Speak now

 The latest proposal of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to make registration, inspection and audit mandatory for foreign food manufacturing facilities that export food products to India in certain categories, could be seen as a “non-tariff” trade barrier and will increase the compliance burden for food importers. In a move that has caught food importers by surprise, the FSSAI is mulling amendments in import regulations, and in certain categories has proposed – based on food safety risk analysis – making registration, inspection and audit mandatory for foreign food manufacturing facilities that export to India. The FSSAI has not outlined the food categories in its draft regulation. But industry players said categories such as meat, dairy, water, infant food or products for special dietary purposes are considered to be high-risk food product categories. The regulator has now sought views from stakeholders on the proposed Food Safety and Standards (Import) Amendment Regulations, 2020.