'If processes food is not in compliance with the Food Safety Act, it should be immediately withdrawn'

New Delhi, Aug 12 (KNN) As per information provided by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Section 28 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 provides for the Food Recall Procedure.

As per the international practices, a food recall is an action taken to remove the food which is unsafe from the entire food supply chain from the manufacturer to the consumer. However, the food recall procedures may vary from country to country, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said in a written reply in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Lack of food recall policy is not accountable for non-conformity on food safety standards. As a matter of fact, the first responsibility for recall of food has been cast upon the Food Business Operator.

Section 28 (1) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 stipulates that “If a food business operator considers or has reasons to believe that a food which he has processed, manufactured or distributed is not in compliance with this Act, or the rules or regulations, made thereunder, he shall immediately initiate procedures to withdraw the food in question from the market and consumers indicating reasons for its withdrawal and inform the competent authorities thereof.”

As envisaged under Section 28 (4) of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 the Food Authority has notified the Draft Food Safety and Standards (Food Recall Procedure) Regulations, 2015 in the Gazette of India on 22/04/2015 and made the same available to the public on 29/05/2015 for inviting comments/ suggestions from the stakeholders before final notification she said.