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FSSAI considering less invasive surveillance-based risk assessment
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Friday, 09 December, 2016, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
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The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is considering putting in place a system that would be less invasive but have the targeted impact. The apex regulator calls it surveillance-based risk assessment and plans to initiate action against the repeated offenders.
However, a number of things have to be put in place before this effort materialises. It involves a great deal of restructuring into the functional dynamics, artificial intelligence, approach of the human interface and a robust laboratory infrastructure.
Pawan Kumar Agarwal, chief executive officer, FSSAI, said, “It is taking a little longer than expected, but FSSAI is committed to it and is in the process of making the necessary arrangements for the same.”
“Surveillance-based risk assessment hasn’t started working completely, because apart from process reengineering, it requires changes in the mindsets of both food business operators (FBOs) and the enforcement machinery. But we are committed to this change and hope that it will get adopted at the field level in the coming months,” he added.
When surveillance-based risk assessment comes into being, the consumers will become FSSAI’s eyes and ears. The apex regulator has also shared a link titled food concern on its website and released its mobile application. In case of any food quality-related grievances, all the consumer has to do is provide FSSAI the license number of the FBO. The regulator, upon assessing the risk, will take action.
Some of the states have already started preparing for it. Madhya Pradesh was the first state to announce that no sample would be taken without the order of a designated officer. It added that its food safety machinery would take one sample each month.
Pramod Shukla, joint controller, food and drug administration, Madhya Pradesh, said, “The department has put in place a plan to avoid resampling or overlapping of sampling. Samples from a specific region would be collected each month, so that it is easy to maintain records of the sampling done.”
In order to strengthen the food enforcement machinery, the states have also started filling the gaps in manpower.
Madhya Pradesh will be inducting 608 officers, including 65 designated officers, 145 lab technicians and food safety officers (FSOs).
“The government has given its nod for the induction of officers. They would be inducted in the coming months,” said Shukla.
Uttar Pradesh has 616 FSOs, district-wise senior FSOs and designated officers, while Gujarat’s food safety commissioner H G Koshia said the enforcement machinery was in sizeable numbers in every district.
The food safety department in the state has 26 functional offices, while two new offices, with a total strength of about 250 FSOs, have been approved and are being created.
He said, “Gradually, the strength would be increased. The government has approved new posts, and we would be on a recruitment spree in the coming months. Every year, there would be fresh appointment into the department.”
Koshia said, “Although surveillance-based risk assessment has not been put in place, awareness campaigns and drives have been launched across the state.”
The food safety department in the state is also trying to impart regular on-the-job training to the officers about amendments in the law, decisions taken by the courts, etc.
Chandrakant Salunkhe, assistant commissioner (food), said, “Training sessions are a part of our regular job profile. We usually receive lectures which usually include amendments, new decisions taken by the Supreme Court and High Court, new standards, orders for enforcement, internal orders and other major issues. Some technical sessions also touch upon methodologies of testing and new accredited labs under the states’ food and drug administrations (FDAs).”
On risk-based analysis of the food safety challenges, he said that it was being considered by the state department.
“Several initiatives to combat manpower, including the food safety application and risk-based analysis, are being undertaken by FSSAI, but the real work of regular sampling is in the hands of the FSOs. And to ease the pressure of the existing workforce, we have recently recruited 26 officers, and 21 more will join by January 2017,” Salunkhe added.
While many states have tribunals to deal with cases related to food safety, others lack such facilities.
“Madhya Pradesh has 51 functional tribunals,” said Shukla. They are headed by sessions judges.
Uttar Pradesh has eight commissioner-level appellate tribunals to look into the cases of food-related suits.
There is an independent appellate tribunal in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. It is headed by retired session judge J N Dave.
Not only is the food manufactured in India under surveillance, but imported foods also remain under FSSAI’s scanner.
Recently, there were reports about imported foods illegally sold in markets in Delhi. FSSAI took samples and conducted surveys in many places.
Agarwal said, “We’re getting reports from the market that some food products are being sold in the market without being legally imported into the country. There is no information regarding licenses and details of importers.”
“We have conducted some surveys and checks in Delhi and Mumbai, and several such cases have been found. So after proper investigation, prosecution will be launched,” he added.
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