FSSAI to streamline and simplify food regulations

PTI

Food regulator FSSAI today said it will simplify and streamline the regulations related to the food service industry for effective compliance and look into concerns over multiple agencies governing the sector.

Addressing a FICCI's conference on food service retail, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) CEO Pawan Agarwal said food business operators will have to appoint a food safety supervisor to ensure that consumers get safe and wholesome food.

"Industry is worried about multiplicity of agencies regulating the food business. We do appreciate your concern," Agarwal said at a FICCI conference.

"We are reviewing the rules and regulations framed under the Food Safety and Standards Act for food services industry. This review is for simplifying it to ensure effective compliance," he said.

Agarwal stressed on the need for streamlining of interface of government agencies with the food service industry and said the FSSAI was working with other agencies in this regard.

"There is a need to look at the responsibility of each of these government agencies...We do not want inspector raj but there will be no compromise on safety," he said.

The FSSAI CEO talked about the limitation of food safety inspectors at state level and the need for capacity building and training for proper enforcement of the regulations.

"We are addressing this gap," he said.

Sharing other initiatives taken by the regulator, Agarwal said the FSSAI plans to make it mandatory for all food businesses, including hotel and restaurants, to employ food safety supervisor.

The FSSAI is conducting a pilot programme in Goa for training of about 1,000 food safety supervisors and plans to roll out across the country in next few months.

Agarwal also asked the organised food retail industry to play a leadership role and help unorganised players such as street vendors, small dhabas, in ensuring food safety.