FSSAI Relaxes The Timeline Of Compliance With Distribution Of Surplus Food Regulations

In July 2019, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) came out with a very noble initiative of the Food Safety and Standards (Recovery and Distribution of Surplus Food) Regulations, 2019. The new regulations expect the surplus food distribution organizations to comply with the food hygiene measures as per the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011.

There are many safety measures taken in the regulation for the food businesses for safe distribution of the surplus food before expiry. The deadline for compliance to all provisions of the new regulations by the food operators during the rollout was set as 1st July 2020.

Business all over the world is now affected by COVID-19 pandemic. Even it is affecting the food businesses and surplus food agencies. The current situation of COVID-19 is making it difficult for food businesses and surplus food agencies to follow food safety management. Considering all these, FSSAI extended the timeline to apply the Food Safety and Standards for Recovery and Distribution of Surplus Food Regulations.

Key Points of Food Safety and Standards for Recovery and Distribution of Surplus Food Regulations

• The surplus food distribution organizations must follow the food safety and hygiene measures as per Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business Regulations, 2011.
• As per the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011, the surplus food distribution organization serving food to the needy person shall be regulated. Reliable sources having valid registration or license should distribute surplus foods.
• Maintenance of proper facilities for transport, storage, and reheating for the surplus food distribution organization.
• If a person is unwell, he should not come in contact with food. Cuts boil and wounds of food business workers need to be covered.
• Food unfit for human consumption must be in a container marked as “Food for Disposal.”
• Maintaining record of surplus food like: 
  1. Name and address of the food donor organisation.
  2. Name and address of surplus food distribution organisation.
  3. Donation date.
  4. Name of the food product (item).
  5. Batch number of food product (item).
  6. Date of manufacturing.
  7. Best before date or expiry date.
  8. Quantity donated by food donor.
  9. Temperature of food.
  10. Quantity distributed by surplus food distribution organisation.
  11. Area where food is distributed.
  12. Date of distribution.

The food businesses will require more time to streamline the regulations in the system. The
apex Food Authority reconsidered the timeline for compliance in the food surplus distribution
and extended the date to 1 st January, 2021 to help the food business.

References

1. Gazette notification on “Food Safety and Standards (Recovery and Distribution of Surplus food) Regulation, 2019 vide notification number REG/11/27/Surplus Food/FSSAI -2017. Dated 26.07.2019.
2. File No.01/FFRC/FSSAI/2017.Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Dated 25/06/2020.