Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS)

 

Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS)

Food Safety Compliance system is one of the major initiatives started by FSSAI. The major focus while deciding on the system is to integrate the new platform to different food business operators and provide them all service under one roof.

We are taking consideration of the initiatives with following keynotes.

Introduction:

From the year 2012, the FSSAI’s online licensing platform FLRS (Food Licensing and Registration System) is the essence of the licensing ecosystem with Pan India (All-State and U.T.s) coverage, 70 lakh licenses/ registrations issued till date, over 35 lakhs licensees/ registrants actively transacting on it.

Hence, In June 2020 FSSAI is launching its cloud-based, upgraded new food safety compliance online platform called Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS– https://foscos.fssai.gov.in ). Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) is an enhanced version of Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS) which was launched in 2012 for issuance of pan-India FSSAI Licenses and Registration.

Problems with FLRS (Food Licensing and Registration System):

FLRS evolved incrementally and organically with changing regulatory needs. The major problems it faces are:

1. FLRS is an outdated system

2. Less technical support

3. Do not cope with new changes

4. Creates obstruction for further improvement, expansion, and innovation in the licensing system.

Thus the migration from FLRS to FoSCoS was essential to follow.

Aim:

FoSCoS is conceptualized to provide one point stop for all engagement of an FBO (Food Business Operator) with the department for any regulatory compliance transaction.

Integration and IT Tools:

FoSCoS is conceptualized as the umbrella system which is integrated with FSSAI’s other existing IT platforms such as Food Safety Compliance through Regular Inspection and Sampling (FoSCoRIS), Food Safety Connect-Complaints Management System, Online Annual Return platform, Food Import Clearing System (FICS), Indian Food Laboratory Network (InFoLNet), Audit Management System (AMS), adjudications and penalties, Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC), Food Safety Mitra (FSM) etc.

FoSCoS has been integrated with FoSCoRIS (Food Safety Compliance through Regular Inspections and Sampling). It is actually an App, and the App will capture onsite inspection carried out by FSOs as per the inspection checklist. This would ensure that periodic inspections of food businesses are done on a regular basis by regulatory staff in an objective and transparent manner.

FoSCoS Implementation:

The FoSCoS shall be launched in phases. For the initial launch of FoSCoS on 1st June 2020, 09 States/UTs have been selected. They are mainly:

1. Tamil Nadu

2. Gujarat

3. Goa

4. Delhi

5. Odisha

6. Manipur

7. Chandigarh

8. Puducherry and

9. Ladakh

Once the FoSCoS is launched in a State/UT, all licenses or registrations related to the State will be available on FoSCoS (https://foscos.fssai.gov.in/) and the FLRS data shall be disabled for taking further any action.

These integrations will be done one by one in the future until FoSCoS evolves from a licensing platform to a unified compliance platform. FosCos has a robust architecture capable of future extensions and enhancements. Here Digital Mitra helps you for certification under FoSCoS.

A single regulatory platform will enable pan India integrated response system to any food fraud and ensure an advanced risk-based, data driven regulatory approach. For the start, FoSCoS will be offering licensing, registration, inspection, and annual return modules.

Technology Prospect:

Technologies such as GPS location tagging, picture capture and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) will be utilized in the future to ensure transparent and accountable extension field services such as inspections and sampling. Sample management, improvement notices, adjudications, audit management system etc activities/ modules will be enabled in a phased manner in future.

In future, it will be integrated with other platforms of Government of India such as GST, PAN, etc. to ensure a 360-degree profiling and validation of businesses.

Basic Feature of Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS):

FoSCoS essentially has flows similar to FLRS, so that users have convenience in migrating to FoSCoS. The paradigm change is the shift of the methodology of licensing for manufacturers which now shall be based on standardized product list.

This will help in a quicker grant of licenses and eliminate any errors. The new approach is only for manufacturers of standardized food products. For manufacturers, in case of non-specified food, supplements/nutraceutical, proprietary food, and substances added to food - the approach continues to be as in FLRS.

However, for initial days, users can access their issued licenses/registrations or applications under processing on FLRS for viewing purposes only. Users will not be required to immediately do anything upon migration to FoSCoS apart from verifying the correctness of details in issued licenses/registrations and applications under processing. However, all manufacturers holding valid FSSAI license shall be needed to modify their license to choose from the available list of standardized products before 31st December 2020.

Steps for FBO:

Steps to be taken upon migration from FLRS to FoSCoS, different frequent question and other user-oriented material have been made available on the homepage of FLRS and FoSCoS both.

States/UTs have been given directions for capacity building among the officers and Food Business Operators, to ensure a smooth transition from FLRS to FoSCoS. Since its recent inception, FSSAI has conducted several trainings/workshops on the key features of the system. Further, a training version of FoSCoS has been made available so that users of the system get acquainted with the new version. The Guidance Document, PPT, Video Tutorials, and User Manuals have been made available under the User Manual Section on the homepage of the FoSCoS.

Reference Video:

To understand the whole concept in an easier manner the YouTube Video is attached herewith.

Link: https://youtu.be/rUY6BXML2_0

Summary:

1. Migration from FLRS (Food Licensing and Registration System) to FoSCoS.

2. In June 2020, 1^st phase of the Food Safety Compliance system launched by FSSAI.

3. There are 09 states/ UT are covered in the first phase.

4. FoSCoS is conceptualized to provide one point stop for all engagement of an FBO (Food Business Operator) with the department for any regulatory compliance transaction.

5. FoSCoS is integrated with different IT platforms to evolve from a licensing platform to a unified compliance platform.

6. All detailed information and guidance documents along with the training module are available on the home page of the website.

 

Abbreviations:

1. FoSCoS: Food Safety Compliance System

2. FBO: Food Business Operator

3. FSSAI: Food Safety and Standard Authority of India

4. FSSA: Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006

5. FLRS: Food Licensing and Registration System

6. UT: Union Territory

7. RFID: Radio Frequency Identification

8. FoSCoRIS: Food Safety Compliance through Regular Inspection and Sampling

9. FICS: Food Import Clearing System

10. InFoLNet: Indian Food Laboratory Network

11. AMS: Audit Management System

12. FoSTaC: Food Safety Training and Certification

13. FSM: Food Safety Mitra