FSSAI has recommended 20 applications of manufacturers of Rapid Food Testing Kits (RAFT) for final approval.
According to a senior official with the country’s apex food regulator, the applications were received and placed before its method review group for scrutiny and the recommendations of the review group were endorsed by the scientific panel on method of sampling and analysis and the food authority.
FSSAI, in this regard, also released a status report saying that a total of 55 applications were received by the apex food regulator, wherein 20 applicants were recommended for final approval for the testing kit, while 11 have been given provisional approval. The rest was not considered for the project.
The approved applications included the following:
Idexx Laboratories Pvt Ltd for rapid food testing kit/media – Colilert & Colilert18, IDEXX Laboratories Pvt Ltd
Rapid food testing kit/media – Pseudalert, Nissui Pharmaceuticals for Rapid food testing kit/media – Compact Dry (Coliforms), Nissui Pharmaceuticals
Rapid food testing kit/media – Compact Dry (E Coli), Nissui Pharmaceuticals for Rapid food testing kit/media – Compact Dry (Total Plate Count), Nissui Pharmaceuticals Rapid food testing kit/media – Compact Dry (Bacillus cereus), Nissui Pharmaceuticals for Rapid food testing kit/media – Compact Dry (Staphylococcus aureus), Nissui Pharmaceuticals for Rapid food testing kit/media – Compact Dry (Yeast and Mold), Biomerieux S A Rapid Equipment – Vitek 2 Compact, Biomerieux S A Rapid food testing media – Chromogenic Agar Media, Biomerieux S A Rapid food testing kit/ media – Analytical Profile Index, 3M India Limited Rapid food testing kit/media – Petrifilm(3M Petrifilm E coli/Coliform (EC) Count Plate), 3M India Limited Rapid food testing kit/ media – Petrifilm (3M Petrifilm Rapid E coli Count (REC) Plate), 3M India Limited Rapid food testing kit/ media – Petrifilm (3M Petrifilm Enterobacteriaceae (EB) Count Plate, 3M India Limited Rapid food testing kit/media – Petrifilm (3M Petrifilm Coliform Count (CC) Plates), 3M India Limited Rapid food testing kit/ media – Petrifilm (3M Petrifilm Rapid Coliform Count (RCC) Plates), 3M India Limited Rapid food testing kit/media – Petrifilm (3M Petrifilm Aerobic Count (AC) Plates, 3M India Limited for Rapid food testing kit/ media – Petrifilm (3M Petrifilm Rapid Aerobic (RAC) Count Plates), 3M India Limited for Rapid food testing kit/ media – Petrifilm (3M Petrifilm Yeast & Mold (YM) Count Plates) and 3M India Limited for Rapid food testing kit/ media – Petrifilm (3M Petrifilm Staph Express (STX) Count Plate + Disks).
Last December, FSSAI had announced introduction of new rapid food testing devices/kits for detection of food-borne pathogens and toxins. Overall 30 rapid food testing kits/devices were approved by the FSSAI across six product categories including edible oils, milk, water and alcoholic beverages, meat and meat products, fish and fish products, raw and finished products and automated system for rapid detection of pathogens in food matrices.
Previously, in its 27th meeting held recently, the food authority had approved the notification of the draft amendment to Food Safety and Standards (Laboratory and Sample Analysis) Regulations, 2011 and the proposal for operationalisation of the said amendment.
The following clause was inserted in the ibid regulations–
2.4 Approval of rapid analytical food testing kit, equipment or method- 2.4.1 Food Authority may approve rapid analytical food testing kit, equipment or methods for the purpose of testing of food. 2.4.2 The procedure for approval of rapid analytical food testing kit, equipment or methods shall be as per the guidelines that may be framed by the food authority from time to time.
Thereafter, a direction was issued for operationalisation of the aforesaid regulations.
In the meantime, a notice dated March 19, 2019, along with the application form, was uploaded on FSSAI’s website seeking applications from desirous manufacturers/ method developers to apply for approval of their rapid testing kit/equipment/method.
