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FSSAI agrees on 90 days timeline for product approval : MoFPI official
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Tuesday, 02 June, 2015, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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fiogf49gjkf0d Strong regulatory framework is needed for consumer confidence for increasing the acceptability of a product and the industry has a huge say in the regulatory regime, according to one senior official from the ministry of food processing industries (MoFPI).
Respite to industry
While talking to FnB News, the official stated that as regard to the problem of product approval, the ministry has been engaging in deliberations with FSSAI and the ministry of health to resolve these problems. And, "Recently the FSSAI has agreed to institute timeline of 90 days to clear the applications and we hope this will give some sort of respite to the industry." When asked about the timeline being already mentioned in the regulatory framework of FSS Act, the official stated that FSSAI had given written consent to do so.
Approved additives
Further secretary, MoFPI, has requested secretary, health, and FSSAI to consider approvals for products which have additives and ingredients that are already approved. However the official stated that the ministry was still doubtful if the health ministry would accept the request. The ministry is hoping that new standards being drafted by the apex food regulator will help resolve many such issues.
Further, MoFPI seems to be slightly unhappy over the issue of self-certification related to Q-mark, a standard for food, which has not seen the light of the day. The official added that the issue of voluntary certification for which the ministry had worked with the industry bodies in 2012-13 somehow could not take off.
Voluntary certification
“That time it was thought (this was much before the FSSAI issues cropped up), the industry could have a system of voluntary certification scheme which will be industry-driven, administered by industry to increase consumer confidence. It was thought that it would give confidence to the regulator that if the product is certified by such a body then perhaps some relief would be available to the industry from inspection or license renewal etc.”
The ministry designed the scheme through Quality Council of India and shared with industry bodies and uploaded in the ministry website but unfortunately the scheme never took off. The expectation was that the industry would take it forward.
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