NEW DELHI, MARCH 20: In a bid to streamline the process of clearance for imported foods, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI ) has notified import regulations. The regulations include provisions for risk-based framework under which the food regulator may review risks associated with articles of food imports from time to time, besides adopting a risk-based inspection process.
After two-year long consultations with the stakeholders concerned, the Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017 has been notified. The regulator said the comprehensive regulations would facilitate ease of trade and ease of doing business while ensuring that the health of the consumers is not compromised. The regulations have laid down procedure for clearance of imported food products into India and include various provisions related to licensing regime for food importers. It also includes provisions for food import clearance for specific purposes, storage, inspection and sampling of imported food articles and prohibition and restriction on food imports, besides labelling provisions for import of food products.