New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken a significant step towards enhancing food safety by ordering licensed food manufacturers, importers, repackers, and relabellers to submit quarterly data on rejected and expired food items. This directive, issued on December 16, aims to prevent the illicit resale of these items in the food supply chain.
The new reporting requirements mandate the submission of data on:
- Quantity of products failing internal quality checks: This includes products that do not meet established quality standards during internal testing and inspection.
- Volume of expired or returned products: This encompasses products that have exceeded their shelf life or have been returned from the market due to various reasons.
- Detailed records of product disposal: This requires businesses to maintain meticulous records of how expired or rejected products were disposed of, including destruction, auction, or alternative use, along with specific buyer and waste disposal agency information.
This initiative aims to curb the alarming practice of rebranding and reselling expired or rejected food items, often disguised as cattle feed, for human consumption. By mandating the submission of this data through the FOSCOS (Food Safety and Compliance System), FSSAI will be able to track the movement of rejected or expired goods and ensure their proper disposal or auction for non-human consumption purposes.
While the FOSCOS reporting function is currently under development, FSSAI has urged food businesses to begin collecting the necessary data to ensure a smooth transition when the system becomes operational.
Earlier this month, FSSAI further strengthened its regulatory measures by reclassifying packaged drinking water and mineral water as a high-risk food category.
This reclassification, effective immediately following an order dated November 29, mandates stricter regulatory controls, including annual facility inspections and mandatory third-party food safety audits for manufacturers. This move aims to ensure the highest quality standards for these essential beverages.
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