The FSSAI has issued directions to all Authorised Officers through a notification dated 2 September 2016 regarding operationalization of Food Import regulations. The FSSAI has stated that the Food Safety and Standards (Food Import) Regulations, 2016 were operationalized with effect from 14 January 2016 and had been uploaded on the FSSAI website. However, after the FSSAI received some suggestions from a large section of stakeholders they decided to modify some of the regulations. These modifications are being processed and are in the form of draft notifications.
However, the FSSAI has directed the AOs and other officers authorized by the Food Authority to implement the revised Food Safety and Standards (Food Import) Regulations, 2016 as that has been made operational since 15 July 2016. The standards given in the revised Food Import regulations will be implemented as of now till final notification from the FSSAI.
Mentioned below are the highlights of the revised Food Import regulations 2016.
Chapter -1 consists of the definitions in which the regulations define terms and which food importers must understand with clarity like, Authorised officer, balance shelf-life, Bill of entry, Customs airport/ port, custom area, Custom house agent, fees, food importer, food analyst, Non-Conformance report. NOC, packing list, Pre-arrival, document scrutiny, prohibited foods/sources, review application fees, review officer, risked-based random sampling, SWIFT, stuffing list, transit country list, unclaimed food, un-cleared food, visual inspection.
Chapter -2 describes all the requirements pertaining to
- Licensing of food imports/ FBOs
- Suspension or cancellation of License which is also impacted by the suspension, revocation or cancellation of the certificate of Importer-Exporter Code
Chapter – 3 deals with a clearance of imported food by the Authority. The Importer/CHA needs to file an ‘Integrated Declaration Form’ at the custom’s SWIFT. Thereafter the procedure for clearance of the application is described. This chapter also has the standards for Packaging and Labelling requirements and without complying with the labeling and packaging regulations the food will not be allowed to leave the port.
Chapter – 4 deals with Food Import Clearance for Specific Purposes.
It pertains to
- Declaration in SWIFT
- Food brought in for personal use
- Food meant for re-export
- Foods that are imported for captive use
- Food imported for Diplomatic Missions. Research and development, Exhibition and tasting
- Import of food for international sports events
Chapter – 5 deals with Storage, Inspection, and Sampling of imported food
The storage facilities in the ports are defined. A sampling of imported food with specialized packing for aseptic conditions
The requirement on the label of the sealed sample of aseptic food
Chapter – 6 deals largely with the analysis of a sample of imported food
- The work of the food analyst, fees payable to the laboratory are described
- Procedure to be followed by the notified referral laboratory is laid out clearly, including the format of the analysis report
Chapter – 7 describes the scheme that can be sued for Risk-based food import clearance
- The framework is outlined
- Agreement with exporting countries as well as alerts
- Provision for post-clearance surveillance and inspection is outlined
Chapter – 8 deals with prohibition and restrictions on food imports including the power of the Authority to issue orders on them.
Chapter – 9 details the Officers of the Food Authority including their qualifications
Chapter -10 deals with Orders issued by the Authorised Officers like
- NOC,
- Non-conformance report
- Mandatory destruction order
Chapter – 11 outlines the procedure for the Review process
Chapter – 12 deals with Disposal of rejected food consignment and food samples
Chapter – 13 deals with the treatment of un-cleared and unclaimed food
The formats of the various forms required for food imports are given at the end.
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