The Distance Industries Centre, Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, organised a two-day Technology Clinic for Agro-Food Processing Enterprises. It took place in the town's Hotel Elite Continental and was inaugurated by Mathew T Thomas, member of the legislative assembly, Thiruvalla.
The event had various sessions with experts speaking on a number of topics, including food safety, packaging, processing, etc. N Anandavally, the United Nations' food safety consultant shared her critical views on food safety rules and regulations in India.
Speaking on the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, she said, “The new rule given by FSSAI is a benchmark Act till date for India. The set of regulations is partly inspired by the international ones. The Indian set of safety standards is a very systematic, practical approach set by the experts.”
Commenting on the new rules set by FSSAI, she said, "Though the earlier regulations were good, it majorly focussed on the end product. The current set of regulations has taken care of food safety at every step, including the manufacturing and processing aspects”.
Anandvally, also a member of World Health Organisation (WHO), said the Indian regulations are in compliance with international standards. To make it work is now in the hands of manufacturer and consumers. The manufacturers need to implement it on their own on a daily basis, and the consumers should be aware of it.
As far as government education and training is concerned, she said, "It's not always the government's duty to educate and train. There are a lot of small-time manufacturers and producers. Training and educating them won't be possible always.”
“It is the producers and manufacturers who should take initiative for their own development. The only thing government should focus on is auditing, verifying the commodities as per the safety regulation enforcement and implementation standards,” Anandvally said.
She, however, said the government could appoint a core team in every state or area to train and educate them and ask them to share the techniques to small producers, manufacturers and traders. Through this, they can educate people in their local languages and even uneducated farmers will benefit from it, adding that the improved support system and infrastructure is a must for strong food safety mechanism in the country.
