The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (‘FSSAI’) in its circular dated 13th October 2019, developed a Scheme for Sampling, Testing and Inspection to be implemented by dairy processing establishments to strengthen the internal controls through self-monitoring to ensure the safety and quality of milk supplied to consumers under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The scheme will be effective from 1st January 2020.
FSSAI Conducted National Milk Safety and Quality Survey (NMQS) in the year 2018, which showed a high level of non-compliance in quality as well as safety parameters in standardized processed milk.
The scheme seeks to remedy the same. The scheme stipulates the sampling points, test methods, frequency of sampling and permissible limits as per FSSR. They shall maintain records for one year which would be verified by official of food authority or food safety commissioners. The dairy processing establishments must have well-equipped in-house laboratory for testing microbiological and other chemical parameters, or same shall be tested in FSSAI laboratories.
In case of non-compliance is reported, it should be re-processed and again tested to ensure that re-processed milk conforms to all the requirements. However, if the non-compliance cannot be rectified, the entire batch shall be rejected. All re-saleable rejected material shall be destroyed. The records of all such investigations shall be maintained.
Click here to see the circular
