India - Before road food, ask for safety label
According to this story, a government initiative just launched in the capital and to be expanded to cities across India will allow street-based food outlets and restaurants to earn certificates endorsing the quality of their fare. It is reported that India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority plans to initially certify 1,000 eating outlets and takeaway kiosks across the capital ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2010 as part of an effort to upgrade safety and quality of food, an FSSA official said. Any food outlet that follows guidelines described on a three-page checklist drawn up by the FSSA will be able to earn a safety and quality certificate. The plan is voluntary, but officials are hoping consumer and peer pressure will make outlets sign up for the certificates.
Pakistan - First food radiation plant to commence operations in January
According to this story, country’s first food irradiation plant, a joint venture of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and the Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board (PHDEB), will start functioning during the second half of January 2009. The dry run of the plant, located at Lahore, will start food irradiation services to stakeholders to help improve country’s horticulture exports, the PHDEB chief executive said Monday. He said PARAS Foods (Pvt) Ltd is the first food irradiation private limited company of the country and would provide facilities for enhancing the shelf life of perishable commodities. It is reported that the irradiation treatment would benefit all fruits and vegetables including mangoes, dates, pears and strawberries. It would also end the needs to add fumigants for storage purposes as fumigants are internationally banned under environmental treaty named Montreal Protocol.”
India - Contaminated food products may soon face a recall
In a first for India, packaged food items may soon be recalled if found to be lacking seriously in safety standards, as the government is preparing draft guidelines, expected in a month, to deal with the issue. Concerned over the existence of fake and adulterated food products that do not conform to the norms, the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSA) with the Ministry of Health is coming up with suitable quality parameters to force a recall of contaminated items.
India - FSSAI concerned about food safety during Delhi’s Commonwealth Games 2009
According to this story, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has set off a series of steps to review and upgrade the safety of food served in eating establishments during the Commonwealth Games, scheduled to be held in New Delhi in 2009. Food establishments are likely to be held responsible for the safety and quality of food served. The framework for holding them accountable includes licensing and compliance as also sustainability through incentive schemes, certification and accreditation systems and sensitization of stake holders, said the FSSAI in a press release. It is reported that detailed operating procedures will be documented to guide food establishments. Adopting a decentralized approach, it is also proposed that schools and colleges take up food clusters around their vicinity for upgradation. While the Food Safety and Standards Act was passed in 2006, the Authority under the Act was set up only a few months ago. The new law, an umbrella legislation that covers various disparate food laws (including the antiquated Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954) is currently in transition mode as rules are being drafted for the law to take effect. Appropriate pressure will be put on food establishments to improve food safety and quality by adhering to required standards mandatory, said the FSSAI statement.
Bangladesh - Form central body to watch food safety
It is reported that experts have suggested formation of a central food and drug administration body to monitor continuously safety of all sorts of food items either imported or produced locally. There is a lack of coordination among different government agencies in ensuring food safety, and it is difficult for Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) alone to monitor the market properly with its present capacity in terms of manpower and logistics, they said. Adulteration of food has long been a matter of concern in the country, but the recent confusion regarding toxic melamine in several brands of imported powdered milk has made it a national priority to take up the issue and reform regulatory mechanisms for food items, the experts noted. These observations came at a discussion on "How safe are our infants? Emerging legal and scientific issues relating to baby milk," organised by the School of Law of BRAC University and held at BRAC Centre in the capital. “It is difficult for BSTI alone to ensure food safety. The institution tests hundreds of products -- food and non-food-- of their first batches only. He stressed that there should be a body that will monitor all food items in markets. The existing drug administration could be brought under the proposed body with two wings -- one for food and the other for drugs, he added.
India - New norms for food safety soon: Food Processing Minister
The government is likely to come up with new food safety guidelines within a month, the Food Processing Minister said on Thursday and called upon the developed world to formulate uniform global standard for food trade. It is reported that the Minister asked the developed countries to don a proactive role and set up uniform standard globally, saying different food safety norms in different parts of the world are taking a toll on the processed food trade of countries like India. "They say (developed countries) it is a horrible law (Indian norms). When we go, their laws differ from country to country and even from state to state... Give us a uniform law so that we can trade accordingly," the Minister said.
Related stories
Government releases guidebook on street food safety
It is reported that the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries released a guidebook on '14-point check on Food Safety for Street vended Foods', brought out by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries at the opening session of the 2nd International Food Regulatory Summit, recently. He also released another guide book ''Food Safety Tips for Housewives. On the occasion, the minister said that developed nations need to share technology regarding food safety and regulations to help harmonise global trade and standards in processed food sector. Pointing out that only seven to ten per cent of food is processed in India, the minister stressed upon the need to increase this to 20 per cent by 2015.
India - Delhi to ensure food safety during Commonwealth Games
It is reported that all those planning to visit Delhi during the Commonwealth Games-2010 can freely enjoy the famous street food in the capital as the government has decided to make elaborate arrangements to ensure food safety. “In a recent meeting of the food safety and standards authority, it was decided to identify 1,000 small and medium eating establishments in different parts of Delhi, which would be assisted to improve their levels of hygiene and safety to specified levels,” a statement issued by the health ministry said. “Standards of safety and hygiene would be developed and training undertaken through professional agencies. The identified and successful establishment would then be audited and certified to be of the required standards,” it added. “They would also be given a suitable symbol and monitored periodically,” the statement said. According to this story, it is also proposed to bring out a directory of safe eating establishments to be distributed among the visitors.
Sri Lanka government to launch massive inspection on food safety
Sri Lanka Ministry of Health and Nutrition is to launch an island wide program to inspect all hotels and food sales centers for hygiene and safety during the forthcoming 'food safety week.' The program inspecting the food safety will be launched on October 17 and will be continued for a week.
Thailand - A public health scare, a PR failure
According to this story, the Public Health Minister did little to convince consumers otherwise when, seeking to downplay the milk scandal last Wednesday, he spoke more on the health of trade relations, than of, well, health. He warned the issue could affect Thai-Chinese trade ties, and stressed that Thailand needs to closely inspect imports of powdered milk from all countries, not just China, to ensure safety standards are maintained. The Minister 's position was echoed by the FDA deputy secretary-general, who then evaded further questions from reporters, saying that "the minister's policy is that news reports should not have a negative impact on Chinese products". It's little wonder many Thai consumers were left grumbling for a second opinion. Yet, a closer look at the FDA's actions over the past weeks suggest their efforts have been derided more for poor public relations, than proper action. While consumer advocates and members of the public have been critical of the government's handling of situation - calling it too slow and too conservative - the World Health Organization (WHO) gives Thailand's Ministry of Health and FDA more favourable reviews, saying health officials have been quick, appropriate, and even proactive in their response.
September
Nepal - Ensure food supply in west, SC directs government
September 25, 2008
Himalayan News Service [Pro Public]
The Supreme Court today directed the government to provide food to the starving population in the western districts. A division bench of Justices Balram KC and Kalyan Shrestha issued the interlocutory order directing the Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet and the Ministry of Agriculture to supply food in the districts. The bench directed the government to ensure adequate food supply in Kalikot, Humla, Mugu, Dolpa, Bajura, Achham, Dailekh, Darchula, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Rukum and Jajarkot districts. The apex court stated that the government authorities had admitted that up to three lakh people in the districts were hit by food shortage. The SC was responding to a public interest litigation filed by advocates representing the Pro Public seeking apex court intervention. The bench observed the Constitution had guaranteed the right to food as a fundamental right and the government should ensure adequate food supply for all.
India will stress on creating awareness about food safety, services
Calling for increased investment in food processing sector, the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries stressed the need for creating awareness about food safety and services. According to this story, he said that the time is right for this as not only was demand growing, but also the sector was virtually taxless. He was speaking at the inauguration of the two-day seminar on Freedom from Food-borne illnesses through safe Kitchens organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). He urged investors to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the food-processing sector in India in 2008-2009, which has been declared by the Ministry as Food Quality and Safety Year.
India - Government rapped for not implementing food safety law
According to this story, the Supreme Court Thursday rebuked the government for failing to implement a law on food safety, wondering if it had “the will to implement” the act. Some Justices criticised the government and wondered how it managed “to sit over laws”, duly enacted by parliament and assented to by the president, “for eternity”. The Justices wondered if the government has the will to implement the Food Safety Act of 2006, passed by the Parliament in 2006. It suspected if there were “other factors than administrative inertia” behind the government’s “inaction and dilatory tactics” in not enforcing the food safety law. At one stage, the bench appeared set to draw its own timetable for implementation of the law but refrained from doing so after a senior counsel, appearing for a soft drink company, pointed to intricacies involved in the implementation of the new law. It then ordered the government to give it by Monday a timetable to implement the law. It also directed the food secretary to appear in person to assist it in clearing the hurdles in implementation of the law.
Related stories
Give time for law on packaged food
Business Standard - Press Trust of India [edited] [iFSN]
According to this story, the Union Government today informed the Supreme Court that it will complete the groundwork for implementing the Food Safety Act, which will make it mandatory for soft drink companies to display the ingredients of their products on the bottles, by January 1, 2009. The Additional Solicitor General told the Court that the Government will notify the Act within the next six months, from January 1, 2009. At this, the judges told the Government that it is taking a very long time in enforcing the Act, which has already being passed by both the Houses of Parliament and for which the President of India has already given his assent. The court also directed the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) to submit its report, whether the chemicals used by the soft drink majors are harmful for human health. The Centre for Public Interest Litigation, an NGO, in its petition, has alleged that the chemicals and substances used by the soft drink majors are extremely harmful for human health.
India - Food Safety & Standard Authority to be set up in 10 days
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India will be set up in the next 10 days, while the first set of food safety norms may come out within the next two months, a top official said here on Monday. "The next three months will be devoted to preparation and we will be looking at the systems in the US, Europe, the UK and New Zealand and figure out how transparency has been built into the food safety and standards in these countries," the FSSA Chairman said at an interaction organised by industry chamber FICCI. It is reported that the idea of setting up FSSA was mooted in the Food Safety and Standards Bill, 2005 to establish a single reference point for all matters relating to food safety and standards by consolidating different laws in the sector.
India - Safe food is vital
Government of India- Press Information Bureau [edited] [iFSN]
It is well said that we are what we eat. Ensuring availability of safe and quality food for the population is of vital importance for any country. Unsafe food is equivalent to an enemy within which weakens the economy as it leads to using up of scarce resources for fighting disease and poverty caused due to consumption of unsafe food. India spends USD 100 per person on health related expenditure, amounting to a total national expenditure of USD 115 Bn on health. This constitutes 5% of India’s GDP. It becomes imperative that measures be taken to minimize this and Food Safety and Quality improvement becomes imperative.
The year 2008-09 will be the watershed year for Food Safety and Quality in India with new initiatives being taken by the Ministry of Food Processing which would be integrated with the schemes and programs already operationalised. The Food Safety and Quality Year would be implemented by means of the following three strategies:
1. Coordinated Efforts
2008-09 will bring together the proposed initiatives of this Ministry and other ministries, including Agriculture, Commerce, Health, etc., directly involved in the implementation of the Food Safety & Standard Act, 2006, which has come into operation with the appointment of the Chairperson for the Food Safety and Standard Authority. Close cooperation with State Governments would be essential for the successful implementation of this law.
2. Global Focus on Food Safety
Global focus on the quality of food implies that food safety and quality are of paramount importance to sustain and increase India’s food exports. Globalisation and the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers have brought in international competition to the domestic markets, making it essential for Indian industry to adopt strong practices of food safety and quality to be competitive.
3. Stakeholder’s Involvement
A multi-pronged and coordinated strategy; involving the government and its institutions, industry covering the entire food chain, academic and research institutions, consumer bodies, and professionals in the field; is being pursued to ensure safe and quality food.
The Food Safety and Quality Year is an opportunity to provide a coordinated thrust to address key concerns and achieve milestones through clearly defined initiatives. In the XI plan, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries will provide a major thrust to the food processing sector through a range of new initiatives.
The Year of Food Safety and Quality is set to impact the upgradation of standards, largely due to the coordinated efforts of government agencies, private sector organizations and other stakeholders. The process that is being initiated will continue to usher in new initiatives of food safety and quality in the future too with increased awareness and resultant economic and social benefits. The Minister of Food Processing Industries will carry out a year long campaign to reach out to all the stakeholders and consumers on food safety and quality initiatives.
India - FDA begins drive for hygiene at roadside eateries
It is reported in this story that with monsoon round the corner, the Food and Drugs Administration has initiated a special drive to ensure that the hand carts, fast food stalls as well as eateries around the state maintain total hygiene and adhere to the FDA guidelines. The FDA director was cited as telling that the FDA food inspectors are visiting the mobile as well as stationary food carts and eateries since past two months as a pre-monsoon exercise. They also suggest cleanliness measures wherever needed and further ensure that the same are implemented, he added. A couple of youth had suffered food poisoning after consuming food items from a city mobile food cart last August.
Sri Lanka - Unhygienic cinnamon industry to be certified
It is reported that the hygiene of cinnamon in Sri Lanka is the most colossal issue, among many others which apparently is stalling the sector from developing. “The hygienic conditions of cinnamon are poor and the living conditions of the peelers are even worse,” the U10 Certified Ceylon Cinnamon (U10CCC) Chairman said. He revealed that the country would lose its buyers if they saw the unhygienic environment in which cinnamon is produced.
India - Declaration of year 2008/2009 as "Food Safety and Quality Year"
Government of India - Press Information Bureau [edited]
The Union Cabinet today gave its declaration of the year 2008/2009 as ‘Food Safety and Quality Year’. The initiative will ensure safe, healthy and sustainable food supply, bring about awareness amongst consumers to demand safe and quality food as well as promote practice of good hygiene amongst consumers, producers and processors. The following schemes are to implement the programme for declaring 2008/2009 as the Food Safety and Quality year:
i) Establishment of Mega Food Park with integrated value chain to facilitate linkage of the farmers to the processors / industry and the market.
ii) Establishment of integrated cold chain facilities to enhance shelf-life of perishable products and link them to market.
iii) Modernisation of abattoirs including scientific and hygienic slaughtering practices and availability of quality meat to industry and consumers.
iv) Setting up / upgrading of food testing / quality control laboratories.
v) Upgrading hygiene and quality of food street vendors and food streets.
vi) Awards for innovation in food quality, safety and product development.
vii) Developing quality and safety standards for various food products.
viii) Organising awareness programmes through publications / advertisements, workshops / seminars, etc. on food safety and quality.
ix) Launching of postage stamp to commemorate Food Safety and Quality Year 2008/2009.
Related stories Government to launch Food Safety and Quality Year on June 11
Newstrack India Wire [edited] [iFSN]
According to this story, a one-day national seminar on the theme of “Food Safety and Quality Management System-from Farm to Fork” will be organised on June 11 at Vigyan Bhawan here. In order to provide a renewed focus to the issue of Food Safety, the Government of India at the initiative of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MFPI) has declared the year 2008-2009 as “Food Safety and Quality Year. One of the purposes to organise a seminar is to launch formally the Food Safety and Quality Year and unveil the action plan for the year. The Minister of State (Independent Charge) Food Processing Industries will inaugurate the seminar and launch the annual programme for “Food Safety and Quality Year.”
11 June 2008 – Govt. declares 2008-09 as `Food Safety and Quality Year`
MyIris
India - Food regulator to start with big fish, hopes for trickle-down effect
Bhuma Shrivastava and Rasul Bailay
According to this story, all food sold in India, at restaurants, retail chains, even roadside outlets, will come under the scanner of a regulatory body that is expected to start functioning in June. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has been set up under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and it is expected to enforce quality and safety norms.
March
India - Food Safety Act to be effective in 3 months
15 Mar 2008
Financial Express [edited]
The Food Safety and Standards Act under the Union ministry of health and family welfare is going to be implemented three months from now. The Act replaces nine food regulations under Union ministries. Among the regulations are milk and milk products order, fruit products order and the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, said Anil Jauhri, advisor to the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies under the Quality Council of India, a public-private partnership with 50% central government stake. "The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has been set up under the act to ensure that safety measures are followed when processing food," Jauhri told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar on food regulations and voluntary certifications organised in the city on Friday.
India - Food Safety Authority to be operational soon
The Food Safety Authority (FSA) of India, set up to oversee the implementation of the newly enacted Food Safety and Standards Act, would become functional in a “couple of months,” according to Mr G Balachandran, its chief executive officer. Addressing a gathering of the members of the food processing industry, organised by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) here today, he said the screening committee is in the final stages of naming a chairman for the FSA. Once he joins in, the systematic functioning of the authority will begin. He added that it would take a “couple of months” to reach that functional stage to pursue a “strong, credible regulator being envisaged” for India. The Food Safety and Standards Act passed by Parliament in 2006 would bring the various acts and regulations governing the food sector would be brought under the administrative responsibility of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Before the passing of the Act, food laws were governed by about half a dozen ministries, including that of agriculture, food, consumer affairs and environment and forests. The multiplicity of implementing authorities had led to lack of cohesion in implementation of food standards and safety laws. Mr Balachandhran, an IAS officer of West Bengal cadre and hailing from Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu, is the first official to be posted to the Food Safety Authority. He joined on 18 February. He added that the authority would also work with the industry to upgrade the food testing labs in the country and evaluating the consumer preferences and demands. Mr Abhiram Seth, President of FICCI’s Centre for Indian Food Testing Institute (CIFT) wanted the FSA to be an effective facilitating agency to help realise the full potential of India’s agricultural production, processing, value addition and trade.
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