FSSAI defines norms on jurisdictions for States

FSSAI officials will carry out inspection at centrally-licensed FBOs, while State authorities may carry out the necessary action with prior information to regional FSSAI director in the case of a food safety incident or emergency

New Delhi: In a bid to enhance the ease of doing business (EoDB) for food business operators (FBOs), the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a clarification specifying the procedures of inspections.

The FSSAI has clearly demarcated the jurisdictions of its own officers and those of state food authorities, official sources told Bizz Buzz. The clarification has been issued on the basis of the feedback from the state authorities.

Now, the regular inspections, including those on the basis of complaints and other references, on the premises of the Centrally licensed FBOs will be carried out by the FSSAI officials only. The state authorities, on request, will assist the FSSAI inspectors.

In the case of an exigency like food safety emergency, the regional director of the FSSAI may request the state officials concerned to get the Centrally licensed FBOs’ premises inspected. However, in such cases of inspection, the inspection report shall be submitted to the Central licensing authority (CLA) concerned by the state officials. The action shall be taken by the CLA concerned.

In the case of a food safety incident or emergency, where immediate action is required, the state authorities may carry out the necessary action and inform the regional FSSAI director concerned at the earliest.

In case the state is carrying out a special drive involving Centrally licensed FBOs, the state authorities may get the premises of such FBOs inspected under prior intimation to the regional FSSAI director.

In cases where State officials take samples from the Centrally licensed FBOs, the action would be taken by the CLA concerned. The proceedings too, if any, shall follow the same pattern, the sources added.

The FSSAI has been mandated to: frame regulations to lay down the standards and guidelines in relation to food articles; lay down mechanisms and guidelines for accreditation of certification bodies and laboratories; provide scientific advice and technical support to government; collect and collate data regarding food consumption, incidence and prevalence of biological risk, contaminants in food, etc., create an information network; and so on.