FNB News - “Gujarat was first who implemented FSSA”

You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here

INTERVIEW

“Gujarat was first who implemented FSSA”

Monday, 10 April, 2023, 08 : 00 AM [IST]

Gujarat State Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) is responsible for efficient & effective implementation of the food & drug administration mission. Dr Hemant Koshia, Commissioner of Gujarat State Food and Drug Control Administration, shares his views on food authority, food safety, FoSCoS, food licence, food business operators and much more in an email interview with Kimberley Almeida. Excerpts:

What steps are taken by the food authority in Gujarat to promote new businesses/start-ups and provide ease in obtaining FSSAI licence?
Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations, 2011 is a Central Act and is implemented by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which is a statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Under the regime of FSSAI, steps are taken for the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), such as, instant renewal provided in Licence/Registration without any waiting period. Also, to support EoDB, start-ups and new businesses can renew their licence /registration with the initial application fee and after their renewal the remaining amount can be submitted. Apart from that, FDCA, Gujarat, had started helpdesk to help the new businesses/start-ups to file new/modify/renew licence/registration application, inquire about the food category for licence/registration or resolve any query related to their licence /registration.(Ref 1- 15(31)2020/FoSCoS/RCD/FSSAIpt1-Part(4), Dated: 11/01/2023, Ref 2- RCD-01003/2/2022-Regulatory-FSSAI, Dated: 10/02/2023).

FBOs must upload mandatory lab testing reports to FoSCoS. Elaborate.
As per the Conditions of Licence number 12 (Annexure -3) of Schedule 2 of FSS (Licensing and Registration) of Food Businesses, 2011, specifies that Food Business Operator shall “Ensure testing of relevant chemical and/or microbiological contaminants in food products in accordance with these regulations as frequently as required on the basis of historical data and risk assessment to ensure production and delivery of safe food through own or NABL accredited/ FSSAI notified labs at least once in six months.”

How does Gujarat FDCA plan to curb the use of chemicals to artificially ripen fruits?
As per the order no; Stds/FVS/SP/13/FSSAI-2018, Dated: 16/08/2018, FSSAI has permitted the use of Ethephon as source of ethylene gas of artificial ripening of fruits though it shall be packed in sachets and sachets should not come in direct contact with fruits. Apart from this, other chemicals must not be used to ripen the fruits and for that FDCA from time to time organises inspections, surprise checks and drives to curb the use of chemicals to artificially ripen fruits.

How does Gujarat FDCA monitor the quality of food being manufactured in the state as well as those marketed in the state?
Field officers of the state draw samples from various channels of the food ecosystem and time to time FDCA, Gujarat, organises special drives of particular food items to monitor the quality of food in the state.

What types of awareness programmes to educate the masses, vendors as well as consumers, are conducted by Gujarat FDCA?
FDCA, Gujarat, has 22 Food Safety on Wheels which creates awareness for the masses including FBOs and consumers in the villages and interior parts of the district. FBOs in the state are trained for basic FoSTaC training for free of charge to educate and create awareness. FDCA, Gujarat, also reaches media such as radio, theatres and regional channels to create awareness in consumers and FBOs and FSSAI, through various initiatives such as, Eat Right Mela and Walkathon, Eat Right India, Eat Right Millet Mela.

What are the steps taken by Gujarat FDCA towards investigation and prosecution in respect of contravention of legal provisions relating to adulterated food articles?
FDCA, Gujarat, was the first in the country who implemented FSSA, 2006, and for that this office creates awareness, licence /registration camps to create awareness in the Food Ecosystem. FDCA, Gujarat, investigates and prosecutes according in line with the FSSA, 2006, and try to penalise and punish the FBOs who manufacture and sell adulterated food articles and in some cases unsafe adulterated food articles seized so that consumers can be saved from such food articles. As per FSSA, 2006, if FBOs found to be penalised/punished for more than three times their licence/registration is cancelled so that they can’t do business further.