Quality test for food items soon

FSSAI is now concentrating only on safety, hygiene aspects 

Enforcement of safety and hygiene standard for food is to be a continuous process for the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the next level will be to take up the qualitative improvement of food items available in the market, chairman of FSSAI K. Chandramouli has said.

‘‘At present, the FSSAI is only setting minimum standards for food and trying to make sure that the safety and hygiene standards are met scrupulously. We have not yet started talking about what constitutes healthy food or what should be the safe levels of various additives and preservatives that go into various food items. We will be addressing these issues for consumers once we have our full infrastructure and testing facilities in place,’’ Mr. Chandramouli said.

Talking to The Hindu, Mr. Chandramouli said that though the Food Safety and Standards Act was a consumer-driven law, many seemed to be finding it inconvenient and draconian.

‘‘Ever since the FSSAI came into being, there had been a plethora of complaints and some 150 court cases challenging its authority. The Act is such an extensive one that it covers all those who are involved in the food business, from multinationals right down to the street food vendor, While the same enforcement strategy will not work for all groups, we need to take everyone on board. Ultimately, every food business operator (FBO) is also a consumer,” he said.

After the Act was enforced, some 32-35 lakh licences had been issued to FBOs across India.

“Our primary task is to establish a good network of laboratories and testing facilities, without which, food safety cannot be ensured. The FSSAI has put up a proposal asking for an allocation of Rs.850 crore in the 12th Plan to this end. All States are facing the same problem of shortage of enforcement officials and the lack of adequate testing facilities, with the result that samples collected for checking are piling up and arbitrations are not going forward. But States can make use of the excellent Central lab facilities till they set up their own and the FSSAI will notify these labs to enable sample testing,’’ he said.

The FSSAI has set up nine scientific panels to go into various aspects of food safety, including additives, flavouring agents, neutraceuticals, and diabetic products. It is also in the process of evolving standards for various food items. At present, standards have been fixed for only 377 items under the Act.

Major challenge

“A major challenge is to evolve standards for high-end food and processed food, which will stand up to international scrutiny. We also need to evolve food safety standards and harmonise these with Codex and other international standards,” Mr. Chandramouli said.

Enforcement of safety standard to continue

FSSAI has set up nine scientific panels