1. Developing food safety systems
internationally: Experiences from
India and Codex Alimentarius
S. Dave
Director - APEDA
and Chair - CAC

2. Structure of Keynote Presentation
India – domestic experience
India – international experience (Codex)
The Iceberg
Codex and action points for us
2

3. l India - domestic experience
3

4. Facts about India
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
4 Rising expense on meat, egg, fish, coffee, tea, cocoa

5. Why FSS Act..?
Multiple food laws, and enforcement agencies
Varied standards restricting innovation
Limited manpower, poor labs. & other resources
Standards rigid, non-responsive to scientific
advancements and modernization
Poor level of consumer interface
5

6. How FSSA integrates..?
6

7. 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
7 ☺ Mechanism for speedy disposal of cases

8. FOOD AUTHORITY
FOOD AUTHORITY
FSSAI set up in Sept. 2008 Finance Division
(FSSAI)
(FSSAI)
Chief Executive Officer Vigilance
Central Advisory Committee Division
( 22 members )
Codex Cell
Scientific Committee and Panels Central Food
( 8 panels ) Laboratories (72)
Chief, Management Chief Chief Chief, Product Approvals
Services Officer Enforcement and Quality Assurance Chief Scientific Advisor
Surveillance
Officer Officer
• Standards
development
• Human • Risk/Crisis • Compliance • Regulated Product Approval
Resources Management (based on
• Inspection • Oversight for self regulations Codex)
• Information
Technology • Epidemiology • Prosecution • Food safety and Biosafety • Research
approvals
• Communication • Scientific Reference
and Public • Clinical • Inter-agency approvals
Relations Surveillance • International
• Accrediting and Monitoring Science Cooperation
• International third party certification & labs
Relations • Scientific Outreach
• Providing and reviewing
protocols for critical product • Committee / panel
validation tests
8 support

9. Committees and Panels of FSSAI
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.
9

10. India - international experience
Table Grapes (traceability)
Organic Products (best practices, equivalence,
conformity assessment)
10

11. Grape growing
states of India
Maharashtra
Andhra Pradesh
Karnataka
11

12. Implementation by India
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 adherence
to this procedure
STAGE II: IT enabled the regulation, compliance and monitoring
Integrating all stakeholders in the supply chain of grapes
export from India in a centralized database
12

13. Traceability live
Traceability through labels
pasted on pallets / cartons
Pasted in barcode and
human readable format
Leads to farms from where
grapes were sourced
Helps importers manage
their inventory
Screen shot from GrapeNet
13

14. 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 7
14

15. 15

16. India’s export market for
organic products
United States
Others
Japan EU
Source: APEDA
16

17. What has been India’s focus…?
☺ 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)
17

18. What were the next steps…?
Continue best practices at all levels
Develop more Certification Bodies for competition and
better 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
18 Invest in promotion

19. India’s Export of Organic Products
Quantity exported 90,000 MT
by end of year
70000
60000
50000
40000
Volume
(MT) 30000
20000
10000
0
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Year until Sept.
19

20. Let’s talk about Codex…
20

21. 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
21

22. 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
22

23. The Iceberg
Codex Codex
23

24. Private Standards
National Standards
Codex Standards and Texts
24 Consumer Consumer Consumer Consumer

25. Legal
Standard
Private A
Legal
Procedure Standard
Audit
B B
t
di
Au
Au
di
t
Private
Audit Private
Procedure Audit Standard
A
A
Au
Audit
t
d
di
it
Au
Legal Private
Procedure Standard
Legal
B B
Procedure
A
25

26. Legal
Standard Better, I eat
Private A myself…!!
Legal
Procedure Standard
Audit
B B
t
di
Au
Au
di
t
Private
Audit Private
Procedure Audit Standard
A
A
Au
Audit
t
d
di
it
Au
Legal Private
Procedure Standard
Legal
B B
Procedure
A
26

27. 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
27

28. Action Points
How can WE help…??
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
28 Enhance global awareness for Codex - the bench-mark

29. Global Awareness for Codex
The Three Sisters:
Animal Health
Plant Health
Human Health ?
29

30. Together, we make
that difference…
30