Stringent Food Safety Standards
India has taken significant measures to ensure the safety and quality of imported food products. Over the past two financial years, approximately 1,500 consignments of imported foods have been rejected for failing to meet the stringent safety standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). These rejections highlight India’s commitment to maintaining high food safety standards, crucial for protecting public health and ensuring consumer confidence.
Rejection of Imported Foods
India’s rigorous food import regulations have led to the rejection of around 1,500 consignments in the past two financial years. These shipments included a wide range of products such as cheese, whisky, almonds, milk products, dates, apples, coffee, seafood, and chocolates. The rejections were due to the failure of these products to meet India’s strict quality and safety standards. The FSSAI rejected approximately 1,000 items in FY22-23 and another 550 in FY23-24.
Source Countries and Rejected Shipments
The rejected shipments originated from various countries, including those with stringent food regulatory regimes. This indicates that even developed economies are not immune to food safety issues. India imports food from over 100 countries, and the FSSAI’s role in regulating these imports is critical to ensuring the safety of food available in the Indian market. While India has been rejecting substandard imported foods, several Indian food items have also faced rejections abroad. For instance, Singapore and Hong Kong recently banned Indian spices due to elevated levels of ethylene oxide, a carcinogenic pesticide. In response, India’s top food regulator initiated comprehensive testing of allspice brands within the country.
FSSAI’s Three-Tier Verification Process
The FSSAI employs a rigorous three-tier verification process for imported food items, ensuring compliance with Indian standards. This process includes document scrutiny, visual inspection, and sampling/testing. Authorized officers at entry points oversee these procedures, and non-compliant samples result in Non-Conforming Reports (NCRs), which bar entry into the Indian market until compliance is verified.
FSSAI’s Risk Management System (RMS) is integrated with Customs’ SWIFT interface to assess various risk factors before granting import clearance. Despite the robust system, challenges persist due to varying international standards, limited testing facilities across ports, and evolving testing protocols. Consequently, entry points for imported food items are strategically limited to ensure adequate food safety management.
India’s stringent food import regulations and rigorous verification processes are essential for maintaining high standards of food safety and quality. The FSSAI’s proactive approach in rejecting non-compliant food products and monitoring international food safety alerts underlines its commitment to protecting public health. By continuously improving testing protocols and managing high-risk imports, India ensures that only safe and quality food products reach its consumers.