India sets up Food Safety and Standards Authority
8th July 2008 by Alex Briggs
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India will be set up by the end of July, 2008 while the first set of food safety norms may come out within the next two months, according an Indian Government official.
“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,” FSSA Chairman PI Suvrathan said at an interaction organised by industry chamber FICCI.
The chamber has suggested that an effective mechanism for training food safety officers be set up and guidelines with uniform law interpretation for all stakeholders be issued.
Moreover, Ficci has recommended for a revamp in the food standard system and adoption of Codex food category system which is prevalent in many developed countries.
The government had in June declared 2008-09 as the year of food safety and quality.
