It was attended by members of the food and beverage sector and focussed on the challenges and future implications of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, which came into effect on August 5, 2011. Ashwin Bhadri, head, business relations, Equinox Labs, and an FSSA expert, conducted the session.
All food business operators (FBOs), vendors and even consumers are expected to comply with the FSSA, and have recently been given a six-month extension to do the same. The responsibilities that members of the food industry have in providing healthy and hygienic food will be emphasised as will the penalties for not adhering with the rules set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Bhadri stressed on the fact that the extension to the August 5, 2012 deadline, which came through about a week before August 5, would be advantageous to the food and beverage industry because many of them have not registered under the FSSA yet. He also stated that all FBOs would have to implement a food safety management system (FSMS) plan before applying for a licence under the new regulations.
The FSMS plan would give them proper guidance on food safety, ultimately helping them adhere to the law. Bhadri also dwelled upon the penalties covered in various Sections of the Act, that range between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 10 lakh plus imprisonment, the term of which could range between six months and a lifetime. The second half of the seminar focussed on the documentation required to protect corporates and food and beverage companies from consumer lawsuits.
