Food import worth millions of dollars has been a major area of concern for India, along with many other countries, during the first half of the year.
The latest advisory from the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), under the ministry of health, is on import of honey, prompted by reported cases of antibiotic contamination. Besides honey, the government is on a watch-out mode on import of fresh vegetables and fruits from Europe folowing the E-Coli bacteria scare. The concern over possible radioactive contamination of food products coming from Japan is yet to die down.
In a letter addressed to food commissioners and union territories across the country, port and airport health officials and customs collectors, FSSAI has asked for an urgent action-taken report on the number of honey samples analysed and found adulterated with antibiotics. The authority had issued warnings/advisories on contaminated honey late last year, but it is yet to get an action-taken report.
In a fresh reminder, FSSAI has said strict vigil must be kept on the quality of honey and all consignments imported should be analysed on parameters prescribed under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act. For imports of food from Japan, a top official of FSSAI had told Business Standard recently that no traces of radioactive contamination had been found in the products coming from Japan after the massive earthquake.
India has been conducting a test of all food imports from Japan since early March, to analyse any presence of radioactive contamination. “We get a daily report on the tests, and there hasn’t been a single case of contamination yet,” the official had said.
He had reasoned that Japan’s control over food exports was very strong and it was ensuring no contaminated product should leave the country’s shores. While FSSAI had recommended a ban on Japanese food import initially, it went back on its stand. While additional labs were notified for testing of food imported from Japan, FSSAI came out with an advisory, saying: “Following the recent earthquake in Japan and concerns of possible radiation leakage from affected nuclear plants, there’s need to increase the surveillance of food import from Japan to ensure they are safe for consumption.” Japanese food imports include seafood, meat, fruit and vegetable.
While the Food Safety Authority did not release any statement immediately after the outbreak of the E-Coli bacteria cases in Europe, it issued a notice on its website. Keeping in view the chances of fresh fruit and vegetable contaminated with E-coli bacteria entering India, there’s a need to “increase the surveillance” on imports from Europe, FSSAI said on June 3. Samples of all fresh fruit and vegetable consignments imported from Europe are being tested as a precautionary measure.
In another instance, the FSSAI came out with guidelines related to imported food clearance last month. The guideline elaborated on exemptions regarding declaration of “best before date of consumption” to certain imported wines and alcoholic products. This was because the alcohol content in these products acted as preservatives.
FSSAI is also looking at GAP (good agricultural practice) as an effective way of assuring food safety. According to an official, FSSAI will now start putting GAP-certification as mandatory for large retail companies in India. “GAP is important because a major part of all food products originate from agriculture.” Organic food certification is another focus area for the authority.
