After suffering losses of more than Rs 25,000 crore during the last one-and-a-half years due to non-clearance of food imports at various ports and airports in the country, the food and beverage sector is heaving a sigh of relief as beginning March 1, 2016, ministry of health and family welfare will be introducing easier import and export norms. Aimed at speeding clearances at entry and exit points with the help of a software, the new system is expected to be fully functional in about 6-8 months.
In this regard, the earlier system of sampling from each consignment will be discontinued and in its place a risk-based criteria for clearance is being introduced. In this new system of clearance, only those consignments which come under predefined risk parameters will be subjected to sampling. The system will be applicable for drug consignments as well.
Risk-based criteria
"After detailed consultations, it has been decided that amongst others, it is possible to reduce the time taken for clearance of imported consignments by adopting a risk-based criteria for clearance of such consignments in place of samples being drawn from each consignment," said a recent order of the health ministry. It added that it was done to facilitate speedier trade across borders, and the government has decided to introduce risk-based sampling of import consignments covered under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and regulations thereunder.
Also, according to sources, the move appears in line with international standards, which are aimed at easing trade between countries by awarding speedier clearances to products that do not involve serious health concerns, while focussing on specific items which are identified on the basis of predefined risk.
Software soon
The order also pointed out that a software is being developed by department of revenue and other departments concerned. The software will identify potential risk in the products, which is in line with risk-based sampling process as stated by the health ministry order.
The move seems to be in response to a long-pending demand by food and pharma industries in the country for a speedy system of clearance as many of their products were shelf life-sensitive and due to delays, especially, in case of products such as premium chocolate and cheese, the consignments have reached expiry date even before entering the market causing huge losses.
Industry take
Welcoming the move, FIFI (Forum of Indian Food Importers) has expressed satisfaction over the new system. Amit Lohani, founder-director, FIFI, explains, “We have been meeting food safety department officials for a long time to have a single-window clearance system in place. Now, the department will be coming up with a Pre-Arrival Document Register (PADR) or pre-arrival document check system which will eliminate human intervention, making more speedier clearances of the consignments at the point of entry. There should be lesser human intervention in the system. If we consider the process which is in practice today, the samples are collected from the consignment and are sent for tests, requiring 2-3 days on an average, meaning more consignments will require more time. Thus, the process becomes time-consuming.”
