The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued an advisory warning against the misuse of the FSSAI logo and the Food Safety Training & Certification (FoSTaC) logo in any form, as well as misrepresentations as an FSSAI employee by individuals hired by a FoSTaC Training Partner for mobilisation.
“Trainers, Assessors, Training Partners, their employees, and any other person/entity are hereby advised not to use the FSSAI and FoSTaC logos in any way without authorization, failing which they will be blacklisted/banned by FSSAI without notice.” Legal action may also be taken for unauthorised use of the FSSAI and FoSTaC emblems, depending on the nature and degree of the offence committed against the subject, person, or entity,” according to the FSSAI advise.
According to the FSSAI, a number of complaints have been received from various Restaurants, Trade Associations, Small Shopkeepers, and so on, that persons with ID cards bearing the FSSAI logo and/or the FoSTaC logo have been visiting their premises, demanding food registration/licence certificates, forcing them to undergo training under the FoSTaC to obtain a Food Safety Supervisor (FSS) certificate, and threatening them with heavy penalties for disobeying.
“It has also been discovered that booklets with FSSAI and FoSTaC logos are being distributed, as well as cash receipts with FSSAI and FoSTaC logos being given by a few training partners.” Some training partners have been collecting membership fees in addition to the FoSTaC course price, which is not permitted,” according to the FSSAI statement.
According to the advice, FSSAI has not authorised any FoSTaC training partner, trainer, or assessor to use the FSSAI or FoSTaC emblem on ID cards, pamphlets, brochures, cash receipts, email signatures, visiting cards, social media profile photographs, and so on. “As a result, any unauthorised use of the FSSAI and FoSTaC trademarks in any form is illegal and susceptible to legal action,” the caution continued.