April 8, 2020
The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has planned to conduct online inspection of premises of such food businesses, which come under the high risk category / sector in order to process their applications for license/registration on ASAP basis. This was a decision taken by the FSSAI to avoid unnecessary delays in processing of applications forms for licenses and registrations during the period of lockdown enforced in the country.
Under the FSS Act and licensing regulations, it is hereby specified that physical verification and inspection is obligatory in certain high risk category food businesses such as meat and dairy. But due to the prevailing condition of lockdown and immobility, it is not possible to conduct physical inspection of such units.
“This could delay the grant of license/registration where licensing authorities decide to have inspection of food units before considering the applications of license of the FBO, and therefore to avoid delays, it has been decided to consider e-inspection in place of physical inspection. This would help in processing of the application for the license by the licensing authorities,” expressed a senior official of FSSAI.
The order articulates, “In cases, where licensing or registering authority decides to conduct inspection prior to grant of FSSAI license/registration certificate, the concerned authority may conduct e-inspection of FBO’s premise i.e, authority may record observations by the means of videos or images submitted by the concerned FBO.
The mode of submission of videos or images related to inspection during the lockdown situation may be through any possible media available, including live streaming, if possible. Upon receiving satisfactory videos or images of the FBO’s premises, the licensing authority shall further process the application without any delay. The authority can also download and keep the copy of such visuals for future references.”
The order has asked the licensing authorities that during such lockdown period the applications should be processed as soon as possible, food being an essential commodity. The order also says that the requirement of inspection should be kept at minimum and such instances should be reviewed by the Commissioner of Food Safety.
The order further says that, if required, after the situation normalizes, the authority may schedule a physical inspection of the FBOs to whom license was granted during the period of lockdown.