Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) CEO has called for more frequent inspections of high-risk food establishments and regular reviews of food testing laboratories in Tamil Nadu. This directive came during a meeting with Principal Secretary and Food Safety Commissioner of Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday. This press release was issued on January 23, 2024.
Focus on High-Risk Establishments and Food Streets
The CEO emphasized the need to prioritize inspections of establishments deemed to pose a higher risk to public health. He also discussed the progress of developing Healthy and Hygienic Food Streets across the state, urging officials to expedite the process so these public food hubs can open as soon as possible.
FSSAI Regional Office Visit
The FSSAI CEO also visited the Southern Regional Office of FSSAI in Chennai and the National Food Laboratory, Chennai. He discussed the functioning of various divisions within the regional office with senior officials.
Collaboration with Chennai Customs on Food Imports:
A separate meeting was also held with the Chief Commissioner of Chennai Customs, and other customs officials. The discussions centered on food import clearance procedures and the importance of ensuring food safety for consumers.
A key topic of discussion was the recently launched Food Import Rejection Alert (FIRA) portal. The FSSAI CEO stressed the importance of regularly updating the portal with information on the final status of imported food consignments rejected by FSSAI.
FIRA Portal and Capacity Building
The FIRA portal is a digital platform designed to provide timely information about food import rejections. It serves as a valuable resource for exporters, importers, and other stakeholders, helping them understand the reasons for rejections and stay informed about regulatory compliance requirements.
Discussions also included capacity building for customs officials on Food Safety and Standards Rules and Regulations to facilitate a smoother “green channel” clearance process for compliant food imports.
Key Takeaways
- Increased focus on inspections of high-risk food establishments in Tamil Nadu.
- Emphasis on expediting the development of Healthy and Hygienic Food Streets.
- Stronger collaboration between FSSAI and Chennai Customs to improve food import safety.
- Promotion of the FIRA portal for greater transparency and information sharing regarding rejected food imports.
- Capacity building for customs officials to streamline compliant food import clearances.
These initiatives demonstrate FSSAI’s commitment to strengthening food safety measures and ensuring consumer protection at both the state and national levels.
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