Developing food safety systemsinternationally: Experiences from

India and Codex Alimentarius

S. Dave Director - APEDAand Chair - CAC

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Structure of Keynote Presentation

� India – domestic experience

� India – international experience (Codex)

� The Iceberg

� Codex and action points for us

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l India - domestic experience

� 30 States, 7 Union Territories; 2.97 million sq. Km.

� 585 Districts; 638,596 Villages; 22 official languages

� One-tenth of world’s arable land (169 million Ha)

� One-fifth of world’s irrigated land (56 million Ha)

� Coastline of 8000 km, vast marine wealth; 10 major ports

� India is third largest food producer(China: 856 m MT; USA: 608 m MT; India: 601 m MT)

� Grocery market (154 bn $) - 77% of total retail sales

� Total expenditure on food: > 21% of GDP

� Rising expense on meat, egg, fish, coffee, tea, cocoa

Facts about India

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Why FSS Act..?

� Multiple food laws, and enforcement agencies

� Varied standards restricting innovation

� Limited manpower, poor labs. & other resources

� Standards rigid, non-responsive to scientificadvancements and modernization

� Poor level of consumer interface5

How FSSA integrates..?

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Key Features of the Act

☺ Shift to a single line of command

☺ FSSAI is the single reference point

☺ Effective and transparent regulatory framework

☺ Decentralisation of licensing

☺ Integrated response to Novel / GM foods, trade, etc.

☺ Achieve high degree of consumer confidence

☺ Adequate information to consumers for informed choice

☺ Mechanism for speedy disposal of cases7

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Scientific Advisor Chief

Surveillance

Officer

Chief

Enforcement

Officer

Chief, Product Approvals

and Quality Assurance

Chief, Management

Services Officer

• Standards development

(based on

Codex)

• Research

• Scientific Reference

• International Science Cooperation

• Scientific Outreach

• Committee / panel support

FOOD AUTHORITY (FSSAI)

FOOD AUTHORITY (FSSAI)

• Risk/Crisis Management

• Epidemiology

• Clinical Surveillance

• Human

Resources

• Information Technology

• Communication and Public Relations

• International Relations

• Compliance

• Inspection

• Prosecution

• Regulated Product Approval

• Oversight for self regulations

• Food safety and Biosafety approvals

• Inter-agency approvals

• Accrediting and Monitoring third party certification & labs

• Providing and reviewing protocols for critical product validation tests

Central Advisory Committee

( 22 members )

Finance Division

Vigilance Division

Scientific Committee and Panels

( 8 panels )

Codex Cell

Central Food

Laboratories (72)

FSSAI set up in Sept. 2008

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� Central Advisory Committee� Scientific Committee and Panels (8)

� Food additives, flavourings, processing aids and materials in contact with food

� Biological hazards� Contaminants in the food chain� Labeling and claims / advertisements� Method of sampling and analysis� Pesticides and antibiotic residues� Genetically modified organisms and foods� Functional foods, nutraceuticals, dietetic products, etc.

Committees and Panels of FSSAI

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India - international experience

� Table Grapes (traceability)

� Organic Products (best practices, equivalence, conformity assessment)

Maharashtra

Andhra PradeshKarnataka

Grape growingstates of India

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� STAGE I: Government of India Regulation - Regulation of Export of Fresh Grapes from India through monitoring of pesticide residues

� Standards to meet international market standards

� Agencies to test compliance with these standards

� No export of fresh grapes to EU without adherenceto this procedure

� STAGE II: IT enabled the regulation, compliance and monitoring

� Integrating all stakeholders in the supply chain of grapesexport from India in a centralized database

Implementation by India

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Traceability live

� Traceability through labels pasted on pallets / cartons

� Pasted in barcode andhuman readable format

� Leads to farms from where grapes were sourced

� Helps importers manage their inventory

Screen shot from GrapeNetGrapeNetGrapeNetGrapeNet13

Major Gains

☺ Self confidence among farmers

☺ Culture for food quality and safety

☺ Farmers earned 40% more value

☺ Benefits went to 40,000 farmers and 132 exporters

☺ FOB realization: 8 Euro 11.5 Euro for 5 kg.

☺ Value - addition through improved packaging

☺ EU labs accepted that Indian labs are better

☺ Zero paper-work; total accountability; works 24 x 714

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India’s export market fororganic products

United States

E UJapan

Others

Source: APEDA16

☺ Set standards for Organic Production (NPOP)

☺ Qualified inspectors with agriculture background

☺ Best Practices for Accreditation (ISO-17011); Certification (ISO-65); Lab. testing (ISO-17025)

☺ Regular training of inspectors, Certification Bodies and Evaluation Committee

☺ Group Certification (small farm holdings)

What has been India’s focus…?

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What were the next steps…?

� Continue best practices at all levels

� Develop more Certification Bodies for competition andbetter delivery of services

� Initiate equivalence negotiations: EU and US (Codex)

� Introduce Traceability throughout the chain (Codex)

� Implement NPOP for domestic market

� Set standards for organic all livestock products,aquaculture and textiles

� Invest in promotion18

India’s Export of Organic Products

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

Volume(MT)

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011until Sept.Year

Quantity exported 90,000 MTby end of year

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Let’s talk about Codex…

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Relevance of Codex to members

� Based on scientific principles and risk analysis � Consensus based approach – truly global

� Covers a wide range – products, codes of practice, methods, MRLs, audits, ethics, equivalence, etc.

� Easy to harmonize national legislations� Provides flexibility in adaptation� Exchange of information is standardized� Saves time and facilitates trade� Helps settle differences� Reference standard in WTO

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Issues currently under discussion

� Codex Strategic Plan 2014 -19

� Private standards

� Participation of developing countries

� Capacity building of developing countries

� National Food Control Systems

� Veterinary drugs

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The Iceberg

Codex Codex

24 Consumer Consumer Consumer Consumer

Codex Standards and Texts

National Standards

Private Standards

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Legal Standard

A Legal Standard

B

Private Standard

A

Private Standard

BLegal

ProcedureA

Legal Procedure

B

Private Procedure

A

Private Procedure

B

AuditAud

it

Aud

it

Audit

Audit

Audit

AuditAudit

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Legal Standard

A Legal Standard

B

Private Standard

A

Private Standard

BLegal

ProcedureA

Legal Procedure

B

Private Procedure

A

Private Procedure

B

AuditAud

it

Aud

it

Audit

Audit

Audit

AuditAudit

Better, I eat Better, I eat myselfmyself ……!!!!

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The Solution…!

Harmonise with Codex…

� Helpful in absence of national standards

� Orients standardized process of food safety

� Overall development of consumer health / safety

� Facilitates equivalence process

� Facilitates export to developed markets

� Let’s support single standard across the globe

� Identify specific capacity building needs of countries

� Encourage countries to harmonize standards with Codex

� Develop guidance documents for small business / farmers

(e.g., GAP, organic, conformity assessment)

� Facilitate equivalence, conformity assessment

� Help developing countries introduce food safety education

� Encourage pvt. std. setting bodies engage with Codex

� Remove any negative perceptions about speed of Codex

� Enhance global awareness for Codex - the bench-mark

Action Points

How can WE help…??

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Global Awareness for Codex

The Three Sisters:

Animal Health

Plant Health

Human Health ??29

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Together, we makeTogether, we make

that differencethat difference ……