The last day for mandatory auditing of food businesses holding central license, and falling under high-risk category has been extended up to 31 December 2020.
This decision is taken in the light of the current situation because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In August last year, the FSSAI, via an order had stated that in pursuance of the powers given to it under the Food Safety Standards (Food Safety Auditing) Regulations, 2018, it is directing that food businesses including dairy products and analogues, excluding products of food category 2.0:
- meat and meat products,
- including poultry;
- fish and fish products,
- including molluscs,
- crustaceans, and
- echinoderms;
- eggs and egg products;
- foodstuffs intended for particular nutritional uses (food for infant nutrition, etc.);
- and prepared food (catering, etc.),
shall be subject to mandatory food safety auditing.
The regulator has now issued a clarification on the subject of mandatory food safety audit of the food businesses holding Central licences and falling under the high-risk categories under the Food Safety and Standards (Auditing) Regulations, 2018.
The concept of food safety audits was announced for the first-time last year to strengthen the food surveillance system in the country.
The notification may be accessed here.
