Question : Quality Management in FPI

(a) whether Total Quality Management System (TQMS) is essential in the Food Processing Industries (FPIs) to reach the world market and avoid being swamped by imported food items and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government provides assistance/grant-in-aid to Central/State Government Organisations/IITs and Universities for implementation of TQMS;

(c) if so, the details of assistance provided to States during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise; and

(d) the mechanism adopted by the Government for accreditation of certification bodies operating in certification of food processing units under the TQMS?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a): Total Quality Management System (TQMS) enables food processing industry to adhere to stringent quality and hygiene norms, to enhance product acceptance by overseas buyers and to keep Indian industry technologically abreast of international best practices and to prepare the industry to face global competition because of imported food items.

(b): Ministry of Food Processing Industries is providing grant-in-aid under the Scheme of Implementation of HACCP/ISO 22000/ISO 9000/GHP/GMP/Quality Safety Management Systems. Under this scheme, Central/ State Govt. Organisations, IITs, Universities and Private Sector are eligible for reimbursement of 50% of cost of consultant fee, fee charged by certification agency, plant and machinery, Technical Civil Works (TCW) and other expenditure towards implementation of Total Quality Management System including ISO 9000, ISO22000, HACCP, GMP and GHP in general areas subject t to maximum limit of Rs. 17 lakh and 75% in difficult areas subject to a maximum of Rs. 22 lakh. Difficult areas include J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, North-Eastern States, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) Areas of States.

(c): State-wise and Year-wise details of assistance provided to food processing units during last three years and the current year (upto 22.07.2015) for implementation of HACCP/ISO 22000 by the food processing units are at Annexure.

(d): The National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB), a constituent Board of Quality Council of India (QCI), provides accreditation to Certification Bodies for Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS) as per international standards ISO/IEC 17021 in conjunction with ISO 22003, and in turn these accredited certification bodies provide certification to food processing industries as per ISO 22000 standard.

****