Source:fnbnews.com

Apex food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has decided to engage professionals and food safety experts for the purpose of policy guidelines with regards to the subject of food safety. The professionals would be attached to different programme divisions of FSSAI and regional offices for help in strategic and operational requirements.

According to a senior official of FSSAI, a notice has been issued by the food regulator and the purpose of such a scheme is to identify and empanel reputed professionals and individual consultants who may be asked to provide technical, project management and other professional support on short-term basis (upto six months) for the purpose of policy guidelines, project support, detailed project report preparation and other professional support to FSSAI.

The official informed that it was aimed at getting reliable information about technical subjects like standards for the purpose of food safety that can meet the global standards as well as the operational requirement at the local level. Further for this purpose, professionals with relevant background from academic research, not for profit organisation, registered society, freelancers, consultancy firms having expertise in the relevant field are eligible to apply provided they possess the minimum experience, according to the notice.

Meanwhile, the food safety regulator has also decided to engage Central or state government agencies, consumers’ organisations, non-governmental organisations and other institutions including government universities, colleges working in the area of food safety for undertaking information, education and communication (IEC) activities on behalf of FSSAI.

Dairy Cattle
                Dairy cattle

The apex food regulator has issued a notice in this regard as well recently. It says that as per the recommendations of the Expert Committee constituted under the scheme, it is being done and for the “State Level Proposal,” applications should be submitted directly to the State Food Safety Commissioners (FSCs) concerned by the applicant whereas the “National Level Proposal” should be submitted to the FSSAI HQ, New Delhi.

According to the senior official, since the state food safety machinery is reeling under the shortage of manpower, it has been decided that awareness programmes that are aimed at engaging FBOs and such other institutions should help. Further as the deadline for licensing and registration has been extended for the final time for three months, the authority wants to complete the aim within this period and for this purpose a large number of such volunteers are likely to be roped into spread the message.

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SOURCE www.fnbnews.com