Mumbai
The long-simmering issue of holding up of imported foods at ports and airports across the country due to lack of labels that are as per FSSAI norms has flared up again with 40-60 containers of imported olives getting stuck.
In the past, foods and food ingredients worth Rs 30,000 crore imported from different countries are said to be lying at various ports and airports in the country due to labelling issues for more than a year.
In the latest instance, the containers of olives have been held up by the Customs as they are found to be low on salt (sodium chloride in brine) as preservative as per FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) norms. However, some food importers point out that the root cause of the issue is the differences between import standards for olives set by FSSAI and the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the international food standards.
According to them, FSSAI is demanding a higher level of salt (sodium chloride in brine) in olives - Codex norms allow only 1 per cent maximum, but FSSAI insists on 5 per cent minimum. This despite the fact that imported olives which are pasteurised need 1.75 per cent to 2 per cent (maximum) salt for preservation.
Deepak Asrani, managing director, Shri Roda Foods, a leading food importer, explains, “Olives are pasteurised and contain salt - 1.75 per cent to 2 per cent (minimum). This is considered to be maximum, as we need to wash them thrice to remove salt before consumption, while FSSAI says minimum salt 5 per cent; water, colour, stabiliser and citric acid are only contents. The jars are vacuum- packed for longer shelf life - 36 months.”
Asrani stressed that even two per cent salt content added as a preservative was harmful to health and it had to be washed thrice before consumption.
Industries facing crisis
Meanwhile, the hotel industry and ready-to-serve restaurants as also the bakery industry are faced with a crisis as olives are used as an important ingredient in foods like pizzas.
Amit Lohani, convenor, Forum for Indian Food Importers (FIFI), comments, “It has affected the business of importing and specifically of olives. Businesses now shy away from innovations and product developments, due to fear of a disapproval from the food safety authority.”
Process of standardisation
Interestingly, while importers are ruing over the absence of updated standards in FSSAI in particular to olives, the apex food authority is claiming that the process of standardisation was continuous and it was expected to harmonise some 11,000 standards by the end of August and subsequently will be notifying to the WTO.
Also sources from FSSAI revealed that they were still updating the standards to regulate all available food products with the help of a committee called Task Force that included NGOs, scientists, experts and activists, which would recommend new standards and regulations.
New technologies
Not only that, new technologies such as vacuumised and nitrogenised methods of preservation are also available for olives, for which FSSAI has no standards and it does not recognise them.
Firoz H Naqvi, secretary, Food Ingredients Manufacturers & Suppliers of India (FIMSI), explains, “Olives are a special case of concern, as government is not allowing new technologies for innovations. India imports olives mostly from the Gulf and European countries. Canned olives basically come soaked in a liquid, which gives acidity to olives but prevents them from rotting. While this helps the olives, it is harmful for the consumer, but is allowed by the food safety authority.”
He adds, “Now we have new methods of preservation such as vacuumised and nitrogenised olives, to keep them fresh and they are not harmful. But Indian government has no standards which allow these innovative methods to be used in our products. Because of this, many companies are facing problems in importing olives. It is not the absence of regulations or standards, but absence of updated standards, which is the cause of concern.”
Self-declaration
Meanwhile, FSSAI has attempted to make the application process for food import clearance easier by introducing a hassle-free system. Under this system, it has abolished the provision for notarised 'Affidavit' by replacing it with a procedure to give an undertaking by way of self-declaration from immediate effect.
A source confirms, “Soon the import clearance system will be smooth for importers with improved regulations, updated standards and ease in documentation. FSSAI has already substituted affidavits with self-declaration system, which may decrease the time for import clearance.”
With this new system in place, it is being hoped that not only the containers of olives but all consignments stuck over the years get clearance from the authority in due course.
No comments:
Post a Comment