FSSAI working on quality standards for imported food items.

NEW DELHI: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) today said it is working on developing quality standards for imported products.

"We do have some standards to begin with but we need to take more steps in this regard to ensure the safety of food for consumption which comes from outside," FSSAI Chairman K Chandramouli said today at an event here.

He was speaking at the FMCG summit organised by the Industry body Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham).

FSSAI, he added, is working on the standards with all the stakeholders including scientists, experts, industry officials and laboratories from the food business operators (FBOs), involved in import-export of food material.

To ensure that imported food items are accepted there is a need to set standards that are internationally minimum, he said.

"Our food exporters have to adhere to various stringent set of rules and regulations for exporting food, while we do not strain the same sort of stringency on imported food and thus it is imperative to evolve standards for domestically consumed food as we have been having a lackadaisical approach towards setting standards," Chandramouli added.

FSSAI in consultation with different stakeholders is also working on setting standards for traditional or ethnic food, he added.

Assocham Investment and Investors Committee Chairman S K Jindal said the government should take steps to protect consumers' rights and contain piracy as the direct loss due to piracy is about 20 per cent of the market share of prominent products.

"The FMCG sector in India is facing severe challenges due to the unorganised sector and counterfeiting of brands led by rapid technological advancement and liberalisation of Indian economy," he pointed out.

Radico Khaitan Managing Director Anil Khaitan drew the attention to the liquor industry being subjected to three different acts and governing authorities -- State Excise Act and Rules, Food Safety and Standards Act and Rules and Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules.

He said that to regulate the mandatory laws on the lables of alcoholic beverages through these multiple laws is 'a real hassle'.

Khaitan also said that frequent changes in regulations affect the functioning of the companies.

"The frequent changes in regulations adversely affect the operations of the FMCG companies and thus any policy change be affected only after full discussions with all the concerned stakeholders," he added.

Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com