Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 18: In a bid to improve the ease of doing business, country’s apex food regulator, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) launched a scheme Food Safety Mitra (FSM). The scheme will support small and medium scale food businesses in compliance to the food safety laws.
The scheme will lead to improved ease of doing business by creating a transparent and organized ecosystem supporting food businesses, wherein food business operators will be able to get trained service providers at fair prices lowering the costs of compliance.
Giving details about the scheme Commissioner Food & Drugs Administration, J&K Vinod Sharma informed that apart from strengthening food safety, this scheme would also create new employment opportunities for youth, particularly with food and nutrition background. The Food Safety Mitras (FSMs) will be trained and certified by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to do their work and get paid by food businesses for their services.
Commissioner Food & Drugs Administration, J&K, further clarified that Food Safety Mitras will not be government servents, but only enablers to strengthen the Food Ecosystem. The individuals with entrepreneurial mindset will be, after being trained, will be certified as License/Registration professionals and will become self employed as last mile solution providers for Food Business Operators. They will be entitled to charge prescribed service fee from the Food business operators.
The Food Safety Mitra (FSM) opens a new dimension to food safety administration by augmenting government capacity and providing services to food businesses, particularly small and medium food businesses in the area of registration and licensing, training and hygiene rating. Through this scheme, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) plans to engage motivated individuals with the food safety ecosystem at ground level.
Food Safety Mitra is an individual professional certified by FSSAI who assists in compliances related to FSS Act, Rules and regulations with three avatars viz. Digital Mitra, Trainer Mitra and Hygiene Mitra.
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