(a) the details of the food safety and quality assurance schemes/plans
for food processing industries, under implementation in the country;
(b) the mechanism for certification of processed food in existence at present; and
(c) the steps taken to enable adherence to stringent quality in the processed
food products and increase confidence of consumers in our processed products?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI SUBODH KANT SAHAI)
(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to in reply to part (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question
No. 58 for answer on 25.02.2010 regarding Quality of Processed Food Products.
(a): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries(MOFPI) under its scheme for
(i) Research and Development in
Processed Food Sector,
(ii) Setting up / Upgradation of Quality Control/ Food Testing Laboratories,
(iii)
Implementation of HACCP / ISO22000, ISO14000/ GHP/ GMP quality / safety management systems and
(iv) Promotional
activities is providing financial assistance for implementation of Total Quality Management System. Under the
scheme all implementing agencies are eligible for reimbursement of 50% of cost of consultant fee, fee charged
by Certification Agency, plant and machinery, technical civil works, and other expenditure towards
implementation of Total Quality Management System including ISO14000, ISO22000, HACCP, GMP and GHP
in general areas subject to maximum limit of Rs. 15 lakh and 75% in difficult areas subject to a maximum
of Rs. 20 lakh.
In addition, other organizations like Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority
(APEDA) under Ministry of Commerce, and Development Commissioner Small Scale Industries DC(SSI) under Ministry
of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises are also providing assistance under its various schemes for quality
development.
(b) & (c): Consequent upon the establishment of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India(FSSAI)
under the provision of Food Safety and Standards Act(FSSA), 2006, the various food safety and quality
assurance schemes for food processing industries namely (1) Fruit Products Order, 1955,(2) Meat Food
Products Orders, 1973 (3) Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992 ,(4) Solvent Extracted Oil, De – Oiled
Meal and Edible Flour (Control ) Order, 1967, (5) Vegetable Oil Products (Regulation) Order, 1998, (6)
Edible Oils Packaging (regulation) Order, 1998 etc. regulating the different commodity of food and the
(7) the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 have been brought under the administrative control of
the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India(FSSAI) by invoking the provisions of section 90 of the
Food Safety and Standards Act(FSSA) , 2006. Now, these orders and act are being implemented under the
administrative control of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India(FSSAI).
The mechanism of certification of the processed food is taken care by issuing the license and registration
to the manufacturing units. The applicants who wish to manufacture the processed food products has to obtain
license/registration under the different commodity specific order which stipulates certain conditions to be
observed and provided with adequate infrastructure facilities including potable water in the manufacturing
units to ensure the hygienic and standard quality production of the processed food.
There are provisions in the different food related orders and acts which empowers the authorized/ technical
officers to inspect the manufacturing units periodically to ensure that the minimum hygienic conditions as
stipulated in the different orders and acts are complied by the units and samples of the different commodities
are being drawn for testing in the food laboratories to ascertain their conformity. The defaulters are being
dealt with as per the provisions of the orders and acts.
Besides implementation of provisions in the above mentioned food related orders and acts, some additional
activities are carried out, including certification systems and awareness programmes for the industry and
other stakeholders on the theme of food safety and quality. There are,broadly, 3 kinds of certification
system presently existing in the country:
(a) Product certification- This system ensures quality/safety of the product itself e.g. BIS certification
(b) Process certification- This system ensures process as well as product safety like GMP/GHP/HACCP- Hazard
Analysis Critical Control Point.
(c) Management systems certification- This system ensures the systems which will produce safe food like ISO
22000
The National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) under Quality Council of India(QCI) is a
national Accreditation body. Quality Council of India(QCI) is responsible for the National Quality Campaign
which has been assigned to it by the Central Government since inception and has identified food as a focus
area. It conducts awareness programmes for the industry and other stakeholders on the theme of food safety
and quality to apprise them of the latest standards and developments
QCI was a partner with The Ministry of Food Processing Industries(MOFPI) for FOOD SAFTY AND QUALTY YEAR
2008-2009 and had conducted a number of programmes during that year. MOFPI has also been sponsoring and
funding some of these programmes conducted by QCI since 2007. Thus,18 programmes were organized during
2008-09 and 8 programmes were organized during 2009-10 for generation of awareness about food safety and
quality for stake holders of food processing sector by QCI.