FSSAI

FOOD SAFETY REGULATORY ECOSYSTEM :-

WHAT IS FOOD SAFETY ECOSYSTEM

 Ecosystem includes all the living and non-living things in a given area, interacting and influencing each other and determining the health of the entire earth system. It also combines bio security meaning the protection from the environmental, economic and human health risks of potentially harmful plant and animal pests and diseases.

 In most of the countries, governments have created regulatory authorities to ensure food safety, animal health and plant health. These Authorities carry out inspections of the food chain “from farm to fork” with the aim to protect animal, plant and human life and health.

FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN

 The term ‘Food chain’ was first introduced by African-Arab scientists and philosopher Al Jahiz in the 9th Century. A food supply chain refers to the processes that describe how food from a farm ends up on our tables. The processes include production, processing, distribution, consumption and disposal.

The food supply chain is a complex network consisting of small and medium sized enterprises that can interact with larger companies and retailers as well. The food we eat reaches us via food supply chain through which food moves systematically in domino-like motion from producers to consumers

THE CONCEPT OF “FARM TO FORK”

The term ‘food safety’ as defined by CODEX Alimentarius Commission is the assurance that food will not cause harm to the consumer when it is prepared or eaten according to its intended use.

Food safety is related to the occurrence of food safety hazards and does not include other human health aspects related to, such as malnutrition. Food safety is relevant at different stages of supply, preparation/processing, distribution and serving. The food chain starts on the farm and ends on the fork.

Food safety Officer Roles & Responsibility:-

FOOD SAFETY OFFICER

 CEO, FSSAI or Commissioner of Food Safety, shall by notification, appoints such person as he thinks fit, having the qualification prescribed by the central government as Food Safety Officers (FSO), for such local areas as he may assign to them for the purpose of functioning under the Act & Rules & Regulation made thereunder.

The State Government may authorize any officer of the State Government having the prescribed qualification to perform the functions of the Food Safety Officers. The Food Safety Officer is appointed as a whole time officer

POWERS OF FOOD SAFETY OFFICER IN TERMS OF FSS ACT AND RULES

The FSO has important role under the FSS Act. for enforcement of, act, rules and regulation made thereunder. The FSO is the face of food legislation and FSSAI who interacts directly with the Food Business Operators (FBOs) on a frequent basis. Thus, it is important that the FSO imbibes and personifies the intent of the FSS Act and acts as a counsellor and guide to the FBOs in our country. More importantly, it is the functions and duties of the FSO that will ensure that safe food is produced/manufactured and sale/marketed in India.

Since FSO interacts with the FBOs and the food industry therefore they can play a crucial role in implimention of the Act and its compliance. Keeping this in mind, inspections should not just involve a checking for non-compliance, rather it should be based on coaxing and enabling compliance and thus ensuring sustainable food safety ecosystem in India. FSOs should play the role of enabler rather than strict enforcers. Food safety is a collective responsibility of the Regulators, Industry and Consumers.

Licensing & registration of food business:-

Under Section 31 of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 to commence or carry on any food business, licensing/registration of food businesses is mandatory. Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation 2011 prescribe the procedure for licensing and registration of food businesses.

All Food Business Operators in the country will have to be registered or licensed in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Act and Regulation

SECTION OF FSSAI, 2006 SING & REGISTRATION

1. Section 3 (j): h Definition of “Food” means any substance, whether h Processed, partially processed or unprocessed, h Intended for human consumption and includes primary food, h Genetically modified or engineered food h Food containing such ingredients, infant food, packaged drinking water, alcoholic drink, chewing gum h Any substance, including water used into the food during its manufacture, preparation or treatment h Does not include any animal feed, live animals unless they are prepared or processed for placing on the market for human consumption h Does not include plants prior to harvesting, drugs and medicinal products, cosmetics, narcotic or psychotropic substances.

2. Section 3 (n): “Food business” means any undertaking, whether for profit or not and whether public or private, carrying out any of the activities related to any stage of manufacture, processing,

3. Section 3 (o): “Food business operator” in relation to food business means a person by whom the business is carried on or owned and is responsible for ensuring the compliance of this Act, Rules and Regulations made thereunder

4. Section 3 (zk): “Primary food” means an article of food, being a produce of agriculture or horticulture or animal husbandry and dairying or aquaculture in its natural form, resulting from the growing, raising, cultivation, picking, harvesting, collection or catching in the hands of a person other than a farmer or fisherman.

5. Section 31: It states thath No person shall commence or carry on any food business except under a License/ Registration. h Appeal against order of rejection for grant of license lies before Commissioner Food Safety. 6. Section 32: Improvement Notice - (Detail covered in Chapter 5) Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation, 2011 

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