A few months back, the FSSAI had brought out a Hygiene Rating Scheme on a volunteer basis to encourage food service establishments to adopt the practice of self-compliance and become eligible for Hygiene Ratings. These ratings are based on compliance with food hygiene and safety requirements laid out in Part V Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulation 2018. This step towards showcasing these Hygiene Ratings for food safety would help to build consumer confidence in the food service establishment. Hotels, restaurants and other catering establishments that opt for hygiene ratings can also refer to these ratings while scheduling the inspection of their food businesses.
Food Businesses that opt for Hygiene Ratings and later for Responsible Place to Eat will be able to undertake the online self-assessment at www.fssai.gov.in/servicesafe and the same would then be verified by the Hygiene Rating Audit Agencies (HRAA). FSSAI has adopted a robust technique to select these Hygiene Rating Audit Agencies and presently 26 have been recognised for this initiative. The auditors have been trained under FoSTaC.
About Hygiene Rating
Hygiene Rating has been formulated by the FSSAI to ensure consumers make informed choices about the places which they choose to eat in and through making these informed choices encourage businesses to improve their hygiene standards and hence reduce the incidence of food-borne illness.
The Hygiene Rating concept is active in various countries and has proven to be effective in creating awareness among consumers and causing the FBOs to deliver better food safety standards. Every country has its own terminology to explain the same idea of ensuring safe and hygienic food in every catering business. Some of the well-known schemes already in action are Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Scores on Doors is a star rating in Australia.
You too can enroll for Hygiene Rating
A dedicated web portal is being designed for project “Serve Safe” – An initiative to ensure safe and nutritious food in catering sector. Hygiene rating is also a part of Serve Safe initiative. FBOs can enrol for hygiene ratings and it is mandatory for catering organisation to be FSSAI Licenced and comply with the mandatory requirement as per the Law.
FBO logins with FLRS Login Id & Password → | Self-assessment of → Food Safety Compliance | Generate and Display Hygiene Ratings → | Inspection and validation by FSO and HRAA |
Follow Mandatory Requirements
- Have FSSAI License/ Registration and follow schedule 4 requirements. Also, adequate measures shall be adopted to ensure that food being served to the consumers is of good quality and safe to eat
- Train all food handlers and appoint a certified Food Safety Supervisors
- Must have Food Safety Display Boards prominently displayed in the premises
- Get food samples tested periodically.
Self-Assessment Followed by Inspection
A detailed checklist has been prepared for Food Businesses. The Food Business after complying with the regulatory requirement can go for self-assessment and generate hygiene ratings. On the basis of same the ratings will be validated by Hygiene Rating Audit Agency (HRAA) or Food Safety Officer. Separate set of ratings on the basis of the inspections done will be generated. The same can be downloaded and displayed by the Food businesses.
Become A Responsible Place to Eat
‘Responsible FBO Scheme’ is a mark to encourage food businesses to promote nutrition and food security. This initiative aims in bringing about behavioural changes in people of the society and ensure Food Security and Food Availability across every sector and enriching every life. This initiative will help the FBOs to distinguish itself from others and create a unique identity as a responsible Food Business.
Implementation Plan is as Follows
Obtain 4+ in Hygiene Rating
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Enrol to become a Responsible Place to Eat
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Implement the things required as per guidebook
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Fill Self-compliance check list
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Certificate will be generated if minimum compliance is met
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Inspection and validation by FSO and HRAA
Once a Food Business obtains 4+ in ‘Hygiene Rating, he may volunteer for becoming a ‘Responsible Place to Eat’. It is a voluntary initiative for the FBO to add value to society in its own capacity. To become a Responsible place to eat FBOs need to implement the above six mentioned points. After implementation of the necessary points. The FBO may do self-assessment by filling a pre-designed checklist. Once minimum requirements are fulfilled, the FBO will be able to generate a certificate for ‘Responsible Place to Eat’. The same information will be shared with the FSO and Hygiene Rating Audit Agency (HRAA) for validation at time of their routine inspection.
FBOs To Do List
- Promote personal hygiene
- Promote healthy eating
- Promote safe water handling practices
- Have open kitchen/ kitchen visits
- Donate food
- Have effective complaint handling.
Source: FSSAI
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