If we wish to export to any country, we must meet their requirements. We won’t be allowed to export until we verify that we meet their requirements, according to the additional secretary.
Food safety is crucial to the fast-growing Indian food processing industry, according to Sanoj Kumar Jha, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India. He also underlined the necessity for stricter food safety regulations in order to increase customer confidence. “We need to ensure that the food we eat and export must comply with minimal standards, not just for export purposes but also for domestic purposes and health concerns. High food safety requirements are required for household consumption, he stressed.
Speaking at the “FICCI conference on Capability Enhancement for Safe Food Business and Accession Ceremony of All India Cadre of Safe Food Business Professionals,” Jha noted that the pandemic demonstrated the value of the Indian farm sector, which includes the processed food business. Many nations are anticipating a post-Covid system that will ensure food security in their nation. As a result, business has to be aware of international requirements for food safety connected to export. “We must adhere to their criteria if we wish to sell to any nation, whether Europe, the US, or Africa. We won’t be able to export until we make sure that we meet their requirements, he continued.
Jha continued by saying that the FSSAI has been developing new rules as standards tighten. Food safety is of the utmost importance, he said, and we need to be sure to extend these high standards to local street food sellers as well. “The norms will keep on getting more and more stringent going forward,” he added.
Jha emphasised the actions made by the government, stating that the ministry (MoFPI) has already started institutions that focus on capacity-building in addition to government initiatives. “We all need to work together for having safe food for our consumption, exporting to other countries,” he said.
Prof. Prabhat K. Nema, Director of the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), emphasised the significance of public-private partnerships in building capacity and stated that the institute has begun working with renowned organisations, business partners, and developing courses aimed at producing business leaders. He said, “We need to concentrate on developing individuals with the appropriate skills and competencies to meet the demands of the sector.
One of the greatest employers in India is the food processing business, according to Suresh Narayanan, Member, FICCI Food Processing Committee and CMD, Nestle India. It contributes 10% of India’s GDP today. To feed the people, we require both food safety and food security. Food quality, regulations, and safety are universal in today’s interconnected globe. Food safety is one of the most important elements of any food business and is the foundation of customer confidence, he highlighted.
The conference also commemorated the accession ceremony of 25 chosen professionals from the All-India Cadre of Safe Food Business Professionals Batch 2022-23, which was hosted by Nestle Food Safety Institute India (NFSI) in collaboration with NIFTEM.