Further rationalisation of entry ports to bolster food safety ecosystem

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the country’s apex food regulator, has decided to further rationalise the number of ports of entry for food products. This will result in bringing the numbers down from the current 150 ports of entry.

This was stated by Pawan Kumar Agarwal, outgoing chief executive officer, FSSAI, who added, “We have rationalised 150 ports out of 396 ports of entries for the import of food product wherein on 20 ports we have our offices.”

“The next step will be further rationalisation of the port of entries, wherein we would restrict some particular products at some ports depending upon the availability of the testing facilities for the products. This would also help in reducing the testing time of the products, which otherwise has to travel a long distance for testing and analysis,” he added.

“Further to have a better enforcement at the port of entry, the training of custom officials and coordination with plant quarantine or animal quarantine authorities are some of the areas FSSAI is working on to put a robust mechanism for food safety of the imported food,” he said.

In terms of volume, much of the food import in India comprises edible oil, pulses, chocolate, alcohols, almonds, fruits including apples, amongst others. Inspection goes on and market surveillance may not be needed for pulses and oil, as they come in bulk consignments and testing takes place of these at the source.

“But as regards to the packaged food or food supplements, we continue to receive a lot of complain regarding quality and safety of the products,” said Agarwal, adding, “Some products, which were not even allowed in the domestic market by our regulator, were found being sold in the market. And we need to figure out where the problem lies in terms of pre-packaged food and food supplements.”

“And finally, we are focussing on market surveillance of the imported food. That is something we were considering, and this would begin with high-risk commodities. The market surveillance will, thereafter, expand more extensively throughout the country for imported food products,” Agarwal said.

“And this would be our roadmap for ensuring that the food that is imported in the country is safe,” he added.

Source:-Fnb News

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