Industry Specific
Procedure for Notification and Reorganization of Food Laboratories
Deepti Mudgal
Introduction
FSSAI is mandated under Section 43 of the FSSA to recognise by notification, food laboratories and research institutions accredited by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories or any other accreditation agency for the purposes of carrying out analysis of samples by the Food Analysts under this Act.
Applicable Provisions
Regulation 3(2), 4, 5(1), 5(8), 6(1) of Food Safety and Standards (Recognition and Notification of Laboratories) Regulations, 2018
Mandatory Requirements
- The list of documents required to be enclosed along with application in Form-A are as follows:
- Application fee receipt/DD or pay order
- Certificate of accreditation along with copy of scope
- Certificate of signatory to Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) or International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) for accreditation as per ISO/IEC 17025
- Copy of quality manual
- Certificate of all Analysts
- List of the food items tested in laboratory, with testing parameters of products as per relevant FSSR, 2011 as amended from time to time
- List of test equipments with their least count and range against the parameters tested as per relevant standards
- Capacity of analysis of food samples on weekly basis (Enclose a list)
- List of all Proficiency Testing and Inter Laboratory Comparison Programs attended and organized with schedule of next two years
- List of employees with their designation, educational qualification and experience in the relevant area of work
- Layout plan of the laboratory with measurements of areas, and
- In case application is signed by Authorized Representative of laboratory, the Authority Letter of its Proprietor/Partner/Director showing such authorization.
- For being recognised and notified, every Food Laboratory shall fulfill the following criteria:
- Accreditation against ISO/IEC 17025 by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories or such other equivalent accreditation agency as may be approved by the Food Authority.
- Adequate capability and competence for testing of food safety and quality parameters as per the requirements of the Act.
- Person possessing qualification and experience required for being appointed as Food Analyst under Rule 2.1.4 (1) of the Food Safety and Standards Rule, 2011. A Food Laboratory accredited by an accreditation body having authorised signatory designated by such accreditation body, shall also be considered for being notified subject to the condition that such authorised signatory shall, within one year from the date of such notification, acquire the qualification and experience required for being appointed as Food Analyst under the said rule.
- The infrastructure and facilities including equipments required for carrying out the analysis as per the scope applied for.
Process of Registration
Food Laboratory shall make an application Form-A through online platform of the Food Authority along with the documents specified in additional information, a fee of rupees one thousand and interest-free security deposit of rupees one lakh, at the time of signing the agreement, to being a notified laboratory.
Process of Renewal
Notified Food Laboratory shall make an application in Form-A for renewal of agreement prior to sixty days before the date of expiry of the agreement in the same manner as specified above in the process for notification.
Validity of Registration
The agreement shall be valid from the date of notification until the accreditation certificate expires or the Food Authority’s recognition and notification continue, whichever is earlier.