Mar 2, 2012

Apex food regulatory body mandates fitness test for food-handlers

Food-handlers in India will now have to undergo a mandatory medical examination for ratifying their physical fitness in order to pursue their businesses.

In this regard, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a proforma for medical fitness certificate for the food-handlers to the registered medical practitioner and civil servant.

It is now mandatory for the food-handlers to undergo an eye test, skin examination, physical examination and get their vaccine shots against enteric group of diseases at set schedules.
They would also need to undergo any test needed to confirm any communicable or infectious disease that they are suspected to be suffering from on clinical examination.

"This proforma has been issued by the FSSAI to comply with Schedule 4 of the Regulation as a pre-requisite for obtaining a trade license," Prabodh Halde, head - product integrity, technology, Marico Industries, informed FnB News in chat over telephone.

Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards Regulation, 2011, calls for making arrangements to get the food-handlers and employees of any food set-up medically examined once a year to ensure that they are free from any infectious, contagious and other communicable diseases.

A record of these examinations will be signed by the registered medical practitioner and maintained for inspection

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