Concerned over the sale and distribution of eatables manufactured in foreign countries into the National Capital Region, including Delhi market, without compliance of the Food Safety Standards Act, the Customs Department has made it mandatory that it would not clear any such item without receipt of the release order from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The Customs Department has asked the FSSAI to ensure timely clearance of the goods where the test report of FSSAI is positive.
In a recent meeting with the customs authorities, it was also pointed out that sweets, chocolates, cereals and other consumables should not be allowed in the markets without being checked on quality.
According to sources, there were reports that some imported food items are being released in the market without proper checks and procedures laid in the FSSAI. In other words, the festive season has been started in the country and consumption of imported sweets and chocolates have been increased and these are being released without proper checks of safety standards.
A decision was taken that the FSSAI should put in place a mechanism for timely disposal of such cases in Delhi and its neighbouring areas. During the meeting, the Customs Department has directed FSSAI to provide details (name, designation and contact numbers) of the authorised officers who have been assigned the job of collecting samples or examination at these locations so that these could be displayed for the information of the trade and published on the website.
At present, the officers of the FSSAI are empowered to draw samples from the customs ports at Tuglakabad, Patparganj, IGI Airport, Faridabad/ Ballabhgarg, Loni and Dadri. The officers were directed to ensure there was no delay in taking samples for examination from these centers. Some officers reportedly raised concerns over delays in collecting samples due to customs ports located in distant locations of Haryana.
A source said Customs Superintendents, Appraisers, Inspectors and Examiners have now been authorised to collect samples from Panchi in Sonepat, Piyala in Ballabhgarh, and Garhi Harsaru in Panipat to expedite clearance process of the foreign food items.
The main focus of the department would be to adopt a single window clearance system to clear samples at the earliest so that the products can reach the markets in the shortest possible time span.
A senior officer said the meeting also took stock of labeling requirements which were mandatory before the goods were cleared by the concerned customs officers.
The officers were told that a circular issued by the Central Board of Excise and Customs had made it clear that the facility of labeling imported goods in bonded warehouses had already been extended to importers subject to certain procedural conditions.
The labelling requirements and the manner in which these are to be depicted on the label of the food products are mentioned in the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulation, 2011. The officers were also instructed to fully comply with the FSS Act, Rules and Regulations in regard to the labeling requirements of foreign food items.
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