India must revisit its food standards if it has any serious intention of addressing the malnourishment issues in the country as also get its act together to ensure the success of `Make in India’ campaign.
Participating in the panel discussion at the India Food Forum, Jitendra Nautiyal, Regional Audit Manager of the certification body, NSF International said, “Many Quick Service Restaurant companies are keen to enter India but want to ensure audit of their suppliers here. However, there is a dilemma with respect to the harmonisation of these standards.”
In 2006, there was one central act that was passed converging eight archaic laws. However, it left the state laws untouched which also needed to be repealed.
“Food safety norms need to be evolved if Indian trade has to grow. For Pan-masala, you only need to add that it is injurious to health while the Indian regulator insists that Scotch must have `best before date’ on its label,” said Ujjwal Kumar, Executive Director, Food Safety, TFS Corporate Solutions.
Is it the safety of the food or the safety of the label? Expert panellists wondered at the panel discussion on the subject – Food Regulatory Guidelines – changes, challenges and way ahead.
Indian Foodlaws were enacted decades ago keeping in mind the issue related to adulteration and hence food safety as an issue remained restricted and neglected, said Dr. Pankaj Jaiminy, Assistant Vice-President, TUV SUD, South Asia.
According to Dr. Vaibhav Kulkarni, Director, Abbott Nutrition Regulatory Affairs, Abbott Nutrition International, “Getting product approvals process is going the wrong way in India and turning out to be the biggest challenge that particularly for importers and manufacturers of nutraceuticals.”
As per the present laws, one spends 6-18 months to get an approval which is valid for only one year and shipments for such products are getting stuck for such approvals, which have otherwise been coming into the country for the past 15 years, Kulkarni said.
The first half of the 8th edition of India Food Forum had sessions on how one can get inside a shoppers mind followed by a session on how the food retail industry will evolve in the next decade and the factor that drive this evolution.
Speaking on the purpose of influencing Indian shoppers in store of the Indian consumer, Manoj Kulkarni, Director, Shopper Marketing, Nielsen said, “41% people buy brands which they have planned on purchasing while 18% people decide to purchase a particular brand but buy another instead, 29% thought of purchasing a particular brand but did not purchase anything while the remaining 12% are just walk-ins with no intention of buying anything.”
Dissecting the three key trends in Indian Food sector, Craig Wimsatt, CEO, Bharti Retail said, "Firstly the offerings will continue to change in the food segment, secondly there will be a rapid increase in the food offerings and thirdly e-commerce space will serve consumer in a different and innovative manner.” He also mentioned about the changing scenario in consumer's preference in terms of brands and taste with the changing landscape.
Anjan Chatterjee, Founder, Speciality Restaurants commented, “Only innovation can redefine the Indian food industry. Every customer is now on a look-out to try out something new, something innovative. We as consumers are now changing the notion of 'Fine' dining to 'Fun' dining since people are now more experimental with their choices and tastes.”
Having a different point of view on redefinition of Indian Food industry, Martin Hill, Commercial Director, Fair Trade International emphasized on the importance and significance of trust and value to be imbibed amongst the customers.
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