NEW DELHI: Your
neighbourhood sweetmeat shop may soon have to comply with stricter
quality standards while preparing its rasgullas, barfis and snacks, with
India's food safety authority planning to bring in comprehensive norms
for these eatables.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed the standardization of 'ethnic foods of Indian origin' for which guidelines will be laid down in consultation with sector specific experts. This would mean, among other things, that only ingredients of a certain quality are used in these foods.
While identification of food items to be covered is underway, sources said a range of local sweets and snacks, including traditional south Indian food, is likely to be brought into the net.
The move is likely to impact a range of firms from small and medium enterprises to large companies, sources said. While most companies have welcomed the proposed changes, the impact is expected to be harsher on smaller players who may not have the resources to measure up to the standards.
The exercise is part of FSSAI's larger undertaking to harmonize domestic Indian food standards with Codex standards and other international best practices "to the extent possible and necessary, taking into account our needs".
The Codex standards, created by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization, seek to develop food standards, guidelines and related texts.
"There are several products for which there are neither domestic standards under Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR) nor Codex standards. Ethnic foods of Indian origin fall in this category. We propose to identify these products and develop standards for them in consultation with sector specific experts," the FSSAI website said.
The authority is also expected to review existing food standards in the country — as compared with Codex and standards in other countries — and identify areas requiring improvement. The review will include fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, milk and its products, fish and its products, fats and oils, meat and its products, ready-to-eat food, sweets and confectioneries.
Standards of food additives, food contaminants, pesticide residues, food hygiene, food labelling, food inspection and certification will also under review. The authority proposes to adapt Codex standards "based on India's needs" for items that do not have domestic standards under FSSR. It will also look at international best practices.
"In some cases, the Codex norms are more stringent than the FSSAI ones. A lot of makers will have to change their hygiene and production process if the standards are upgraded. For instance, in dairy sector, milking and storage conditions are not so hygienic. There are challenges, but it will help make the Indian market better," said R S Sodhi, MD, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), the parent company of Amul.
"We need a complete revision that can also be followed by small and medium enterprises. We will look at Codex standards and compare these with other developing countries to see what will be suitable for India," a source said.
Experts said alignment with international standards will help boost India's exports as more number of items will be deemed fit to be sold in overseas markets.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed the standardization of 'ethnic foods of Indian origin' for which guidelines will be laid down in consultation with sector specific experts. This would mean, among other things, that only ingredients of a certain quality are used in these foods.
While identification of food items to be covered is underway, sources said a range of local sweets and snacks, including traditional south Indian food, is likely to be brought into the net.
The move is likely to impact a range of firms from small and medium enterprises to large companies, sources said. While most companies have welcomed the proposed changes, the impact is expected to be harsher on smaller players who may not have the resources to measure up to the standards.
The exercise is part of FSSAI's larger undertaking to harmonize domestic Indian food standards with Codex standards and other international best practices "to the extent possible and necessary, taking into account our needs".
The Codex standards, created by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization, seek to develop food standards, guidelines and related texts.
"There are several products for which there are neither domestic standards under Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR) nor Codex standards. Ethnic foods of Indian origin fall in this category. We propose to identify these products and develop standards for them in consultation with sector specific experts," the FSSAI website said.
The authority is also expected to review existing food standards in the country — as compared with Codex and standards in other countries — and identify areas requiring improvement. The review will include fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, milk and its products, fish and its products, fats and oils, meat and its products, ready-to-eat food, sweets and confectioneries.
Standards of food additives, food contaminants, pesticide residues, food hygiene, food labelling, food inspection and certification will also under review. The authority proposes to adapt Codex standards "based on India's needs" for items that do not have domestic standards under FSSR. It will also look at international best practices.
"In some cases, the Codex norms are more stringent than the FSSAI ones. A lot of makers will have to change their hygiene and production process if the standards are upgraded. For instance, in dairy sector, milking and storage conditions are not so hygienic. There are challenges, but it will help make the Indian market better," said R S Sodhi, MD, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), the parent company of Amul.
"We need a complete revision that can also be followed by small and medium enterprises. We will look at Codex standards and compare these with other developing countries to see what will be suitable for India," a source said.
Experts said alignment with international standards will help boost India's exports as more number of items will be deemed fit to be sold in overseas markets.
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