Question : Imported Food Material

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has raised the matter of inter-connecting of certain ports in the country for the purpose of streamlining/facilitating rapid movement of imported food material;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether certain bottlenecks are being faced in the way of expeditious availability of imported food materials in the country; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the corrective measures taken/proposed to be taken in this regard?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)
(a) & (b): The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) operates a web based Food Import Clearance System at the port/airport offices located at six locations. Authorised Officers of FSSAI have been provided a window in the system to view the information of other ports thereby providing inter-connectivity for facilitating import clearance process.
(c): The imported food consignments are tested as per provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. To expedite import clearance, FSSAI has introduced a web based system as mentioned above.
(d): Every effort is made to clear the imported food consignment within the stipulated time. FSSAI has also increased the number of accredited laboratories for testing food products and introduced 24X7 import clearance at Mumbai and Delhi ports/Airports. FSSAI also gives provisional ‘No Objection Certificate’ for perishable goods.
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