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 FLRS is an outdated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.
Summary:
1. Migration from
FLRS (Food Licensing and Registration System) to FoSCoS.
2. In June 2020, 1st 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
