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Pvt participation encouraged, but accountability required, says FSSAI
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Friday, 18 October, 2019, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
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The FSSAI has issued draft guidelines on working with the private sector, and sought public comments by October 25, 2019, saying that while the participation of private entities is encouraged, there is a need for full accountability and complete transparency and care to address any potential conflict of interest in various areas of work.
These guidelines comprise seven subjects in which the country’s apex food regulator and the private sector can work with each other. These are institutional framework, food testing laboratories, training and capacity building, third-party accreditation audits, association with specialised centres established by industry or industry associations, outreach and awareness and Food Safety Mitra.
On association with specialised centres established by the industry or industry associations, the guidelines stated that while associating FSSAI must ensure that the mandate and scope of work of such centres are fully aligned to the aims of the objectives of the regulator and also it must be seen that the centre does not promote a particular business or brand and there is no potential conflict of interest.
And in case of any partnership with the private sector, a special clause on neutrality and non-profit must be include before finalisation.
It is pertinent to mention here that in recent times, the regulator’s association with the private sector has been criticised by consumer right activists. A few months ago, a letter was written to FSSAI on food companies’ frontal organisations getting key roles in the areas related to formation of regulations.
The guidelines said, “Public consultation must be preferably done online with a widespread and inclusive approach. Any interface with industry should be through association or with multiple representatives of the industry.”
The institutional framework include description about Central Advisory Council , Scientific Committee, Scientific Panel and Working Groups, Standards Review Group, Codex Shadow Committee, Technical Panels, and Method Review Groups, while on laboratories, these guidelines say that FSSAI encourages laboratories under the PPP (public-private partnership) model, but these should be established with a framework agreement designed to prevent any risk of conflict of interest.
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