FSSAI hints mandating food safety supervisor, MSMEs say it might add to input costs

FSSAI hints mandating food safety supervisor, MSMEs say it might add to input costs

New Delhi, Dec 5 (KNN) In response to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) CEO Pawan Agarwal hinting towards the authority mandating food safety supervisor for the enterprises involved in the food sector, the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) fear that if made mandatory, it might add to the overall inputs costs of production.

Talking to KNN, Sagar Kurade, Past President of All India Food Processors' Association (AIFPA) voiced concern over the latest development.

Kurade said that while the step on an overall note is a welcoming one, but it might not be very well for the unorganized sector.

“While the organized and established sector would not find difficulty in employing a food safety supervisor to their team, the MSME units involved in the business might experience added burden on the overall input costs”, he said.

Kurade informed that at present in most of the MSMEs, the person in charge of the management or the person in charge of the quality control is assigned the task to inspect the food safety.

Kurade said that instead of making it mandatory, FSSAI may recommend the same, leaving it unto the capacity and capability of the units whether or not they can hire a food safety supervisor for their production process.

Earlier, FSSAI CEO Pawan Aggarwal in a press interview said the authority is considering making it mandatory for all food businesses to employ food safety supervisor. The move would be a game changer and reduce compliance burden, he further said.