US applies new food safety rules

The US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) will officially apply the new FDA Food Safety Modernisation Act (FSMA) from now to early 2016. A Viet Nam News Agency reporter talked with On Le Thi Bich, head of the export-import department of the Vina Commodities Co, about how the new rules will affect local firms.
As an experienced exporter to the US, could you tell me about the most important parts of the new FSMA and what businesses exporting products to this market should look out for?
Labels recorded with unadequate information are one of the main causes for products on their way into the US market being held up at the port. The new provisions in the FSMA require more specific details, especially in the labelling method. In addition, some general requirements must be met, such as product name, weight, ingredients, and the new law also has different rules for various types of products.
In particular, labelling must be in more than one language, with English being compulsory. Enterprises are also required to ensure these translations are precise. In addition to requests of the importers and general standards of the US market, enterprises will also be required to ensure the standard of their goods are checked by third parties.
The FSMA will speed up checks on the production facilities of export countries and the facilities must meet certain standards set by the FDA. Export companies may also have to pay costs for any inspections.
Food exporters to the US are also required by the FDA to list the health risks associated with their products. These documents must be available during any inspections carried out by the FDA.
Small businesses may be exempt or enjoy less strict implementation of these requirements. A small firm is defined as an enterprises with revenue of less than $500,000 per year.
To ensure that Vietnamese food, drugs and beverages are eligible to be imported into the US, the importers are required to set up programmes to confirm the safety of all shipments into the US with safety certificates for each shipment.
Starting from this year, each facility must be registered with the FDA once every two years. Re-registration has to be made in the fourth quarter every even-numbered year.
Export facilities are required to appoint a representative located in the US who the FDA can contact, under requirements in the Anti-Terrorism Act issued in 2002.
The act also allows the FDA to have the authority to order, not merely require companies to recall contaminated food.
What are the disadvantages of the new rules for exporters?
Before the act came into force, it was more convenient for us to export goods to the US. Previously, we had to register with the FDA one time only rather than periodically register every two years under the new rule. Firms often forget to do this.
Another advantage was that goods entering into ports only required adequate documents and inspection by customs officers for clearance. But now, enterprises will face additional difficulties if there are any problems related to food hygiene and safety, as all these goods will be held until the procedures are completed. It will take more time, thus there will be an impact on any type of perishable goods.
Previously, besides the requirements of the importers and the general standards of the US market, standards on goods safety certified by a third party were acceptable, but now the FDA does not recognise the results of these certification units.
Under the previous regulations, a HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) was not required by the FDA, but under the new rule, commodities entering the US have to meet HACCP standards.
The US has adopted this standard on seafood and beverages. By early 2013, the US will put an additional regulation on good manufacturing practice (CGMP).
Does your company have any measures to ensure compliance with the new law?
Before exporting to the US, we must thoroughly understand the export procedures and requirements to avoid any risks. We must also modernise our facilities with advanced equipment and technologies to satisfy the requirements of customers as well as food safety standards.
We export many agricultural products, including cashew nuts, and these are exported to 25 countries around the world, including the US. We send over 100 tonnes of the goods each year to this market. However, when the law takes effect, the greatest difficulty is that we have to re-register with the FDA as each time a registration is made it takes time for them to re-evaluate and make sure that our factory satisfies food hygiene and safety standards before we are allowed to ship goods to the market. — VNS

Food safety norms set to get tougher from August

MANGALORE: All food business operators (FBO)- from transporters to sellers - will need to comply with the rules under Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act 2006 by applying for license before August 4. It will become obligatory on all FBOs including big hoteliers, small canteens, road side vendors, wholesalers, retailers, stockists' and food item sellers including grocers to obtain licences under the act.

Ujjwal Kumar, country head of CQM Quality Management Private Limited, the certification body approved by the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), said that non-compliance with the provisions of the act and its rules would conform to offences and would attract penalties upto Rs 10 lakh and a maximum punishment of life imprisonment depending on the nature of the offence.

Delivering a talk on the act here on Wednesday, Ujjwal said that all the eight existing acts, which control the food security and standards in the nation, would either be repealed or merged with the FSS Act after it comes to force on August 5. As per the act, FSSAI would function as a single reference point for all matters related to food safety and standards in the nation, he added.

Primary food produces of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, dairy farming, aquaculture, genetically modified food, catering, alcoholic drinks and food additives of all kind would be covered under the act, he said. The FBOs in the government sectors too are not excluded from the purview of the act.

On usage of additives in the form chemicals in food items, Ujjwal said that manufacturers would have no freedom to procure any kind additives other than those prescribed while obtaining the licence.

Petty FBOs, whose annual business turnover is less than Rs 12 lakh need not apply for licence. They will have to register with the authority. Meanwhile, FBOs, whose annual turnover is above Rs 12 lakh will need to apply for a licence. There will be one authorized laboratory in each district in the nation to check the food security and standards.

‘Establishments dealing with food items must get registered by August'

Those transporting such goods also should get registered: Ujjwal Kumar

All establishments dealing with food items should get registered by August 2012 under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Those operating without registration after August will be liable for punishment, Ujjwal Kumar, Country Head, CQM Quality Management, has said.
Mr. Kumar was speaking at a training programme on Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 organised by the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Wednesday.
He said establishments included those dealing with processed food, unprocessed food, partially processed food, genetically modified food, infant food, packaged drinking water and alcoholic drinks. “Those transporting these goods also should get registered. Even caterers should get registered,” he added.
Petty retailers, hawkers and small-scale food business with an annual turnover not above Rs. 12 lakh should get registered by paying the annual fee of Rs. 100. Medium and large-scale units involved in dairy, vegetable oil processing, meat processing, food processing and export oriented ones should operate by getting licence from the State and the Central Licensing Authorities as specified under the Act. Licenses would be given within six months from the date of application, Mr. Kumar said. The Act, Mr. Kumar said, gave powers to consumers. “He/she can go to any establishment, take samples of the food and inform the police about the need to check the samples.” Mr. Kumar said these samples would be tested in the laboratories accredited by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories. If the product was found to be bad for consumption, it would be banned by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. The authority had powers to recall the batch of defective product, he added.

Ensure quality on canteen menu

Schools told to implement the Food Safety and Standards

The health department teams today inspected canteens of various schools in the city to check the quality to food being served to the students there. The teams also made the canteen managers aware of the Food Safety and Standards Act and directed them to serve hygienically prepared good quality food items only. During the inspections, though no samples were collected and no seizures were made but canteen owners were issued warnings.
District Health Officer Dr Pradeep Singh Kahlon said canteen owners need to be educated about the quality parameters.
He said teams had informed the staff at the canteen about the various parameters to assess the quality of food.
He said by conducting the inspections, the department has sent the signal that the next time no excuses will be heard.
“Now the canteen owners know about the quality parameters and the Food Safety and Standards Act. As such this is there duty to follow the guidelines," said Kahlon. Food Inspector Amit Joshi led the teams.
Amit Joshi said the teams had detected various shortcomings mainly regarding cleanliness in the canteens of various schools.
He said the school authorities had been immediately informed about these shortcomings.
He said they have asked school principals to intervene.
The department had chalked out a plan to check food quality in the canteens of various schools and colleges few days ago after the department received complaints about the substandard food being served to the students.

‘Everything in food supply chain is under Food Safety Act'

Everything under the food supply chain, post-farm level, till it reaches consumer, comes under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
Mr Ujjwal Kumar, Country Head, CQM Quality Management Pvt Ltd, said this at the inauguration of a training programme on the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) at the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here on Wednesday.
CQM Quality Management Pvt Ltd is a certification body approved by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Giving the example of ‘chapati', he said the farmer who grows wheat and the consumer who eats chapatti are exempted from this Act. Even the transportation of wheat from farmers' field to the nearest ‘mandi' is covered under the Act.
Urging the food business operators, who come under this Act, to get registered and get licences at the earliest, he said August 4 is the cut-off date for submitting applications for licences and registrations. If a food business operator is found without licence from August 5, it will be an offence, he said.
Prior to the implementation of this Act, eight other Acts related to food items were there. These eight Acts have either been repealed or merged with the new Act.
The difference between the previous eight Acts and the FSSA is that food safety will be moved from multi-point control system to single-point control system, he said.
Stating that licensing system has been decentralised under the new Act, Mr Kumar said Central licensing system covers big business houses and licensing of sensitive items such as imported food products.
The State licensing system covers other areas such as medium business houses.
Import of food items is viewed seriously and it comes under the Central licensing system under the Act.
All imported food items will be checked at the port of entry, he said.
He clarified that petty food business operator, whose turnover is Rs 12 lakh a year or who sells up to 500 l of milk a day, is exempted from taking licences. However, such an operator will have to get registered under the Act, he added.