Context

Recently, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare launched the Food Safety Mitra (FSM) scheme at the occasion of World Food Day.

About

• The apex food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) launched Food Safety Mitra (FSM) scheme.
• FSM Scheme aims to support small and medium-scale food businessesso as to comply with the food safety laws and will facilitate them with the licensing and registration process, hygiene ratings and training programme.
• The scheme will also improve ease of doing business by creating a transparent and organized ecosystem supporting food businesses wherein food businesses will be able to get trained service providers at fair prices - lowering the costs of compliance.

Similar Initiatives  ‘Eat Right Jacket’, and ‘Eat Right Jhola’ were launched to strengthen food safety administration and scale up the ‘Eat Right India’ movement. Eat Right Jacket’ has a smart design to hold tech devices like tablets/smart phone, a QR code and RFID tag for identification and tracking. Eat Right Jhola is a reusable cloth bag that is expected to replace plastic bags for shopping purpose in various retail chains.

• A Food Safety Mitra is an individual professional certified by FSSAI who assists in compliances related to FSS Act.
• The FSMs would undergo training and certification that will be conducted by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), in order to get paid by food businesses for their services.
• The scheme would also create new employment opportunities for youth (particularly with food and nutrition background).
• FSSAI has partnered with the Domestic Workers Sector Skill Council (DWSSC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to launch a training course for domestic workers and homemakers across the country.

Significance

• 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 FSM, FSSAI plans to engage motivated individuals with the food safety ecosystem at ground level.
• The use of technology would bring in the efficiency, professionalism, and transparency in food safety administration.
• The FSMs would undergo training and certification by FSSAI to do their work and get paid by food businesses for their services.