FSSAI envisages food businesses audit through third-party private agencies

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has envisaged audits of food business operators through third-party private auditing agencies. The move is taken in order to strengthen the food safety surveillance system in India.

FSSAI has notified the Food Safety and Standards (Food Safety Auditing) Regulation 2018. This regulation draws its powers from Section 44 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The act empowers FSSAI to recognise an organisation or an agency for carrying out food safety audit and checking compliance with the food safety management systems.

Currently, FSSAI has provisionally recognised 22 audit agencies, including national and international food safety audit agencies like DNV, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, MS Certification, IRCLASS, SGS, BIS, TUV, Indocert among others. 

These third-party agencies will work in close coordination with the government’s food safety department. They will conduct audits to verify the compliance with standards of food safety and hygiene prescribed under Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulation, 2011. 

FSSAI said, “This regulation will strengthen the food safety surveillance system in the country by encouraging self-compliance. It empowers the FSSAI to recognise an organisation or an agency for carrying out food safety audit and checking compliance with the food safety management systems."