The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has introduced a new provision requiring quarterly submission of data by FSSAI-licensed food manufacturers, including repackers, relabellers, and importers. This advisory dated December 16, 2024 was published on December 31, 2024.
The advisory is aligned with Sections 26 and 27 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011. The advisory highlights the obligation of Food Business Operators (FBOs) to segregate and securely store raw, processed, rejected, and expired materials to maintain food safety standards.
The new provision mandates FBOs to submit the following data quarterly via the FoSCoS (Food Safety Compliance System) portal:
- The volume of products that fail internal quality testing or inspection and are deemed unfit for sale.
- The amount of food products that have expired or been returned from the supply chain due to quality concerns.
- Detailed records of how these products were handled, including destruction, auctioning, or repurposing, with specific information on buyers or disposal agencies involved.
Purpose of the Advisory
The move is aimed at ensuring transparency in the handling of non-compliant food items and preventing their potential misuse. Concerns have been raised about such products being repackaged or sold under the guise of cattle feed, posing risks to public health.
Implementation and Compliance
FSSAI has announced that the submission feature will be activated on the FoSCoS portal soon. In the interim, FBOs are instructed to consolidate the required data and establish record-keeping systems to ensure compliance with the new directive.
All FSSAI-licensed entities must ensure accurate compilation and maintenance of records to avoid delays in future submissions. Failure to comply with these requirements may lead to penalties under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
