Among the various reactions that have been pouring in with regard to the six-month extension given to compliance with certain provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration) Regulations, 2011, by food business operators, the one offered by Ashwin Bhadri, head, business relations, Equinox Labs, an NABL-accredited food testing facility in Mumbai, is interesting. For Bhadri has offered a different kind of perspective touching two aspects.
“Firstly, the advantage of the extension is that it will give FBOs and the industry some time to get themselves registered or licensed. The issues faced by the industry were that they did not have access to quality resources to upgrade themselves. For instance, many FBOs did not know how to make a Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS) Plan. In the beginning there was very little clarity in the mind of the FBOs on the requirements of the law and how to comply with them. Over the last one year, a lot of work has been done to ensure that all these doubts are cleared,” he said.
“Secondly, FBOs were already given a year's notice to comply with the same, but majority have not yet complied with them. The extension should be adhered to strictly, or else it will be pointless, and nobody in the country will take the law seriously,” said Bhadri.
About the testing capability available in the country, Bhadri said, “There are plenty of private labs that have NABL accreditation. They ensure that the total testing load can be handled. It will take the government a long time to be able to cater to the growing requirement for testing throughout the country.”
“Firstly, the advantage of the extension is that it will give FBOs and the industry some time to get themselves registered or licensed. The issues faced by the industry were that they did not have access to quality resources to upgrade themselves. For instance, many FBOs did not know how to make a Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS) Plan. In the beginning there was very little clarity in the mind of the FBOs on the requirements of the law and how to comply with them. Over the last one year, a lot of work has been done to ensure that all these doubts are cleared,” he said.
“Secondly, FBOs were already given a year's notice to comply with the same, but majority have not yet complied with them. The extension should be adhered to strictly, or else it will be pointless, and nobody in the country will take the law seriously,” said Bhadri.
About the testing capability available in the country, Bhadri said, “There are plenty of private labs that have NABL accreditation. They ensure that the total testing load can be handled. It will take the government a long time to be able to cater to the growing requirement for testing throughout the country.”
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