FSSAI orders licence review of Packaged Drinking Water Bottlers : Daily Current Affairs

Relevance: GS-2: Statutory, regulatory and quasi-judicial bodies

Key Phrases: Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI),Packaged Drinking Water (PDW) Manufacturers Association, food business operators, FoSCoS (Food Safety Compliance System) portal, FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Business Regulation, 2011), IS 17482:2020, ‘ORS’ [Oral Rehydration Salts), Drugs Controller General of India

Why in News?

Recently, FSSAI has asked food commissioners of states and union territories to review the licences granted to bottlers following mounting complaints about packaged still and mineral water being sold without BIS certification in the scorching summer heat.
The Food Regulator reminded state government officials that BIS or Bureau of Indian Standards certification is mandatory on packaged water bottles.

Issues:

The Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) officials said that they have received mounting complaints about packaged still and mineral water being sold without BIS certification in one of meetings with the Packaged Drinking Water (PDW) Manufacturers Association.
- Packaged Drinking Water (PDW) Manufacturers Association asked for immediate strict action.
The real issue is that food business operators seek FSSAI licence and they write to the regulator that they have applied for a BIS certificate, and FSSAI gives licence to them on the assurance that they are also seeking a BIS certificate.
- FSSAI doesn't know what happens and why food business operators do not take BIS numbers.
Currently, the Food Regulator is trying to manage this regulatory error and therefore have written to the States/UTs to conduct a special drive to ensure (if) all manufacturers of PDW and mineral water have BIS number or not, and accordingly action will be taken.
An awareness campaign started for retailers which are selling packaged drinking water and mineral water about the BIS number, which is mandatory for the bottle water product.

Steps Taken:

FSSAI has requested the state government to review the licences granted for manufacturing of packaged drinking water and mineral water products under their jurisdiction and verify whether the said licensees have furnished the valid BIS certificate for the same through FoSCoS (Food Safety Compliance System) portal.
In case such certificates are not available, notice may be issued to the Food Business Operators (FBOs) to furnish the same in the time-bound manner. Failing such licences, licences may be cancelled/suspended as per FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Business Regulation, 2011).
- As per BIS, the newly published standard for drinking water is IS 17482:2020.
The apex food regulator has also directed state governments to conduct a special drive to check the quality of packaged drinking water. FSSAI has sought ‘action taken’ reports from all food commissioners by 31 May.
Recently, FSSAI also received several complaints regarding misuse of the term ‘ORS’ [Oral Rehydration Salts) by certain fruit-based or non-carbonated or Ready to Drink beverage manufacturers by labelling or using terms similar to ORS like ‘ORSL’, ‘ORSL Rehydrate’, ‘Electro Plus ORS’ etc.
1. According to FSSAI, the product ‘ORS’ is a Drug under Drugs and Cosmetics Rules L945 which is used for the treatment of acute diarrhoea and has a specific composition prescribed by the Drugs Controller General of India.
2. The apex food regulator directed its counterparts in the state to review such labelling and rectify the labelling defects immediately while ensuring that the term ‘ORS’ is not used in the labelling of such products.

Do you Know About FSSAI?

About FSSAI:

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act).
FSSAI is an autonomous body. The administrative ministry for FSSAI is the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
FSSAI is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.
FSSAI headquarter: New Delhi.
Functions:
1. Granting FSSAI food safety license and certification for food businesses.
2. Creating an information network across the country about food safety.
3. Promote general awareness about food safety and food standards.
4. Framing of regulations to lay down the standards and guidelines of food safety.
5. Laying down procedure and guidelines for laboratories in food businesses.
6. To provide suggestions to the government in framing the policies.
7. To collect data regarding contaminants in foods products, identification of emerging risks and introduction of rapid alert systems.

Way Forward

There is a need to shift focus from water supply infrastructure creation to quality water management, viz. service delivery.
There is a need to pay focussed attention and subsequent inspection for that dealers are adhering to all FSSAI regulations.
Government should manage the demand side of water management is crucial as India cannot increase the per capita availability of water immediately. So that dependence on water bottles should be reduced.
The participation of individuals, NGOs and different communities to check the quality of water bottle availability in their regions.

Source : Live-Mint

Mains Question:

Q. Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) as a regulator has failed to curb the problem of Food Adulteration, unlicensed food business operators and mushrooming unhygienic water bottle industries. The need is to make FSSAI more proactive rather than reactive in its approach. Examine. (15 marks).