With August 5, 2012, the last date for compliance with Licensing and Registration under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR), 2011, just around the corner, industry groups are urging the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the country's apex food regulator, to extend the deadline. In fact, one of them, the Nagpur-based Vidarbha Taxpayers' Association (VTA), has called them pro-FDI regulations, which could bring the Inspector Raj back, and expressed hope that the deadline is extended by at least a year.
Tejinder Singh Renu, honorary secretary, VTA, and Nagpur Residential Hotels Association (NRHA), has sent a letter titled, "Appeal for extension to one year deadline expiring on August 4, 2012, as stipulated under Regulation 2.1.2 of Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011."
It was addressed to Dr Manmohan Singh, prime minister; Sharad Pawar, minister of agriculture and food processing industries; Ghulam Nabi Azad, minister of health and family welfare; K Chandramouli, chairman, FSSAI; and Mahesh Zagade, food safety commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, Maharashtra.
"We welcome the repealing of various Central Acts such as the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954; Fruit Products Order, 1955; Meat Food Products Order, 1973; Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order, 1947; Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation) Order, 1988; Solvent Extracted Oil, De-oiled Meal and Edible Flour (Control) Order, 1967; Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992; etc. after the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which came into force across the country on August 5, 2011," the letter said.
It stated, "However, on close scrutiny of the Act, Rules and Regulations of the Food Safety and Standards, we found that the provisions mentioned therein are in favour of foreign direct investment (FDI), and are literally meant to shut down small- and medium-sized food business establishments and clearly support only multi-national corporations (MNCs)."
The letter criticised FSSAI for its failure to strike a balance between the existing procedures followed and surprisingly making the same provisions from farm to fork. "That means a petty dhaba and a seven-star hotel will have to comply with the same norms, as no parameters or gradation is described in the FSSA, 2006," it said.
Although FSSAI was incorporated to lay down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption, the letter states, "Without studying the Indian market, agricultural procedures and other parameters, the Act has been enacted, which we feel has been done in haste and the FSSAI has not given the stakeholders a lawful opportunity."
Tejinder Singh Renu, honorary secretary, VTA, and Nagpur Residential Hotels Association (NRHA), has sent a letter titled, "Appeal for extension to one year deadline expiring on August 4, 2012, as stipulated under Regulation 2.1.2 of Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011."
It was addressed to Dr Manmohan Singh, prime minister; Sharad Pawar, minister of agriculture and food processing industries; Ghulam Nabi Azad, minister of health and family welfare; K Chandramouli, chairman, FSSAI; and Mahesh Zagade, food safety commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, Maharashtra.
"We welcome the repealing of various Central Acts such as the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954; Fruit Products Order, 1955; Meat Food Products Order, 1973; Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order, 1947; Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation) Order, 1988; Solvent Extracted Oil, De-oiled Meal and Edible Flour (Control) Order, 1967; Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992; etc. after the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which came into force across the country on August 5, 2011," the letter said.
It stated, "However, on close scrutiny of the Act, Rules and Regulations of the Food Safety and Standards, we found that the provisions mentioned therein are in favour of foreign direct investment (FDI), and are literally meant to shut down small- and medium-sized food business establishments and clearly support only multi-national corporations (MNCs)."
The letter criticised FSSAI for its failure to strike a balance between the existing procedures followed and surprisingly making the same provisions from farm to fork. "That means a petty dhaba and a seven-star hotel will have to comply with the same norms, as no parameters or gradation is described in the FSSA, 2006," it said.
Although FSSAI was incorporated to lay down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption, the letter states, "Without studying the Indian market, agricultural procedures and other parameters, the Act has been enacted, which we feel has been done in haste and the FSSAI has not given the stakeholders a lawful opportunity."
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