Food Safety Mitra (FSM)

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 16^th 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 77^th 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.

www.fssai.gov.in/mitra

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.