“FSSAI is responsible body & will comply with mandate”

FSSAI has the uphill task of implementing the food safety law – the Food Safety & Standards Regulations, 2011 - in its true letter and spirit. However, in view of the tepid response to implementation of the regulations’ part pertaining to licensing & registration of food business operators (FBOs), the authority has been facing various challenges, externally and internally. Topping the internal issues faced by the authority is the one relating to its senior officials such as chief executive officer and enforcement director quitting to take up plum assignments.FSSAI chairman K Chandramouli comes clear on the issue and more to Ashwani Maindola on the sidelines of a conference held in New Delhi recently

Officials of FSSAI are either seeking transfer or stepping down, and some posts are still vacant. Would it affect FSSAI’s work?
FSSAI is able to manage its work. It is a responsible organisation and will comply with the mandate assigned to it. People come and go, and it is our duty that our responsibilities are not affected.

Do you think licensing and registration of FBOs will be completed by end of the newly-extended deadline?
We are optimistic about completing the task within the deadline. And it is the responsibility of everyone to help FSSAI in achieving the goal of food safety. However, enforcement is going to be a mixed bag.

What challenges will FSSAI face while implementing the regulations?
FSSAI is a regulatory body, and licensing and registrations is just a way to streamline the identification of food business operators. It is a way for identifying the FBOs so that food safety norms would be implemented.

It does not restrict any FBO from experimenting with his or her product or suggest how they should prepare, but only states that they should keep in mind the aspects of adulteration, hygiene and sanitation.

And we have been trying to bring together all the stakeholders on the same platform. The governments of all the states have a huge role to play, and the role of civil society will also become larger.

Are Codex norms applicable to Indian needs?
The harmonisation of Codex Alimentarius norms with respect to Indian food habits is required because the ethnic food or cultural food has no standard formula. For instance, the samosa in north India may be different from that in south India.

However the basic requirements of checking additives, pesticide residues, sanitation and hygiene, should be taken care of. Wherever Codex norms could be implemented in their original form, they would be.

And, street food?
Street food improvement is something we are looking at, as it is important to each city and has the potential to grow. So firstly, street food vendors must take care of such aspects as cleanliness and sanitation. This would not only help the local economy, but also add to food diversity.

What are FSSAI's future plans?
We would be taking the issue of food safety to schools. We would consult the education ministry to include the subjects of food safety in the curriculum. Children are most affected and ill-informed about choices regarding food habits.

Moreover, lifestyle diseases like obesity are on the increase, which is a huge problem. Secondly, FSSAI would be undertaking awareness campaigns, training, and building capacity, amongst others. 

Source:http://www.fnbnews.com/