Key Update

To strengthen food safety and traceability, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed new regulations requiring food manufacturers to maintain daily production records and raw material usage. FSSAI detailed these proposals in a draft notification published in the Gazette.

Focus on Hygiene, Accountability, and Consumer Safety

The draft rules aim to improve hygiene standards, enhance accountability, and protect consumers, especially in the processed and packaged food sector. Mandatory daily documentation will help regulators quickly identify contamination, substandard ingredients, or unsafe food batches. These requirements apply only to food manufacturing units, while traders and distributors not involved in production are exempt.

Stricter Storage and Inventory Management

FSSAI has also proposed tighter storage and inventory practices. Food businesses must follow first-in, first-out (FIFO) and first-expire, first-out (FEFO) principles to ensure they use or sell older and near-expiry products first. This step seeks to reduce the risk of expired or unsafe food reaching consumers. Retail outlets are not covered under this provision.

Public Feedback Invited

FSSAI has opened the draft regulations for public comments for 30 days. Officials say the proposal is part of a broader effort to strengthen India’s food safety framework as the food market expands and to build greater consumer confidence in food quality.

Source: The Times of India