All food imports have to be in compliance with standards laid down by the FSSAI so that unsafe and substandard food is not imported into the country. In march 2017 the FSSAI also notified the Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017. These regulations have laid down detailed and clear procedures for all matters related to food imports like licensing, clearance, storage, inspection, sampling, etc.
The FSSAI has published this manual to assist food importers in tandem with the Import Regulation. The Import Manual is also expected to ensure that a consistent approach in food import clearance at different ports in the country is applied both where there is FSSAI and where food imports are regulated by Customs on behalf of FSSAI.
In the first chapter the Import Manual
- outlines the procedure for Import License for Food Imports for Commercial Purposes through a flow chart
- Then outlines the clearance process
- lists the documents to be submitted with application and
- again uses a flow chart to clarify Process flow for Food Clearance
- review process
The Second Chapter Contains orders further Simplifying Food Imports which contains
- Relaxation in labelling requirements for bulk and wholesale packages
- Issuance of provisional NOC
- Sampling and testing of combines cargo of pulses and oils
- Miniature sample for high priced alcoholic beverages
- Item wise clearance of imported food consignments
Chapter 3 is titled Food Import for Other Purposes and contains information on how to import
Food import for personal purposes
Food imported for Diplomatic missions
Import of food for quality assurance, research and development purposes
Products imported for the purpose of exhibitions and tasting
Import of foods for sporting purposes
Imported food consignment meant for 100 percent export/ re-export
Chapter 4 outlines the Step by Step Procedure for Food Imports
Step 1: Filing of application at Customs Ice-gate followed by
- Scrutiny by Risk Management System (RMS)
- Referred to Food Import Clearance System (FICS)
- Cleared through green channel
List of high risk foods that require 100% sampling
- Meat and Meat products
- Fish and Fish products
- Egg and Egg products
- Milk powders
- Condensed Milk
- Milk cereal based weaning foods
- Infant milk foods
- Infant formulae
- Fats on any form except edible vegetable fat
- Cocoa butter equivalent or substitutes
For low risk and other foods items 100% sampling is done for first five commercial consignments and on successful clearance only 5% sampling is done on subsequent consignments
Step 2: Registration in FICS, log in and document upload
Step 3: Scrutiny of documents, payment for lab testing fees and appointment for Visual Inspection
- Visual inspection fees is Rs.2000/-
- Lab analysis fees for imported samples is Rs.12000/- for some foods like infant milk formula, infant nutrition, infant milk food, milk cereal based complementary foods, processed cereal based complementary foods, packaged drinking water and mineral water
- Other categories of foods lab fees is Rs.5000/-
Step 4: Visual Inspection and Sampling process
Step 5: Laboratory analysis
Step 6: issue of No Objection Certificate /non-conformance certificate
Annexure I of the Food Import Manual contains the Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017.
Annexure II contains Form-DI (Annual return for Milk and Milk products) which lists the names of the products imported or exported, price, quantity in metric tonnes, name of the country or port, rate per kg and value.
Annexure III contains the relevant portions of the Food Safety and Standards (licensing and Registration of food Businesses) Regulations 2011which are applicable for Imports of foods.
Annexure IV contains the
- contact details of FSSAI officials nominated as Authorised Officers (AOs) along with Port Codes, name and location and contact details
- contact details of the locations/ports where customs officials are nominated as Authorised Officers (136 names listed)
Annexure V: contains the guidelines related to Food Import Clearance process by FSSAI’s Authorised Officers
Annexure VI: contains the list of port wise laboratories where FSSAI handles food
import
Annexure VII contains the region wise complete list of FSSAI notified laboratories
Annexure VIII contains the list of FSSAI notified referral laboratories
The article contains only the highlights from the Manual for Food Imports. For more details you can log onto the FSSAI website FSSAI.GOV.IN
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