FNB News - Strict monitoring, enforcement & consumer awareness key

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Strict monitoring, enforcement & consumer awareness key

Monday, 20 October, 2025, 08 : 00 AM [IST]

Dr Slim Smaoui

Safety within the food and beverage industry is of paramount importance. As demand for high-quality products grows, it is important that attention is paid to managing risk, and production processes continue to operate safely.

Food Regulation helps in:
• Protecting Public Health: Food regulations help in ensuring that the food we consume is safe, hygienic, and free from contaminants that can cause illness.
• Preventing Food Adulteration: Food regulation helps curb harmful practices, such as adulteration, by penalising offenders and setting purity standards for food items.
• Ensuring Quality and Standardisation: Food regulation establishes uniform quality benchmarks across the food industry to ensure that all products meet basic safety and nutritional standards.
• Promoting Hygiene and Sanitation: Mandatory compliance with hygiene standards ensures that food preparation and storage remain clean.
• Building Consumer Trust: When consumers know that food is regulated and inspected, they are more likely to trust brands and make repeat purchases.

Regulatory compliance in food and its link to a healthier life
Regulatory compliance in food refers to adherence to national and international laws, standards, and guidelines established by food safety authorities. These regulations cover all stages of the food chain—from production, processing, and packaging to labelling, storage, and distribution. Ensuring compliance is not just a legal requirement; it is a cornerstone for protecting public health and promoting overall well-being. Food regulations vary across regions, making compliance even more difficult for businesses operating in multiple locations. The United States follows guidelines set by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), while Europe adheres to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Each regulatory body has its own set of rules covering food production.

1. The United States
Regulatory Bodies:
• FDA (Food and Drug Administration): Oversees food safety (except meat, poultry, and some egg products).
• USDA (United States Department of Agriculture): Regulates meat, poultry, and egg products.
• EPA (Environmental Protection Agency): Sets limits for pesticide residues in food.
Functions:
• Enforce the Food Safety Modernisation Act (FSMA).
• Monitor food labelling, additives, and packaging.
• Conduct inspections, recalls, and risk assessments.
• Approve food contact materials and ensure sanitary processing.

2. European Union (EU)

Regulatory Body:
• EFSA (European Food Safety Authority): Provides scientific advice on food safety.
• European Commission (DG SANTE): Enforces food regulations and coordinates among member states.
Functions:
• Develops harmonised EU food law across all member countries.
• Risk assessment on food and feed safety.
• Oversight of labelling, additives, GMOs, and contaminants.
• Border inspections for imported foods.

3. India

Regulatory Body:
• FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India).
Functions:
• Sets Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• Regulates manufacturing, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food.
• Issues licences to food businesses.
• Standardises food labelling, additives, and fortification.
• Ensures consumer awareness through FoSTaC training and Eat Right India movement.

4. The United Kingdom

Regulatory Body:
• FSA (Food Standards Agency).

Functions:

• Food hygiene and safety enforcement.
• Risk assessments and handling foodborne illness outbreaks.
• Regulating food labelling, allergens, and nutrition claims.
• Works with local authorities for inspections.

5. Canada

Regulatory Bodies:
• CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency).

• Health Canada.

Functions:

• CFIA enforces food safety laws and conducts inspections.
• Health Canada sets policies, standards, and evaluates health risks.
• Regulate food imports/exports and biotechnology-based foods.

6. Australia & New Zealand

Regulatory Body:
• FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand).

Functions:

• Develops and maintains the Food Standards Code.
• Regulates food labelling, additives, and contaminants.
• Risk analysis and nutritional information standards.
• Works with states and territories for enforcement.

7. China

Regulatory Body:
• CFSA (China National Centre for Food Safety Risk Assessment).
• SAMR (State Administration for Market Regulation).

Functions:

• Drafting and implementing food safety standards.
• Conducting risk assessments and recalls.
• Regulating food additives and imports.
• Monitoring food labelling and e-commerce food sales.

8. Japan

Regulatory Body:
• MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare).
• Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA).

Functions:

• Oversees food sanitation and additives approval.
• Ensures labelling compliance (allergens, nutrition, GMOs).
• Regulates functional and health foods.
• Handles recalls and outbreak investigations.

9. Brazil

Regulatory Body:
• ANVISA (National Health Surveillance Agency).

Functions:

• Implements food safety standards and inspection.
• Regulates food labelling, additives, and packaging.
• Monitors imports and exports of food products.
• Coordinates with Ministry of Agriculture for food of animal origin.

10. South Africa

Regulatory Body:
• Department of Health (Directorate: Food Control).
• Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (DAFF).

Functions:

• Food hygiene, microbiological safety, and labelling enforcement.
• Regulating agricultural products, meat, and dairy safety.
• Implementing Codex Alimentarius guidelines.

Food Regulatory Compliance Issues

Category	Compliance Issues
Food Safety Standards	- Non-compliance with GMP, HACCP, FSMS - Contamination risks (biological, chemical, physical) - Poor traceability and recall systems
Labelling & Misbranding	- False or misleading nutrition/ingredient labels - Misuse of health/nutritional claims - Non-compliance with country-specific labelling rules
Additives & Contaminants	- Exceeding permissible limits of additives/preservatives - Presence of pesticide residues, heavy metals, toxins - Use of banned/restricted substances
Import & Export Regulations	- Variation in international standards - Non-compliance with Codex/foreign rules - Documentation/testing/labelling mismatches
Adulteration & Fraud	- Economic adulteration of ingredients - Counterfeit or misbranded products - Lack of supply chain transparency
Allergen & Dietary Compliance	- Failure to declare allergens (gluten, peanuts, soy, etc.) - Cross-contamination risks - Non-compliance with vegan/halal/kosher standards
Packaging & Sustainability	- Unsafe food-contact packaging (chemical migration) - Use of non-biodegradable packaging - Poor recycling or waste compliance
Documentation & Records	- Incomplete audit trails, supplier certifications - Lack of testing/lab reports - Outdated compliance practices
Emerging Issues	- Regulation gaps for novel foods (GMOs, nutraceuticals, plant-based meat) - Digital labelling/QR code traceability - Harmonisation with global standards

When food industries strictly comply with regulations, the result is not only consumer safety but also the promotion of healthier dietary habits. This link between regulatory compliance and healthier life highlights why strict monitoring, enforcement, and consumer awareness are essential for a nation’s health and quality of life.

(The author is associate professor, Laboratory of Microbial and Enzymes Biotechnology and Biomolecules, (LMEBB), Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS), University of Sfax-Tunisia, Tunisia. He can be reached at slim.smaoui@yahoo.fr)