The topmost food safety regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has now imposed numerous strict measures on FBOs for fulfilling food and health safety compliance by them. These days it is inspecting the Indian food businesses operators (FBOs) on a regular basis for checking proper compliance regarding FSSAI registration and FSSAI license.
Every now and then, FSSAI brings rigorous measures to enforce compliance among the FBOs. Despite repeated warnings to FBOs, FSSAI has noticed in recent times several loopholes in the proper functioning of these regulations. Consequently, the food safety regulator has now determined to hold a special programme for checking whether FSSAI registration and FSSAI licensing rules are properly followed by all the FBOs.
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What are the major types of violations found in FSSAI registration process?
In recent times, FSSAI has found so many wrongdoings in the FSSAI registration process, such as-
- FSSAI Licensing in inappropriate class,
- FBOs continuing their business with the expired FSSAI license or FSSAI registration whose validity is now expired.
- FBOs acquiring new FSSAI license or FSSAI registration as opposed to a renewal of the existing license, as to avoid the late fee for violations.
- FBOs involved in food assembling or processing that isn’t mentioned on their FSSAI license.
Hence, the FSSAI has proposed to begin a special drive for addressing the 4 types of resistance mentioned above.
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What will be the procedure of the FSSAI compliance program be carried out?
The FSSAI will put into practice this compliance drive in 2 stages.
- In first stage, FBOs will be provided entrance to the FSSAI govt. site, for authentication of their-
- Eligibility
- Status of the FSSAI License
- Items endorsed on the License
- FSSAI registration application and
- FSSAI License change
- Then in Second stage, FSSAI will start enforcement activities, for example, penalty and prosecution of the defaulting FBOs as per the FSS Act 2006.
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What will be FSSAI compliance Phase-I?
The Phase-I of the FSSAI compliance drive will be started from first July and will to 30th September 2019. During this time,
- There will be Self-evaluation by all the FBOs on FSSAI site. Defaulters shall be identified by FSSAI Authority.
- FSSAI has moreover commenced the ‘Food Products Identity verification System’ (FPIVS). Through this site, the FBOs can now confirm whether their items are listed in their FSSAI License. They are being processed as per FSSAI Standards.
- Further, FBOs will be able to ensure whether their items are covered under-
- FSSAI Standards,
- Proprietary Products or
- Novel Foods
- FSSAI will allot an id-number to every one of these products.
- Thereafter, FBOs will be now supposed to authenticate their FSSAI license particulars and to report any faults or alterations needed. For this purpose, the FBOs will be intimated by means of email, print, electronic and web based life.
The Commissioners of Food Safety, State Nodal Officers and the FSSAI Regional Offices will advice FBOs to complete change of their existing FSSAI license or FSSAI registration.
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What will be FSSAI compliance Phase-II?
The Phase-II of FSSAI compliance drive will begin from October 1, 2019 onwards. This will involve the action against defaulters.
- For this purpose, an Awareness drive would be launched wherein consumers and consumer discussions will check on FSSAI entryway whether the FBOs are having a substantial FSSAI License or FSSAI Registration. Whether the FSSAI License or FSSAI Registration includes the correct Kind of Business and items endorsed.
- The webpage will enable consumers to report defaulter food businesses to the Licensing Authorities.
- Meanwhile, State Food Authorities will begin special drives to identify defaulters.
- Based on feedback from consumer discussions with respect to defaulter FBOs, concerned authorities will begin a request and take activity against rebelliousness as per the FSS Act, 2006.
Important Note:
- In case of the false statement on FSSAI site, the FBOs will be reprimanded u/s 63 of FSS Act 2006, which involves a ½ year imprisonment and/or penalty up to INR 5 lacs.
- Before long there will be an arrangement to take away the expired FSSAI License or FSSAI Registration as per Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS). This will keep up a compliance history of such FBOs.
- Hence, the FBOs are presently required to seriously pursue the compliance of FSSAI regulations are possess only legitimate FSSAI Registration and FSSAI Licenses.
