food standards (CODEX). In addition to above, the regulations pertaining to labeling and claims, method of analysis and sampling of food articles, food hygiene and processing aids etc. are also being reviewed to harmonize these standards with international standards.
FSSAI has invited interested individuals and stakeholders to participate in this Harmonization/Standardization process. The interested individuals and stakeholders who wish to contribute to this work are requested to forward their nomination to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), 3rd Floor, FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi – 110 002, preferably, by e.mail to a specially created ID: [email protected] by March 20, 2013 in Annexure – IV (Nomination Form).
Implications:
- Every food article is manufactured, distributed, stored, sold or imported in the country, in accordance to the related Food safety and standards Regulations, 2011.The food article has to comply the standards prescribed under Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulation,2011, till the finalization and notification of the new regulations which will be in harmonization with the International Standards(CODEX).
- The Food Business Operators, who are dealing with food business, should keep in mind that after final notification of the new regulations, every food article manufactured, distributed, stored, sold or imported in the country shall be complying with the standards prescribed under the new regulations and also labeled as per the finally notified regulations.
- This shall make the Indian Food not only of the International Standard but also as per the latest development in food science, food consumption pattern, new specifications, presence of new contaminants and toxins as well as use of new food additives and ingredients required by the producers and manufacturers.
- The Indian Food shall be treated at par with the international food in the global market and our country shall also be complying with the guidelines of the FAO and WHO of the United Nations who regularly encourage countries to harmonies their standards with those of the Codex.
The Original content of the above announcement of FSSAI are given below :
HARMONISATION OF INDIA’s FOOD STANDARDS WITH CODEX STANDARDS AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES(Dated : 18-02-2013)
Under F. No. 6/Harmonize/Adv./FSSAI
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India
FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road,
New Delhi – 110 002
FSSAI was established under Section 4 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 with the mandate of laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. The Act aims at food safety as a national movement. To meet this objective, it is necessary that FSSAI follows an inclusive approach by utilising the wisdom of all stakeholders in the country, that all relevant issues are discussed through a transparent consultative process and conflicting opinions reconciled on the basis of scientific evidence.
One of the immediate tasks at hand seems to be to review our food safety standards situation. Currently, several standards in Food Safety & Standards Regulations, 2011 have been drawn from provisions of the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act. However, there has been an on-going demand for review of these standards taking into account the latest development in food science across the globe, food consumption pattern, new specifications, presence of new contaminants and toxins as well as use of new food additives and ingredients required by the producers and manufacturers in food business. We also need to consider development of new standards and texts, where necessary while taking cognizance of the developments in an environment of open market in India. Needless to say that the WTO encourages harmonization of national food regulatory standards, guidelines and best practices needs with those of the Codex and provide an equal opportunity to all stakeholders in food business.
To address the above, FSSAI has framed a strategy for taking up this work in a time bound manner. A copy of this strategy paper for harmonization is annexed with this letter (please see Annexure – I). You might observe from this paper that this is a massive exercise, and would require participation of all relevant experts in the country be they in the field of food regulatory affairs, scientific research, food and nutrition, food technology, policy affairs, academia, etc. It is evident that the process of harmonization cannot be completed with the active contribution and co-operation of all relevant experts in the country. They would, therefore, have to be identified on the basis of their interest in contributing and experience in the subject matter as they would utilize the available scientific and regulatory information for the expected outcome. 2
To facilitate the process, it is necessary to identify the current areas and volume of work involved explaining the strategy, scope of work, guidelines for working groups, timelines, format and procedure for forwarding nominations, selection criteria, etc. Detailed documents have been prepared and are shown as several icons contained in Annexure – II (Guidance Document on Vertical Standards). These icons are numbered as Attachments 1 to 12 and can be downloaded from the FSSAI website (fssai.gov.in).
FSSAI invites interested individuals to participate in this harmonization/ standardization process. We suggest that interested experts may please study the Annexure – III (Guidance to the Nominees), which explains the contribution involved in the entire process. This will enable one to take a decision on the role that he/she would like to play in India’s food standards development process. Those committed to contribute to this work are invited to forward their nominations to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), 3rd Floor, FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi – 110 002, preferably, by e.mail to a specially created ID: [email protected] by March 20, 2013 in Annexure – IV (Nomination Form).
FSSAI reserves the right to accept or reject any or all of the nominations at any stage of the process without assigning any reason and no claim/dispute in this respect shall be admissible.
Annexure 2: http://fssai.gov.in/outreach/AnnexureII.aspx
Annexure 3: http://fssai.gov.in/Portals/0/Pdf/scanpdf/Annexure%20III%20-%20Instructions%20to%20Nominees.pdf
Annexure 4: http://fssai.gov.in/Portals/0/Pdf/scanpdf/Annexure%20IV%20-%20Nomination%20Form.pdf
Background of the FSSSAI Announcement:
FSSAI was established under Section 4 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 with the mandate of laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. Section 92 of FSSA 2006 empowers the Food Safety Authority of India for making regulations regarding Standards of food articles, limits for use of food additives, the method of sampling and analysis and other related matters. In exercise of this power the FSSAI made the following six regulations:
- The Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations,2011
- The Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations,2011
- The Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations,2011
- The Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, toxins and residues) Regulations,2011
- The Food Safety and Standards (Laboratory and Sample Analysis) Regulations,2011
- The Food Safety and Standards (Food products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations,2011
The above regulations came into effect w.e.f 5th august, 2011 and shall remain in force till the new regulations are notified.
The Food Safety and Standards (Food products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations,2011 prescribes the standards for various food articles. Currently the Standards for the food articles prescribed in this regulation have been drawn from provisions of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act(PFA) and PFA Rules. There has been an on-going demand for review of these standards taking into account the latest development in food science across the globe, food consumption pattern, new specifications, presence of new contaminants and toxins as well as use of new food additives and ingredients required by the producers and manufacturers in food business. A need was felt to consider development of new standards and texts, where necessary while taking cognizance of the developments in an environment of open market in India and abroad. The WTO also encourages harmonization of national food regulatory standards, guidelines and best practices with those of the Codex and provide an equal opportunity to all stakeholders in food business.
In view of above a massive exercise is being attempted by the FSSAI to make Indian food standards in harmonization with CODEX which requires participation of all relevant experts in the country, be in the field of food regulatory affairs, scientific research, food and nutrition, food technology, policy affairs, academia, etc. Different groups of scientist/experts having rich experience in the related field are proposed to be set up for study and harmonizing the different regulations with the CODEX.
What should you do now?
- Fill Nomination Form in annexure 4 http://fssai.gov.in/Portals/0/Pdf/scanpdf/Annexure%20IV%20-%20Nomination%20Form.pdf
- Choose topic of your interest as per your specialty.
- Forward your nomination to the FSSAI on [email protected] by March20,2013.
- Contribute in the harmonization process of Indian Food Standards with Codex
If you have any question regarding this announcement of FSSAI then ask freely and share your comments with us.
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