FSSAI Launches Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS)- Platform For Food Safety Compliance

FSSAI Launches Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS)- Platform For Food Safety Compliance

 

In the FSSAI regulations, there are two categories of food products —standardized and non- standardized. The standardized food products are those food items for which standards are prescribed and do not require product approval before manufacture, distribution, sale, or import in India. The first-time importer or manufacturer of standardized foods in India only requires an FSSAI license to begin a food business. As per rules, Non-standardized food products are those food items that do not have standards as their safety parameters or not yet laid down by the apex food regulatory in India.

Recently, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched its cloud based, upgraded new food safety compliance platform called Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) to replace the existing Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS). FoSCoS is conceptualized to provide one point stop for all engagement of an FBO with FSSAI in terms of regulatory compliance. FoSCoS shall be launched in phases and the states/UTs of Tamil Nadu Gujarat, Goa, Delhi, Odisha, Manipur, Chandigarh, Puducherry and Ladakh have been selected for the first phase launched on 01 June, 2020.

Key Features for Application of FSSAI License for food products through FoSCoS are:

• The text box approach for name of food product intended to be manufactured in the pre- existing FLRS system is now replaced by the Selection Options for standardized food products in the FoSCoS online system.
• This new system is applicable currently for manufacturers (including re-packer, re-seller) of food products. For food licensing, manufacturer needs to choose a standardized food product from the list provided on portal which already has an indication of classification as per Food Category system (FCS), The food product not falling under any of the standardized products shall fall under Proprietary food, Non specified food or Supplements/Nutraceuticals. For licensing of these food products, manufacturers need to follow the old text box approach. Licensing for all KoBs (Kind of Business), except manufacturer, like food catering, transporter, wholesaler, storage, e-commerce, etc. shall continue on the basis of broad food product categories.
• For food products like additives, processing aids, enzymes etc. category 99 will be used for licensing. Since every product under category 99 doesn’t have standards yet, the text box approach shall continue This category shall be moved to standardized list approach as more and more product standards are developed in the future.
• Standardized food products which are unmappable under the current FCS will be listed under a new category 100.
• Since there are no standardized food products for Ready to eat Savouries (under food category 15.0) and Prepared Food (under food category 16.0), manufacturers need to procure a central license under the Proprietary Food Category
• Modification of all food licenses, not in accordance with the current standardized food categorization system of the FoSCoS portal, is required.
• Existing FBOs with valid licenses need to modify their licenses after migration to the new system of FoScoS without any modification fee till 31 Dec, 2020. For due renewal of a license, only 1 year renewal window instead of 1-5 years as per FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, shall be provided.

This move of FSSAI will ease the system of applications of food licenses and proper review by the food authority of India.

References

1. FSSAI Order on Modification of License by Existing FSSAI Licensed Manufacturers upon launch of FoSCoS, dated 28 th May,2020. Issue No. 15(31)2020/FosCoS/RCD/FSSAI. Available at https://fssai.gov.in/upload/advisories/2020/05/5ecf895502943Order_License_FoSCoS_28_05_2 020.pdf. Accessed on 18 June 2020.
2. Public notice on launch of Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS), dated 28 th May,2020. Available at https://fssai.gov.in/upload/advisories/2020/05/5ecf898128659Notice_FoSCoS_Launch_2 8_05_2020.pdf. Accessed on 18 June 2020.