Food Safety Mitra: Friend of Food Safety
Food Safety
Mitra (FSM) will be a golden opportunity for a student of Under Graduate, Post
Graduate or Ph.D. scholar from food discipline or
Even for any science graduate.
Concept:
Friends, today we will discuss one of the
important aspects or we could say an initiative from FSSAI and the initiative
named as i.e. Food Safety Mitra (FSM). The scheme is launched by Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare (By Hon. Dr. Harsh Vardhan) on the occasion of ‘World
Food Day’ on 16th Oct. 2019. The theme for the world food day is
‘Healthy Diets for a Zero Hunger World’.
If we abbreviate the FSM, here Mitra means your dear
friend who can help you, assist you in your life, or during requisite. It is
rightly quoted that A friend in need is a friend indeed. With concern to the same, we could say that
Food Safety Mitra (FSM) is a true friend for different Food Business Operator
(FBO’s).
Introduction:
Currently, India is the second populated country in the
world and would act as one of the largest food basket in the world. The Indian
food industry is scattered and is comprises of organized unorganized and
small scale industries. In which again the contribution from the organized sector
is up to 25 %. Hence it means many food businesses are not registered to date.
With an accumulated data of 32 lakh food businesses, 1.55 lakhs food safety
supervisors, 600 hygiene rating, or auditing establishment. It has challenges to
feed to the people on one side and opportunities to create on the other side. As a
Food Authority its main focus is to convert the challenges into lying
opportunities with the help of Food Safety Mitra.
India is currently at 77th position in Ease
of Doing Business and wishes to be in the top 50 in the coming days. To consider this reality FSSAI changes its
approach from Regulator to Enabler.
To enable this food
safety ecosystem at ground level Food Authority launches a new system i.e. Food
Safety Mitra. Here, the main aim is to engage the motivated individual as a Game
Changer. The information is available on the website of FSSAI.
Meaning:
Food Safety Mitra:
It is an individual professional certified by FSSAI and performs limited
actions on behalf of or for FBO (Food Business Operator) with respect to the
implementation of the Food Safety Act, Rules, and Regulations.
Role of Individuals:
1. Licensing and Registration: Under the Eat Right India movement we want to
increase the number of registered or licensed food businesses from 32 lakh to
60 lakhs. It is possible only if FBO could register/license or renew while
using IT tools of FSSAI. It could be made by the FSM schemes who are the
solution providers to FBO’s
2. Food Safety Training: FSSAI launched Food
Safety Training and Certification Program (FoSTaC) to increase trained and
certified food safety supervisors from 1.55 lakhs to 10 lakhs. They will certify
as FSM through the program ‘Train the trainer’.
3. Hygiene Auditing: We are way behind in hygiene rating.
Hence, according to the Eat Right India goal is to broaden such establishments
to nearly 60,000 which are 600 now. To achieve the goal we plan to engage the individual with domain knowledge of FSM.
FSM: Operational Guidelines and Role Descriptions:
FSM has three-tier Structure as AVATARS.
1. Digital Mitra: For
Licensing and Registration, filing applications, filing annual returns or
declarations, and others.
2. Trainer Mitra: Food Safety Training, conducting training of
food safety supervisor under FoSTaC.
3. Hygiene Mitra: To audit hygiene of FBO outlets, hygiene
guidelines, to train the food safety supervisors and handlers about safe and
hygienic food handling practices. To attend the goal of hygiene and safe eating
throughout India.
Here, I must suggest you one thing, rather than an
individual, you act as a resource person to the different Food Business Operator
to help them out.
Eligibility:
1. Digital Mitra: Age
should be between 21 to 60 years and has a Bachelors's degree from a recognized
university with knowledge of computers, the internet, etc.
2. Trainers Mitra: Criteria
for Trainers as under FoSTaC scheme:
|
No. |
Criteria |
Basic Level |
Advance Level |
Special Level |
|
1. |
Educational Qualification |
Graduate in Science/ Food Science / Chemistry/ Microbiology. If graduate in other streams a minimum of 5 years of experience in
relevant food industry. |
Graduate in Science/ Food Science / Chemistry/ Microbiology. If graduate in other streams a minimum of 7 years of experience in
relevant food industry. |
Graduate in Science/ Food Science / Chemistry/ Microbiology. If graduates in other streams a minimum 7 years of experience in the particular sector of the food industry. |
|
2. |
Training & Implementation Experience |
Minimum 3 Years Training on Food Safety and Hygiene (FSMS,
HACCP) in the relevant food industry. |
Minimum 5 Years Training on Food Safety and Hygiene (FSMS,
HACCP) in the relevant food industry. |
Minimum 5 Years Training and Implementation on Food Safety and
Hygiene (FSMS, HACCP) in the relevant food industry. |
|
3. |
General Training Received |
Knowledge of FSS Rules and Regulations |
||
|
4.
|
Skills |
Should Have good communication and Motivation
skills. Shall be available for training 20 days in a
year. |
||
3. Hygiene Mitra:
Age should be between 21 to 60 years. Candidates should
possess Bachelors degree in Catering Technology / Hotel Management / Food / Dairy/ Fishery / Oil technology /
Biotech / Agricultural Sciences/ Veterinary Sciences / Biochemistry /
Microbiology from a recognized university.
In addition to that candidates must possess the
knowledge of FSSAI act and Rules and Regulations, sector-specific knowledge of
hygienic and sanitary practices, processing techniques, etc.
Code of Conduct:
1. Integrity:
It is the first and prime most important norm and includes helping out the FBO’s
with compliance. FSM has to maintain integrity at all times:
·
Diligence at all times: during application
filling, conduction hygiene audit.
·
Advising FBO’s correctly about the
processes, regulatory requirement, and their liabilities.
·
Rectify the mis-declaration and non-compliance
from FBO’s
·
Charging only prescribed fees from clients,
against receipt.
2. Transparency:
As an FSM it is mandatory to maintain transparency in their services.
·
Application filed on behalf of FBO’s: Quote
their Unique Identification Number
·
Service charges communicated to FBO and
Share the receipt and acknowledgments for the same.
·
Without authority, they will not use the FSSAI
logo or name or represent as officers of FSSAI
3. Quality:
·
With concern to training, audit or filing
of application, FSM will maintain quality standards.
·
FSM will have to ensure quality service to
their FBO’s.
Renewal and Cancellation of Food Safety Mitra Certification:
The validity of FSM certification is of 02 years. At
the start a security deposit of Rs. 5000/- shall be collected from FSM on a refundable basis during exit.
Here, keep in mind
one thing FSM may continue to act as such unless:
·
FSM certificate is suspended or withdrawn
by FSSAI.
·
The scheme is withdrawn by FSSAI
·
Non-renewal after validity expiry of FSM
certificate.
In case of any complaint, FSSAI may impose penalty like
suspension for a time period, cancellation of certification or debarring future
registration as FSM or forfeiture of deposit.
Following are some
of the grounds or reasons of cancellation of FSM certificate:
1.
If state food authority report any
misconduct by FSM
2.
If FSM refuses to give a copy of the receipt to
FBO’s
3.
If FSM fails to give his name and Unique
Identification number in the application or return filed by him.
4.
It FSM makes repeated mistakes during
filing of application or returns.
5.
Engaged in any financial irregularity,
fraud.
6.
Fails to comply with the direction of
FSSAI.
7.
Makes a wrong or fraudulent application or
returns despite being in the know.
8.
Any act in the violation of guidelines.
9. Fails
to upgrade skills concern to FSSAI
Before, cancellation of the certificate, the Food Authority may
give an opportunity to FSM to explain his or her position.
Conclusion or Summary:
1. Benefits to FSM - Employment
Generation: As there are 25 lakhs FBO who spend nearly minimum
Rs. 2000/ to Rs. 3000/- then the new service industry worth Rs. 500 cr. That
will be a good opportunity to create their career with more leaps and bounds in the current scenario. It gives great scope for self-employment to many candidates
from food discipline.
Due to self-employment opportunities, it is expected to join 50,000 entrepreneurs in Food Safety Mitra.
Currently, there are 9327 digital Mitra, 4662 Trainer Mitra and 4524 Hygiene
Mitra.
With concern to the same here, I will share a YouTube Video for Better Understanding of the Food Safety Mitra.
So I will suggest going for it as it yields a great future
in the coming days.
2. Ease of Doing Business: With
the help of FSM we are able to create a transparent, qualitative, and organized
ecosystem that supports food businesses. On the website, you could able to see
service providers in your nearby location with their charges.
3. Strengthening Compliance: With
the help of the scheme FSSAI improves compliance environment and further move
ahead for regulatory compliance.
4. Timely Resolution: The scheme acts as a timely resolution for FBO with concern to their need,
applications status, training or hygiene rating, etc.
5. Empowering food safety ecosystem: Hence
in nutshell we could say, Food Safety Mitra is self-driven and self-employed
compliance structure that complements efforts of FSSAI and state food
authority.
