FSSAI issues order for extension of scientific committee and panels

Extension expired on 26.08.2012

Brief Interpretation:
FSSAI had constituted eight Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee for providing scientific opinions to the Food Authority on 26.05.2009 for a period of 3 years. The term of these Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee has expired on 26/05/2012. It had been decided by FSSAI to extend them for 2 months and then it further extended for them one month( i.e upto 26.08.2012) or till the notification of new scientific panels and committee whichever is earlier.

Till now no further notification of scientific committee and panels or its further extension has appeared on the website of the FSSAI.

Implications:

Scientific Panels and Committee have been constituted by FSSAI to advise on a range of scientific issues with particular reference to determination of safety standards. The Scientific Committee/Panels are responsible for providing Scientific Opinions to the Food Authority based on risk assessment. The scientific output is based on risk assessment performed in a transparent manner and in accordance to accepted methodology of the Scientific Committee. The functions to be performed by the Scientific Committee and Panels are bound to suffer unless further extension is granted or new Scientific Committee and Panels are notified.

The Original content of the FSSAI announcement are given below:

FSSAI issues an order for the extension of time period for Scientific Committee and Panels. (Dated 23.07.2012)
Under File No. : 1-34/FSSA/SC/SP/2011-FSSAI
FDA Bhawan , Kotla Road, Near Bal Bhawan, New Delhi

The food authority had constituted eight scientific panels and Scientific Committee for providing scientific opinions to the food authority for a period of 3 years vide order No.1-76/FSSA/SC,SP/2009. The term of these Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee had expired on 26/05/2012.

It was decided to extend the validity of these Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee for the period of 2 months or the notification of new Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee whichever is earlier vide order No. 1-76/FSSA/SC, SP/2009 dated 08/06/2012 as there were some important work/documents which were at completion stage in these Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee.
Since few panels still have some work pending and in final stage, it has been decided to extend the validity of these Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee further for a period of one month.
Background of the Order:

Section 13(1) and 14 (1) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 specifies that Food Authority shall establish Scientific Panels, which shall consist of independent scientific experts and constitute Scientific Committee which shall consist of the Chairpersons of the Scientific Panels and six independent Scientific Experts not belonging to any Panels. As per section 15 (1) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 the members of the Scientific Committee and Scientific Panels are appointed by the Food Authority, for a period of three years, which shall be renewable for such period and the vacancy notice shall be published in the relevant leading scientific publications and on the Food Authority’s website for a call for expressions of interest. The Scientific Panel involve the relevant industry and consumer representatives for discussions after that recommendations are made to the Scientific Committee.The Scientific committee further make recommendations to the food Authority for the final decisions. For this purpose the Food Authority had constituted eight Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee for providing scientific opinions to the Food Authority on 26.05.2009 for a period of 3 years vide order No.1-76/FSSA/SC,SP/2009. The term of these Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee has been expired on 26/05/2012.It was decided to extend for 2 months vide order dated 8.06.2012 then it was further extended for one month i.e upto 26.08.2012) or the notification of new scientific panels and committee whichever is earlier, vide order dated 25.07.2012.
No any notification of Scientific Committee and Panels or its further extension, if any, appeared on the website of the FSSAI till date.

Call for Action:

• The FSSAI may be requested to issue appropriate announcement/Notification on the website of FSSAI, in this regard.
• If you have any question regarding this FSSAI order, can ask freely and share your comments with us