Latest news with #FoSCoS
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Closure report mandatory upon licence expiry: FSSAI
The food safety and standards authority of India (FSSAI) has mandated food business operators (FBO) to submit closure reports upon expiry of their licence, according to a notice issued by the national food safety regulator. The notice, titled 'Mandatory submission of Closure Report on expiry of FSSAI licence/registration', said, 'All Food Business Operators (FBOs), whose FSSAI licence/registration has been expired during FY 2024-25 are hereby directed to mandatorily submit a closure report.' In the detailed closure report, FBOs need to confirm that no business activity is conducted at the premises and that they must provide reasons for non-renewal of their licence. The notice, issued on May 16, also directed FBOs to apply for renewal of licence or registration well before the expiration date. 'This report must confirm that no business activity is being conducted at the respective premises on the expired FSSAI licence/ registration number or else, food business shall confirm whether new licence / registration has been obtained. FBOs are also required to further provide specific reasons for non-renewal of the FSSAI licence,' the notice read. Also Read: Economic Survey 2025 calls for 'health tax' on ultra-processed foods The reasons for closure of business or non-renewal of licence should be submitted in FSSAI's Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) portal, the food regulator said. If an FBO continues to operate after the licence's expiry, a hefty fine will be levied. 'It shall be noted that operating a food business on expired FSSAI licence/ registration shall be treated as violation of section 31 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and may attract a penalty of up to ₹10 lakh under section 63,' the notice said FSSAI said this step has been taken for maintaining transparency and traceability in the overall licensing framework created for food businesses operating in the country. 'FSSAI has mandated the submission of a closure report upon the expiry of licence/registration. This is crucial for maintaining transparency and accountability in the licensing framework,' the food regulator said in a statement issued on Thursday. The food regulator has taken the measure amid reports of food business operating on expired licences. A senior official aware of the matter, requesting anonymity, said, 'There were reports of food businesses continuing to function even on expired licence till they applied or got their renewed licence. That is not acceptable and needed to stop. This move is an attempt to ensure there is absolute transparency in their functioning.'
New Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Consumers can now directly report misleading claims made on food products: FSSAI
NEW DELHI: Now, consumers can directly report misleading or false claims made on food product labels. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), on Wednesday, announced the introduction of a new digital utility that enables consumers to directly report misleading claims made on food product labels. FSSAI regulates the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food articles, and also establishes standards to ensure food safety. 'Consumers can now lodge complaints regarding misleading or false claims displayed on packaged food items through the Food Safety Connect mobile application or via Food Safety Compliance System - FoSCoS – The Food Safety Connect mobile application is available for download on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. This initiative is part of FSSAI's ongoing efforts to promote transparency, protect consumer rights and strengthen food safety regulations in the country, the statement added. The tool facilitates easy submission of essential details such as front-of-pack images highlighting the misleading claim, the FSSAI license or registration number of the manufacturer, and the e-commerce URL if the product is being sold online. These inputs will support regulatory authorities in taking prompt and evidence-based action against non-compliant Food Business Operators (FBOs), the statement added. This consumer-centric step builds upon FSSAI's regulatory framework under the Food safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018 and the Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020, which mandate that all claims made on food products must be truthful, unambiguous, meaningful, not misleading and the claim that a food has certain nutritional or health attributes shall be scientifically substantiated. The initiative is also aligned with the functioning of FSSAI's Advertisement and Claims Monitoring Committee (AMC), which monitors claims made on the label and in the advertisement of food products to check regulatory compliance. 'The new reporting mechanism strengthens ground-level vigilance by empowering consumers to act as the eyes and ears of the food safety authority,' it said. 'FSSAI encourages all citizens to actively participate in this initiative to ensure honesty in food labelling and contribute to building a healthier and well-informed India,' it further said.
Hindustan Times
25-04-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
UP to expand fortification efforts, distribute fortified wheat flour through PDS
Uttar Pradesh is set to expand its food fortification efforts by piloting the distribution of fortified wheat flour through the Public Distribution System (PDS). The announcement was made during the 19th State Connect Programme, jointly organised by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Uttar Pradesh State FDA, and the Confederation of Indian Industry – Food and Agriculture Centre of Excellence (CII-FACE) in Lucknow on Thursday. Ranvir Prasad, principal secretary, civil supply and consumer protection, highlighted that over 40% of the state's population is affected by anaemia. To address this, the government has already implemented rice fortification across 865 PDS outlets, 1,823 Anganwadi centres, and 102 rice mills, benefiting around 19.17 lakh people. The state's next step—piloting wheat flour fortification—is expected to further combat micronutrient deficiencies and boost nutritional security. A dedicated session on large-scale fortification brought together industry experts and organisations such as PATH, GAIN, Fortify Health, Technoserve, KHPT, and WFP. These stakeholders shared best practices and technological innovations to enhance the fortification of staples like rice, wheat, edible oil, and milk. Supported by the Gates Foundation, CII aims to use this platform to drive improved compliance and manufacturing standards. With 35% of India's wheat and sugarcane output and significant food processing infrastructure, Uttar Pradesh continues to strengthen its food safety ecosystem. The expansion of food testing labs to 18 across the state signals a focus on improved lab capacity and safety monitoring. Ranjan Kumar, principal secretary of Ayush and Food Safety & Drugs Administration, emphasized awareness campaigns and digital monitoring tools aligned with the Viksit Bharat vision. Dr SK Panda from FSSAI reinforced the importance of FBO registration on the FoSCoS portal and robust risk-based inspections. FSSAI also conducted hands-on training on digital compliance through live FoSCoS demonstrations, while sessions covered detection of milk adulterants and food contaminants, with a lab demo at CSIR-IITR enhancing practical understanding among officials.
