Consumer Affairs Ministry has expressed the view that consumers are worried about the safety standards of packaged food products. Consumers’ fears could be grounded on the fact that recently a number of packaged foods have been banned or withdrawn from the market. Nestle instant Maggi noodles, Knorr Chinese noodles and Top Ramen are some of the popular brands that are not presently in the market either for non-compliance of FSSAI regulation or for lack of product approval. The Consumer Affairs Ministry has, however, decided to file a complaint with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) on the Maggi issue.
Senior FSSAI officials and the Health Ministry clarified their stand on the Maggi issue before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food and Consumer Affairs. The representation told the Members about how toxic content like lead and other heavy metals, additives and ingredients in packaged foods are regulated. FSSAI also gave a report on the actions it has taken in the last one month against companies that were found to be selling substandard food products.
Among all the bad news for the food processing industry there is some light at the end of the tunnel. The FSSAI has finalised 12,000 standards for food additives and ingredients that are in line with the standards of the United Nations established Codex Alimentarius Commission. To a large extent this will help food manufacturers as they will no longer have to go through the lengthy product approval process if they comply with these standards for food additives and ingredients.
The existing food safety & standards regulations have approx. 380 articles of foods for which the standards have been specified. The Law Ministry is presently examining the new standards finalized by FSSAI and it will not be long before that the notifications are issued in this regard by FSSAI.
FSSAI has also fixed the maximum limit for use of food additives in various food groups so that additives do not exceed the acceptable daily intake. Similarly, it has set norms for use of ingredients that are used to prepare processed food products. Besides this the FSSAI is in the process of reviewing the existing standards for caffeine content, metal and toxic contaminants and other residues in food products.
The Apex food regulator hopes that these measures will improve the quality of foods. Along with this, once the process of setting standards for imported food is also ready, then the Indian consumers can hope to see better and safer products in the markets.
Ajoy Daspurkayastha says
Finishing a herculean task in time and showing a light at the end of the tunnel by finalizing 12,000 standards for food additives and ingredients that are in line with the standards of the United Nations established Codex Alimentarius Commission is a praiseworthy as because to a great extent this will help food processors as they will no longer have to go through the lengthy product approval process if they make up their minds to comply with these standards for food additives and ingredients.
Last but not the least how the credibility of FSSAI, New Delhi(India’s food regulator) looks like in the eyes of FDA,USA(One of the world’s oldest and the biggest food regulator ).
About 3 months back a team of high-profile FDA,USA officials visited India and made the following bright remarks about India’s vision on food safety headed by FSSAI(Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)
Food Industry, be it in india or, elsewhere in the world should look Food regulators in a positive attitude to help protect the public health and safety of the country’s citizens in question which obviously includes protecting the health and safety of the sons and daughters, mothers and fathers and relatives of all the stakeholders of the food processing industries in india and abroad because food industry is no more only local, it is global too.
Here below, I am trying to give you an idea how a food regulator(FDA,USA) has a feeling for a food regulator (FSSAI,India)which speak volumes in itself that in the present world, no food regulator can work in isolation. They need collaborative alliance to each other to upkeep food safety of utmost importance. And that is one of the main reason ,as to why every food regulator remain duty-bound to rise to the noble occasion of protective food safety in the global scenario of food processing industry where 5 ingredients can be sourced from 5 different continents and had to face 5 different (may look like apparently the same) food safety/quality checks in different challenging scenarios.
Henceforth, food regulations never get an opportunity for dilution of food regulations just merely because food industry stakeholders on and off feels panicky about food regulations destined to upkeep the public health and safety of utmost importance as like that of India and USA whose national priority is “Food Safety”.
Web-reference:– http://blogs.fda.gov/fdavoice/index.php/tag/food-safety-and-standards-authority-of-india-fssai/
Tile/Authors reference: — In a country full of differences, common ground
Posted on March 27, 2015 by FDA Voice By: Michael Taylor, Howard Samberg and Camille Brewer on FDA Voice’s TAG ARCHIVES: FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS AUTHORITY OF INDIA (FSSAI)
Quote—-Although we don’t know most of the 22 official languages spoken here, we nonetheless realized after meeting with FSSAI that we “speak the same language” in terms of our food safety challenges and solutions. —-Unquote
Quote—-But the Indians are no strangers to sweeping change to improve food safety—Unquote
Quote—- Our counterparts, known as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), are also undergoing a significant regulatory overhaul, known as the Foods Safety and Standards Act. Passed in 2006, it was the law that actually created FSSAI. At its core, the Act seeks to ensure that India’s food industry is adhering to international, science-based standards for food safety. Not unlike FSMA, this law poses many challenges in terms of how it can be successfully implemented, with both laws mandating comprehensive change, including marked increases in authority that require new resources to implement.— Unquote
Quote— The sounds and sights of Delhi and D.C. are certainly different. But with our MOU signed, we look forward to building our partnership with India, recognizing that sometimes the most fruitful relationships result when people with diverse perspectives come together to find common ground.—Unquote
Dr. Saurabh Arora says
Dear Ajoy, It is indeed heartening to read the article on FDA voice. It is essential for all the stake holders here in India also appreciate the challenges FSSAI and we all have to overcome to ensure good safe food to all citizens of India. Thank you for your inputs!