The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in its press release dated 23rd April 2020 has taken several steps to ensure uninterrupted food services/supply as well as industry facilitation during the lockdown period.
Import clearances of food items and food testing laboratories (National Food Labs at NCR and Kolkata and FSSAI accredited private laboratories) have been classified as Essential Services during the COVID-19. To facilitate faster clearance, sampling is being allowed at Kochi International Container Trans-shipment Terminal itself rather than at CFS.
FSSAI has allowed provisional clearance for the consignments of imported crude oils (edible grade) and food grains till 30th May. To ensure the consistent supply of Food for Special Medical Purposes i.e., food for Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEM) conditions and hypoallergenic conditions, FSSAI has extended the permission for their import for a further period of 6 months till 01st Nov, 2020 through Delhi and Mumbai ports.
FSSAI has allowed food business operators in logistic supply chains, other than manufacturers, to temporarily operate their businesses on the basis of a valid receipt of FSSAI license/registration application having 17-digit Application Reference Number (ARN) generated on the Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS).
Licenses requiring renewal from March 22 to May 31, 2020, have been allowed a penalty waiver and grace period till June 30, 2020. Further, the returns to be filed by food businesses have been deferred till 31st July 2020 and the Modification fee for FBO’s has been reduced from one-year license fee to Rs 1,000 only.
Click here to read the Notification.
