Food safety in India highlighted on World Certification Day on 9 June

World Certification Day is celebrated every year on 9 June to highlight and promote the importance of certification in business and trade. The theme this year has been “Certification Improves Food Safety” and has been proposed by the international certification association (IAF) and the international laboratory certification association (ILAC). The competent authorities in India, the National Accreditation Body for Certification Bodies (NABCB) and National Accreditation Body for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), both members of the Quality Council of India (QCI), organised a webinar with the participation of all the executive staff.

At the beginning of the event, Ms. Rita Teaotia, Executive Director of the Indian Food Safety Authority (FSSAI), gave a guest speech. She emphasized the importance of a functioning and credible food certification system and praised the cooperation of Indian institutions in this area. But she also addressed weaknesses in the system. The state laboratories would have to undergo a proficiency test according to international standards, increase the number of reference materials, develop rapid tests for food and create an automatic system for the exchange of information.
The webinar also included two sessions on food technology. They focused on the role of regulatory and approval authorities and the industry’s perspectives on food safety. Representatives of government, authorities and industry discussed the key areas of the food industry. In the end, it was agreed that industry and regulatory authorities should work better together to ensure food quality. About 700 people watched the live stream of the webinar and more than 1500 people watched the recording of it during the day. FSSAI certification is required for all foods distributed on the Indian market. We would be happy to advise you on the process of an India certification and carry it out for you.