The Government of India under the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, has established this autonomous body known as the Food Safety Standards Authority of India, (FSSAI).
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India ( FSSAI) is created with the objective of laying down standards and guidelines that can be based on science to manage all the food business operators involved with the food or beverage, or any person dealing with the food which shall include: manufacturer, importer, storage, shipping, sale & delivery of any kind of food. Therefore, this article will give you an overview on Audit from FSSAI.
Why Audit from FSAAI is Necessary?
Audit is a documented process of an independent and systematic checking with the purpose to obtain audit evidence and objectively evaluate it to decide the degree to which the criteria of audit are fulfilled.
In plain language, an audit from FSSAI is a structured and planned activity where the trained officials from FSSAI checks & verifies for evidences with all the food business operators that a criterion of FSSAI is in compliance. The trained auditors will collect the evidences with regard to the quality and safety conditions of the food.
The FSSAI has been authorised with a legislative responsibility to carry out auditing of all the licensed food businesses. Audits are necessary to check and make sure that there is no compromise with the public health and that all the food business operators are complying with the Food Regulation 2015, and the Food Standards Code. As it is highly requisite to make rigorous standards and guidelines so as to avoid the danger of consumption of unsafe food which can lead to unwanted serious diseases and illness.
What are the Types of Audits from FSSAI?
There are three types of audits from FSSAI which are given below:-
Scheduled Audits
The food business operators have to go through regular audits and they are aware about their scheduled audits. FSSAI officials are authorised to notify all the Food Business Operators in advance about the schedule of the process of audit from FSSAI. The benefit here is that FBOs get adequate time to be ready and are prepared with their license requirements and documents.
Unscheduled Audits
This is a surprise audit visit given by the FSSAI officials as they can visit the food business operators anytime besides the procedural requirements. This unplanned auditing creates hassle amongst all the food business operators because of the sudden visit as these food dealers don’t get time to prepare with their licenses and documents in reference to the audit from FSSAI.
Raids
Raid is conducted by the FSSAI officials when they have received complaints by the consumers regarding the unhealthy and poor food quality. This will give them a chance to conduct a sudden auditing and inspection of the premises and check the food conditions. Raid has proved to be terrifying for any food manufacturer because it results in damaging their reputation. The food brand gets badly affected and it takes a long time to regain the consumers trust and confidence back.
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What is the Preparation Level for Audit from FSSAI?
The preparation level for audit from FSSAI is given below:-
License
Every food business operator is aware about the license requirements under FSSAI. There is a significant importance of license as the license acts as evidence that the food dealers are complying with the guidelines of FSSAI. The food business dealers should obtain all the right kind of licenses for his business and keep a copy of the same in his work premises.
Infrastructure
It is equally important to maintain the premises and infrastructure of the business where the food shall be manufactured, prepared and stored. The dealers must ensure that the premises are well managed, clean and in a hygiene condition.
This is done to make sure that the food present there is free from any defect, pests and leakages. Food storage conditions must be adequate enough to keep the food products safe, consumable and clean that can very well preserve public health.
Documentation– Food Safety Management System (FSMS)
This is the most important document that every FBO should possess. It includes the strategy of food safety plan, sanitation design as how to manage and proceed. The officials for audit from FSSAI can enquire about the annual turnover and other associated documents that will provide with the accounts of different tasks performed by the food business dealer throughout a year.
Process
The auditor shall enquire and study about theprocess of food manufacturing, packaging, delivering and storage conditions. The food management process must be well-defined and accurate. The audit from FSSAI shall check the raw materials that the food business operators are using and the quality control and storage conditions of the raw material.
Employee
The audit from FSSAI has to ensure that the employees of all the food dealers in their food business is having the knowledge and are aware about the food safety norms and are implementing the same in their dealings. It is the employees who are duty bound and responsible to maintain the quality levels.
The auditor has the right to question the employees on any food safety process regarding their work area. It is mandatory for all the employees to keep the certificate of health[1] check-up with them as per the new laws.
What is the Process of Audit from FSSAI?
It is very important for the food Business operators (FBOs) to know the ways to handle the audit from FSSAI as auditing is a necessary part of the food sector. They should know whether the auditing is for the regular purpose or because of the complaints received so that the food dealers can accordingly make the required improvements.
Step 1– The food dealer must first ask the official coming for audit to show his FSSAI ID card and then shall disclose his documents.
Step 2– The food business dealer must make a note if the auditor raises any issues on non-Compliance. Then it shall be the duty of food dealers to give justification on any food process strategy so as to remove the issue of non-compliance.
Step 3– The food business dealers for the audit form FSSAI has to stay precise with their licenses and documentation work. To prove them that these documents fulfil the FSSAI requirement criteria.
Step 4– The food business operator is answerable to the auditors on the issues of non-compliances as raised by them during auditing. The food dealers must try to solve the particular clause in respect of which the noncompliance has been raised and must make them satisfied with the answers that they are complying with the FSSAI Guidelines.
Conclusion
We at Corpbiz have trained experts to guide you with the process of fulfilling all the requirements of audit from FSSAI. Our experts will assist and help you through the whole process of getting the required documents and licenses in compliance with the FSSAI guidelines and will also ensure the timely and successful completion of your work.
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