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Food Safety and Standard Authority working on guidelines
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Wednesday, 16 July, 2008, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Sabyasachi Samajdar,New Delhi
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In order to frame rules and regulations and the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has decided to engage a national or international level consultancy agency soon. This move is the initial work of the FSSAI before starting as a full-fledged authority.
According to FSSAI sources, the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India has the mandate of laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import, to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption, as per the provisions of the Act. The FSSAI intends to engage multi-skilled consultancy agency of national/international repute for preparation of a blueprint and assist in structuring and operationalising Food Authority.
The agency would be required to carry out the activities like designing the Action Plan-cum-Pert-Chart indicating time-schedule for completion of various activities required for structuring and operationalisation of Food Authority in a full-fledged manner; Suggest appropriate organizational structure of Food Authority. The design of organisational structure should be based on International best practices like EU Food Safety Authority, UK Food Safety Agency, Food and Drug Administration, USA and the mandate of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006; Assist in framing Rules, Regulations and Manual of procedures for day-to-day functioning of Food Authority facilitating IT enabled processes and officer-oriented systems; Assist in developing framework for institutional excellence, service delivery standards and mission statements, assist in developing a Strategic Action Plan for achievement of objectives of Food Authority, it is learnt.
The consultancy agency also has to draw HRD action plan for the authority indicating structure, position description, competency framework and compensation. Estimation of skill requirement and steps required for meeting them; Analyse requirement of fresh staff on regular/contractual basis, if any, and frame recruitment rules for the regular /contract posts to be created, selection of core staff and suggest recruitment procedures; Assist in identification and recruitment of staff required for Food Authority; Suggest mechanism for pooling of resources such infrastructure, manpower and other facilities under various foods related Acts or Orders under repeal and redeployment plan under Food Authority.
Drafting Rules for carrying out the provisions of Act as indicated under section 91. Drafting Regulations consistent with Act and the Rules made thereunder to carryout the provisions of the Act, as indicated under section 92. Assist in framing Rules to carryout the functions and duties assigned to the State Government and the State Commissioner of Food Safety, as indicated under section 94. It should be ensured that the Rules and Regulations proposed are in consonance with the spirit of the Act and keeping in view best practices followed at International level like EU Food Safety Authority, UK Food Safety Agency, Food and Drug Administration, USA.
During drafting of Rules and Regulations as per the provisions of the Act, the agency should devise suitable mechanism for interface with industry/consumers. National Level Workshops may be organised and ensured that inputs gathered therein are duly incorporated while drafting the Rules and Regulations.
Analysis of the current status of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA), 1954, Fruit Products Order (FPO), 1955, Meat Food Products Order (MFPO), 1973, in terms of human resource, infrastructure and other assets and identify the gaps to be filled. Propose integration of different food related laws/orders in the country under Food Authority in a phased manner; Transition arrangements and mechanism; Action plan for states for smooth transition into the Act; Review mechanism for monitoring and expediting implementation in the states.
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