Context:
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has instructed licensed food manufacturers, importers, repackers, and relabellers to submit quarterly data on rejected and expired food items through its online system, FOSCOS.
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- This measure aims to prevent the resale of expired or rejected food products for human consumption, especially as cattle feed.
- The new reporting requirements include:
- The quantity of products failing quality tests.
- The volume of expired or returned products from the food supply chain.
- Records of product disposal, such as destruction, auction, or alternative use, with details of the buyer and waste disposal agency.
- This initiative will allow real-time tracking of rejected or expired goods and ensure they are properly disposed of.
- The FOSCOS system is still being developed; businesses are encouraged to gather the required data for future submissions.
- FSSAI has reclassified packaged drinking and mineral water as high-risk foods, imposing stricter regulations, mandatory third-party audits, and annual inspections.
About FSSAI:
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) was created under the Food Safety and Standards Act, of 2006.
- Purpose: It consolidates various acts and orders related to food safety that were previously handled by different ministries and departments.
- Main Goal: FSSAI sets science-based standards for food to regulate its manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import, ensuring safe and wholesome food for consumers.
- Administrative Ministry: The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, oversees the implementation of FSSAI.
- Leadership: The Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FSSAI are appointed by the Government of India.
- The Chairperson holds the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.
The Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS)
- It is an upgraded version of the Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS) launched in 2012.
- FoSCoS is built with modern technology and aims to provide a one-stop platform for food safety regulation across India.
- It serves as an umbrella system integrated with various FSSAI platforms, including FoSCoRIS (inspections and sampling), Complaints Management, Annual Return, Food Import Clearing, InFoLNet (lab network), Audit Management, adjudications, Food Safety Training, and Food Safety Mitra.
- These integrations aim to create a unified food safety compliance system.