Perishable goods will face tighter compliance checks as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued an advisory on temperature-controlled storage and transportation, hygienic vehicles and suitable packaging for items such as khoa, paneer, meat and fish.
The advisory, dated October 15, was issued by FSSAI’s Regulatory Compliance Division under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. FSSAI announced it publicly on October 18. It directs Food Business Operators (FBOs) to maintain prescribed temperature conditions while handling, storing and transporting perishable foods.
The regulator said such commodities are at times not handled, stored or transported at appropriate temperatures. Because they are highly susceptible to microbial growth and spoilage, improper temperature control can harm food safety and public health. FSSAI said that subjecting these products to temperature abuse amounts to non-compliance with hygiene and sanitary requirements. Those requirements are specified under Schedule 4 of the 2011 Regulations.
The directive applies to businesses involved in the manufacture, packing, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of perishable foods.
Under licence conditions, FBOs must maintain the prescribed temperature throughout the supply chain, from procurement and sourcing to delivery to the end consumer. This requires food businesses and their logistics partners to maintain the required conditions both in transit and at storage facilities.
The advisory also calls for transport only in clean, covered and hygienic vehicles suitable for carrying food. FBOs must use food-grade packaging and suitable secondary packaging. The packaging must protect products from dust, moisture, pests, physical damage and cross-contamination during storage, loading, unloading and transit. According to ANI, the advisory also rules out gunny bags and other non-food-grade coverings.
FBOs must also keep appropriate records and ensure traceability of consignments. They must produce invoices and other relevant documents whenever the competent authority asks for them. (Source: ANI via WebIndia123)
FSSAI has asked the Commissioners of Food Safety in all states and Union Territories, along with Indian Railways and FSSAI’s Regional Directors, to instruct licensing authorities and food safety officers to maintain strict vigilance. This includes inspections and transportation checks.
Non-compliance can invite action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the regulations framed under it. This may include the seizure and destruction of food products.
For the logistics sector, the advisory puts the focus on refrigerated transport, temperature-controlled storage, hygienic handling and shipment traceability. It treats temperature management as a requirement across the whole supply chain, not only in warehouses or refrigerated vehicles.
Source: Logisticsinsider
