FoSCoS: FSSAI to launch Food Safety Compliance platform

October 19, 2020

On October 19, 2020, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India announced that Food Safety Compliance System called FoSCoS is to become operational from November 1, 2020. Currently, FosCoS is operational in nine states and union territories such as Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Gujarat, Manipur, Goa, Puducherry and Ladakh. From November 1, 2020, FSSAI is to extend FoSCoS to entire country.

Highlights

The FoSCoS is to replace the existing FLRS. FLRS is Food Licensing and Registration System. FLRS is operational in all the states of the country. It has so far issued 40 lakh licenses and 70 lakh registrations.

On the other hand, the FoSCoS is a cloud based and new food safety compliance online platform. It will act as an one point stop for all engagement of food business operators.

FSSAI

Recently, the union government has moved to revamp FSSAI. The authority is to be provided with more powers in the jurisdiction of animal feed and imposing penalties for violating food safety. In order to revamp FSSAI, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has framed the Food Safety and Standards (Amendment) Bill, 2020. Around 70 amendments have been introduced in the bill.

Food Safety Index

The index is created by FSSAI. Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have topped the Food Safety Index of 2019-20. The index is generated based on five parameters such as human resources, compliance, institutional data, food testing facility, training and capacity building. Thus, compliance plays a major role in food safety standards and its implementation.

Among the smaller states, Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya topped the food safety in the country.

The Food Safety Index was released on World Food Safety Day. The World Food Safety Day falls on June 7.