Sep 13, 2017
Use web-based inspection platform, FSSAI tells states
New Delhi: In a bid to ensure that Indian food businesses comply with food safety and hygiene standards in an effective and transparent manner, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed states to implement a web-based real-time inspection platform for food safety officers (FSOs).
The ‘Food Safety Compliance through Regular Inspections and Sampling’ (FoSCoRIS) system launched on Monday uses instant geo-tagging, time stamping, real-time data collection and multiple levels of verification and can be used via hand-held devices like mobile phones and tablets.
The technology will help ensure periodic inspections of food businesses are carried out by regulatory staff on a regular basis in an objective and transparent manner, the food safety regulator said in New Delhi on Monday.
“Such inspections would use standard compliance matrices to ensure consistency in approach of inspections across the country. This would replace the current system of ad hoc and subjective inspections and sampling that are currently carried out by the regulatory staff,” Pawan Agarwal, chief executive of FSSAI, said in an interview.
“This would use a nationwide information technology (IT) platform to bring together all key stakeholders—the food businesses, FSOs, designated officers (DOs), state food safety commissioners (FSCs) so that such inspections and sampling is done by maintaining a high level of integrity of the process and the process itself is effectively monitored at various levels. Inspection, sampling and test result data will be shared seamlessly by all officials, right from field level to district, state and national level,” Agarwal said.
FSSAI will develop the FoSCoRIS system and put in place infrastructure required for its operation and maintenance at the national level. The food regulator will provide the devices and reimburse internet charges.
During inspection, samples could also be picked and noted.
The evidence and traceability will follow, based on the unique ID generated for the sample.
Through FoSCoRIS, details of the food safety officer’s location and the area of FSO will be collected on a real-time basis.
Every detail of log-in and log-out time and location will be collected on the central server of the system.
Interestingly, random four-to-five pictures will automatically be captured by the device using the front as well as the rear camera on a mobile phone or a tablet.
“The collected data in the system includes geo tags of location, time, date, inspection report and pictures of FSOs and his location. The FSSAI and the State Food Safety Commissioners would be able to monitor each and every inspection on a real-time basis and afterwards as well,” Agarwal said.
The data collected from inspection reports and samples will be analyzed to understand the areas and food products to be focused on, identify hot-spots, trends and pattern in food safety to take corrective measures and for policy interventions.
“This will also help assess the performance of field level officers and help improve their efficiency,” said Agarwal.
FDA to train temple trusts in food safety
To ensure that the temple offerings are healthy and hygienic, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be conducting training sessions on food safety for over 254 temple trusts across the state.
The initiative will be flagged off in Mumbai on Wednesday, September 13, at Iskcon Temple, Juhu.
The initiative called the Blissful Hygienic Offering to God (BHOG) was launched by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in Prabhadevi-based Siddhivinayak Temple.
Training will be conducted in various districts across the state throughout September.
FDA Commissioner Dr Pallavi Darade said 53 temple trusts and vendors who prepare various kinds of prasad will be attending the first session. The topics to be covered include food safety, ingredients, packaging, and hygiene.
The session will help temple trusts maintain proper standards of food hygiene. Participants would be introduced to a scientific approach to safety concerns and learn about the rules and regulation of food safety," Darade said.
"More training sessions will be planned depending upon the number of temple trusts that come forward. We will be training 3,000 people and 254 temples," said CD Salunke, Joint Commissioner, FDA. In October, restaurant and hotel staff in Mumbai will also receive training by the FDA.
AT A GLANCE
- In August this year, over 70 Ganpati mandals were trained before the Ganeshotsav festival
- Through this initiative the FDA plans to train over 254 temples across the state
Govt bans sale of Grorich
State Government on Tuesday ordered ban on manufacture, storage, sale and distribution of food product namely “Grorich” which is manufactured by M/S Utility Pharmaceuticals, Solan (HP).
“In exercise of powers conferred by clause (a) of subsection (2) of section 30 of Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, and as an abundant precaution, in the interest of public health, we hereby prohibit in the State of Jammu & Kashmir, manufacture, storage, sale, distribution of the food product “Grorich” with immediate effect. The notification shall come into force at once,” reads an order issued by Drugs and Food Control Organization.
The prohibition order notes that a sample of food product namely “Grorich” bearing lot No. G-1025, Mfg. Date: Dec 2016 Expiry Date: 18 months from Mfg date, manufactured by M/S Utility Pharmaceuticals, Solan (HP) was lifted and sent to National Anti-Doping Agency for quality opinion.
The Doping Agency in its report No. 05/13/2017/NADA dated: 14.08.2017 has reported that the above sample contains 2-phenethylamine which is a prohibited substance and is likely to pose health risk to the end users.
Meanwhile, Food Safety & Standards Authority of India had requested all the Commissioners of Food Safety to check the use of such substances (narcotic drug or a psychotropic substance as defined in the schedule of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (61 of 1985) and rules made there under, and substances listed in schedules E and EI of Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945) in food supplements and in case of any suspicion, samples may be drawn and sent to National Anti-Doping Agency.
It (order) said Food means any substance, whether processed, partially processed or unprocessed which is intended for human consumption and included primary food to the extent defined in clause (zk), genetically modified or engineered food or food containing such ingredient, infant food, packaged drinking water, alcoholic drink, chewing gum, and any substance, including water used into the food during its manufacture, preparation or treatment but does not include any animal feed, live animals unless they are prepared or processed for placing on the market for human consumption, plants, prior to harvesting, drugs and medicinal products, cosmetics, narcotic or psychotropic substances.
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