New Delhi, May 2 (KNN) The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has operationalized and at the same time sought comments from stakeholders on draft regulations for Food Safety and Standards (Import) Amendment Regulations, 2018.

It said draft regulations are in the process of being notified and the process of draft notification, consideration of comments, if any may be received thereon and the finalization of these regulations is likely to take some time.

Meanwhile, keeping in mind the need to reduce the time taken in the process of clearance of imported food articles so as to facilitate the ease of doing business, it has been decided to operationalize these regulations with immediate effect.”

According to the amended draft regulation, now in case of imported pre-packaged retail food article, the Authorized Officer after successful completion of visual inspection and sampling, may issue a provisional no objection certificate to move the food consignment to a well-equipped shortage facility.

For this, the Authorized Officer shall take a declaration from importer in Form 13 A and importer shall sell such pre-packaged food article only after the issuance of no objection certificate by the Authorized Officer. (KNN Bureau)