Job Profile of Central FSO and Technical Officer

 

Job Profile of Central FSO and

Technical Officer

Introduction: 

Friends, the most confusing question in the mindset of many professional are what is the exact job profile or the work to do for Central FSO and Technical Officer.

The recruitment process under FSSAI is going on and in which three major posts are assigned. These posts are central FSO, Technical officer and Assistant Director. The syllabus for central FSO and Technical Officer is the same with concern to pre and mains exams.

As the hierarchy suggest Food Commissioner is at the top with concern to food safety in the state followed by ‘Designated officer’ and then succeeded by ‘FSO’. Hence, for a convenience point of view, we could draw the following administration graph for FSSAI.

 

Job Profile of Central FSO and Technical Officer (TO):

The designated job profile for Central Food Safety Officer and Technical Officer seems to be covered with features like the concept, meaning, responsibility, duties, Statement of Work, Nature of Job, objective, Role in implementation in the FSS Act, 2006, points of difference.

All these parameters are covered after an extensive discussion held with many Food Commissioner, Technical Officer of FSSAI, and Food Safety Officer. I am thankful for their valuable inputs to make draw attention towards the job profile for Central FSO and Technical Officer (TO) in an improved manner.

1. Concept:

FSSAI has to enforce the law at two levels namely state and central. At state level, FSO is appointed with concern to the state authority. At certain destinations points, FSSAI appoints Central FSO with specified responsibility.

Food Authority with the confrontation with government identified certainly the location where the more central license is issued and for such places appointment of Central FSO carried on.

Whereas, Technical Officer acts as a technical assistant for the food authority. For Technical Officer, areas of expertise are already defined and they will work accordingly given directions.

2. Meaning:

As the word ‘Central’, clearly indicates the appointment of the position under the centre i.e. from FSSAI. It also implies that co-ordination between center and state could be done by means of a new position entitled ‘Central FSO’.

Then again one question could become in the mind that why the word ‘Central’ is used in the context of the post ‘Central FSO’?

I would like to clarify one thing that FSO is selected under state Food Authority and they are appointed is purely made by the Commissioner of Food Safety (Under the Jurisdiction of the State/UT). It clearly indicates that FSO has to work for the state where he or she got selected. While Central FSO implies that the person is appointed under the FSSAI and acts as a representative from a central authority.

Though there is no separate provision of Technical Officer made under the FSS Act, 2006 but it has its own impact to assist the food authority from time to time for direction.

Technical Officer acts as a representative of Assistant Director and Food Authority who give his opinion on the formulation of policy, food standards and specifications, the residual limit for pesticide, antibiotics, and others.

3. Objective:

The main objective of Central FSO is to cope with the responsibility of food safety with concern to the FSSAI.

The basic objective of the Technical Officer is to act as a think tank for the FSSAI.

4. Basic Responsibility:

Central Food Safety Officers are the field officers and the backbone of entire food safety compliance structure. The food product produced by FBO with specified regulations under the FSSA, 2006 is the responsibility of Central FSO.

Technical Officer plays an important role with concern to the policy making for the authority.

5. Statement of Work:

As we know there are three different forms of food business category namely Registration, State License, and Central License. The basic criterion for this distinction is on the basis of annual turnover.

Here, annual food business turnover if up to Rs. 12 lakh one may go for Registration. If the annual turnover is up to Rs. 20 Crores, then FBO opt for state License and If turnover more than Rs. 20 crores FBO opt for Central License. So from this perspective, where Central License issued at more numbers at that destination Central FSO is appointed.

The main work is allotted to develop the market for numerous FBO in the given area and focus in made on the structure of the food business of that state.

Technical Officer engaged in the formulation of specification of food standards, quality parameters, and laboratory reports, and so on. Technical Officers comply with the guidelines and general provisions for an article of food. They are also involved in preparing various programs for subordinate training purposes to keep high standards of technological development.

6. Duties and Powers:

The duties for Central FSO are generally considered similar to FSO who is acting for the state. But Central FSO has to perform given duty with concern to the Central representatives. The Central FSO has to play as an enforcement officer and in ensuring food safety and quality.

Duties and Powers of Central FSO:

1. To issue registration of central license as per the FSS Act, 2006 with specified parameters.

2. To inspect the premise of FBO and ensure compliance as per Schedule 4 (part I) of Food Safety and Standard (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses), Regulations 2011 within the area assigned to him.

3. Prohibit the sale of any article of food which is in contravention to the act.

4. To recommend Designated Officer (DO) to issue of improvement notice to the FBO in order to comply with the conditions of license within a prescribed time limit.

5. To coordinate and facilitate the introduction of food safety systems in the centre and state.

6. Take a sample of any food or any substance, which appears to him to be intended for sale, or to have been sold for human consumption.

7. To enter and seize any premise where any article of food to be in contravention of FSS Act, Rules or Regulations made there under.

8. To carry out food safety surveillance to identify and address the safety hazards.

9. To coordinate with the food business operator with Central License and maintain the database for area assigned to him.

Duties of Technical Officer:

1. Act as a helping hand for Assistant Director.

2. Policy making with concern to the Food Standards with available inputs.

3. Technical Officer assists for new innovations or up-gradation in the licensing system.

4. May provide assistance with the formulation of CODEX standards for different articles of food.

5. Act as decision maker for FSSAI guidelines, new rules, and implementation schedule.

6. Maintain a record of all amendments made to the rules and strategy to imply for the specified article of food.

7. To maintain a database.

7. Nature of Job:

Central FSO involved in the enforcement of the FSS, act at the ground level or act as a field job. He may be in proximity to the Designated Officer.

Central FSO appointed with regards to the following aspects.

1. As per the region or requirements

2. More number of FBO with central License.

3. States with metro destinations.

4. More attractive destinations and linking by means of air and road.

Some Important occurrence of Work Profile:

1. For Mumbai Location, many FBO registered under Central License. Hence, there may be an appointment for separate Central FSO to take care of those FBOs. For any assistance to them in accordance with the act, Central FSO helps them out with proper consultation from the centre. These are the locations where the heavy density of Central License so center appoints CFSO for such locations.

2. A location like Mahuva in Gujarat: Here, many industries arrived, and exporting acts as a big trend in that locality or premise. So in that location with concern to the global destination point of view appointment of Central FSO may effective. As, he may assists or in consultation with Food Authority for any problem persist to the FBO in that particular premise.

3. The premise with a large number of Central Units: If suppose many central licensed units are situated nearby periphery of one premise. For that location appointment of Designated Officer (D.O.) with concern to facilitate the Central FSO and may try to provide sub-regional officers hence, the provision of a central licensing to FBO of that locality. Designated Officer (DO) acts as a connecting link between Central FSO and Technical Officer (TO). As it is stated, ‘There should be an exchange of information among the enforcement authority’. Hence all of them connected as a networking domain for the Food Authority.

Ex.: Locations like Bangalore or Guwahati: Here, many Food Business Operator (FBO) with central license is procured and hence the provision of sub-regional officers in that locality.

Technical Officer addresses different types of legal requirements for the article of food.

Ex.: If any new preservatives are added to the food article then, technical officer check that any variation with concern to the quality parameters like acidity, proximate permitted levels of nutrients. He will ensure that defined standards maintained or not.

The technical officer will put a note keeping in view for any mistakes or mis-statement of the facts, to bring out clearly the question under consideration and suggest a course of action wherever possible, to draw attention where necessary to precedents or Rules and Regulations on any article of food. Also the pay scale or level for both the the position is included in Pay Level – 7.

 

8. Role in Implementation of FSS Act, 2006

Actual Implementation of FSS Act, 2006 enforces through Central FSO. As the representatives of the Food Authority, he may address the problem of the state towards the centre in accordance with the act. Central FSO’s main goal is to monitor and inspection of the specified destinations.

As enforcement is a subject of Food Authority and state. To implement the act with the collaboration of state, Centre appointed a post of Central FSO. Hence, Central FSO is mainly focused on the enforcement of the Act. He is an authorized person who will hold responsible for the implementation of regulatory compliance and Schedule IV compliance.

Technical Officer provides suggestion to the Food Authority or Ministry with concern to food safety with specific parameters. Technical Officer could make his view in the written format to the Ministry regarding improvising ban or providing any limit of tolerances or any toxic effect in an article of food.

Technical Officer should provide technical advice to the Designated Officer. D.O. makes co-ordination between central FSO and Technical Officer. He is involved in any new findings, advancement for any article of food under Ministerial guidelines.

9. Points of Difference:

There are many points of difference between the work profile of Central FSO and TO. For easy understanding, I am highlighting a few important distinctions.

1. As, Central FSO are the professionals, who actually implement the law, whereas Technical Officer are incurring for amendment in the FSS Act, 2006 if any.

2. Central FSO acts as a public contact point. In a general sense, they are one who actually comes across an inspection of FBO for any article of food. Hence, stability for them could be up to less extent as compared to Technical Officer.

3. Technical Officer acts as an imperative source for amendment in policymaking with concern to the required modification in the act, Rules and Regulations.

4. For easy understanding, one could say Before Licensing and Registration Technical officer perform their task while after licensing Central FSO came into effect.

5. Central FSO To carry out food safety surveillance to identify and address the safety hazards. While T.O. May provide assistance with the formulation of CODEX standards for different articles of food.

10. Future:

Both positions have their own impact on food safety enforcement. Those who wish to build their career for implementation of the FSS Act must opt for Central FSO. As a food graduate, one must have the basic knowledge about the industry, sectors, work profile and they could pave a required awareness for food safety endorsement. It is keenly important that Central FSO is an authorized identity that actually implements the act.

Those who wish to develop their career with concern to the technical support the food authority can choose the Technical officer as an option. It is core intuition that many students from food and agro background paves their way into that position.

11. Reference Video:

To know the concept in a better manner or clarification of further doubts reference video is provided for the same.

YouTube Video Link: https://youtu.be/OCql5vay9bc

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDul7uf7pcbM_kWCEaA9WvA

Summary and Conclusion:

In a nutshell, the following are observed as conclusions.

1. The person who works at the ground level is Central FSO and the major think tank for food authority is Technical Officer.

2. The appointment of Central FSO is purely on the basis of regional requirements with concern to Central license.

3. Central FSO have to co-ordinate between central and state while Technical Officer has to give technical advice to the Assistant Director.

4. The actual implementation of the FSS Act, 2006 is done via Central FSO.

5. Technical Officer acts as a policymaker whereas Central FSO acts as a policy implementer.