Through an order dated 22 August 2019 the FSSAI had expressed its decision that the Certificate of Analysis of imported proprietary foods should be from an ISO 17025 accredited labs.
Presently as per the Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017, imported proprietary foods as defined under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) 2011 Ninth Amendment Regulations, 2016 shall be tested for quality parameters as per Certificate of Analysis from exporting country submitted by the importer and safety parameters as per Food Safety and Standards ( Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulation, 2011.
In this regard, FSSAI had through this order conveyed that the fact that the Certificate of Analysis for testing of imported proprietary food shall be accepted by the Authorised Officer only if it is issued by an ISO 17025 accredited lab of the exporting country with a valid scope for those parameters and product matrix.
In continuation of the above order the FSSAI has issued another order on 11 October, 2011 about the Certificate of Analysis. FSSAI has further decided that while the Certificate of Analysis accompanying the consignment must be from an ISO 17025 accredited lab it shall not be more than three months old from the date of despatch from the exporting country.
The above order will be effective from 1 January, 2020.
About ISO 17025
ISO17025 is a certification awarded to laboratories that demonstrate that they operate effectively and generate valid results. This promotes confidence in their work both nationally and internationally. ISO17025 is useful for any organization that performs testing, sampling or calibration and wants to ensure that their results are reliable. ISO 17025 also allows laboratories to cooperate among themselves by generating wider acceptance of results between countries. Test reports and certificates can be accepted from one country to another without the need for further testing and this leads to better and improved international trade.
VARSHA KHATAKE says
ISO 17025 LABORATORY DOES NOT HAVE SPECIFIC METHOD OF ANALYSIS FOR PROPRIETARY FOOD , AND THEIR IS NO VERTICAL STANDARDS DEFINED FOR PROPRIETARY FOOD , THEN HOW LABORATORY WILL BE ABLE TO ISSUE OF COMPLIANCE OF THE PRODUCT .
FSH Team says
Proprietary food shall comply with the microbiological requirements as specified in Appendix B of these Regulations. If no microbiological standards are specified for any foods or food categories in Appendix B of these regulations, proprietary foods falling under such food categories shall not contain any pathogenic microorganism at a level that may render the food product unsafe.
To read more – https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Gazette_Notification_Proprietary_Foods_19_10_2016.pdf