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Vol. 7, Issue 04 - September - I - 2014
NEWS
On Canola oil labeling row, Bombay High Court issue notice to FSSAI The company in its petition has also said that the requirement to label Canola Oil as “Rapeseed Oillow erucic acid” is discriminatory since the same labelling requirements are not imposed on other types of oil.
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ood Safety Authority of India (FSSAI) has received notice from The Bombay High Court asking it to respond by September 1 on whether they should insist on labelling Canola Oil as “Rapeseed Oillow erucic acid”. The court has also asked FSSAI to proceed with the import clearance procedure of drawing samples for testing and issuing no objection certificates for Canola oil containers blocked at several ports. Importers of Canola oil have faced with an uncertain future after the FSSAI order, asking them not to import the edible oil under the brand name. The authority has insisted that the every container of Canola oil must be labeled as “imported rapeseed-low erucic acid oil”. It has also asked importers to print an ingredient list with “edible vegetable oil” (not Canola oil) and include it in the label. Dalmia Continental Pvt, an importer of Canola Oil, had filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court and had argued that the FSSAI had no authority to issue such a labelling guideline under the Food Safety Standards Act, without the prior approval of the Union government.
It has also argued that the FSS Act mandates that authority ensures an open and transparent public consultation before preparation of regulations, which was not conducted in this case. It is not only Canola oil which is facing the brunt of the FSSAI’s labeling orders. Containers of apples and other fruits, olives, canola oil, beer, wine, spirits, chocolates, fresh meat, seafood, pastasauce, mayonnaise, candy, juices, chips, spices, soymilk, gluten-free products have been blocked at various ports. Importers say it would be difficult for them to sell Canola oil with the “imported rapeseed-low erucic acid,” label. The standoff has proved costly for the importers as hundreds of containers of Canola oil have been detained across various ports. Several representations to the FSSAI have pointed out that Canola oil has been imported and sold in India since 2007 and it is a well-known product. It is one of the largest selling oils in several countries, including US, Canada. Mexico, Australia, Japan, China and Pakistan.
USDA introduces new system for improved safety of ground beef multiple pathogens using new laboratory methods.
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he Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has introduced a new system for the improved safety of ground beef. The new system will reportedly assist FSIS in tracking down the source of tainted ground beef more quickly, removing it from the market and preventing its recurrence by identifying the root cause. These changes build upon other FSIS schemes set up to improve ground beef safety that were introduced this summer. One such proposal was for retailers to maintain records of their source of beef suppliers; another was for FSIS to test products for
A critical component of preventing food borne illness is quickly identifying sources of contamination and removing unsafe products from store shelves. “The expedited trace back procedures being announced today will allow FSIS to take action more quickly, which will make a significant difference in food safety investigations and in preventing food borne illnesses.” “The expedited trace back procedures being announced today will allow FSIS to take action more quickly, which will make a significant difference in food safety investigations and in preventing food borne illnesses.” As per FSIS new trace back procedures, investigations will be immediately conducted at firms where E. coli O157:H7 has been found in ground beef during preliminary testing as well as at the source suppliers.
Food processing explorer stick on safety standard set up by EU
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he Minister for Food Processing Industries HarsimratKaurBadal said that, Indian food processing exporters are adhering to the safety standards set up by European Union countries. Exporters are mandatorily complying the Food safety standards set up by EU countries, that are based on risk assessment and all with these standards for export of products which are administered through APEDA. “Testing of such products is done in APEDA approved laboratories,” said the minister. The minister added that in the last five year, food processing sector has been growing at a rate of around 8.6 percent. The food processing sector forms an important segment of the Indian economy in terms of its contribution to GDP, employment and investment and it contributes, she added. In a developing economy like India, where growth with equity is a primary policy thrust, the optimum development of the food processing sector will contribute significantly in tackling several developmental concerns such as rural poverty, food security, food inflation, improved nutrition, prevention of wastage of food, etc, she said. According to the Badal, by serving as a bridge between Agriculture and Manufacturing and by dealing with the basic needs of all Indian citizens-the assured supply of healthy take about two days. An investigation of the suppliers would then have occurred around 30 days later. Now, records will be reviewed by FSIS as part of the trace back to ascertain any breakdown in the food safety system of the supplying or grinding establishment. Moreover, the shipped product of the supplying establishment will also be determined by the FSIS as to whether it has contaminated other processors or facilities. If this seems to be the case, steps will be taken by FSIS to remove the tainted product from the market. According to FSIS, once these new proposals for food safety have been implemented, many more product recalls may occur.
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Previously, investigations by FSIS were launched after test results at the grinding facility came back positive, which could
Beverages & Food Processing Times
and affordable food at all locations in the country, this sector has the potential to be a major driver in India growth in the coming years. A network of food testing labs is required to ensure compliance with food standards, she said, adding that there are 151 Food Testing Laboratories under the purview of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for testing food products as per standards prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Rules/ Regulation, 2011. The standards for imported food products are prescribed in Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011 & Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants Toxins and Residues) Regulation, 2011.
SC stays order of HC on imported food items
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fter the case presented in Supreme Court of India for imported food related issues, SC has stayed the Bombay High Court judgment that quashed a product advisory issued by the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to enforce norms on imported food items. A bench headed by Justice JS Khehar stayed the HC decision after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India alleged that the impugned order has paralysed the mechanism to enforce food safety norms on imported food items. Earlier product approval advisory issued on May 11, 2013 made it mandatory for packaged food, beverage, health drink and supplement makers to disclose any ingredient or formulation change to FSSAI. The advisory was challenged in the HC as health product manufacturers and importers felt that the country’s apex food safety regulator would mire them in unnecessary red tape. There has been a number of representations meeting FSSAI to resolve the issues related to import of food ingredients, labelling, product approval, etc. Recently a delegation of Food Ingredients Manufacturers and Suppliers of India Association met HarsimratKaurBadal, Minister of food processing industries and urged to take up the matter with PMO.