INDIA – The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has signed Memorandums of Understanding with the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) of Brazil on the sidelines of Global Food Regulators Summit, 2024.
The agreement with BFDA is a key outcome of growing collaboration between the two nations, underscoring their commitment to enhancing food safety standards, aligning regulatory frameworks, and simplifying food import procedures.
The primary goal is to facilitate smoother trade between India and Bhutan by recognizing the official control exercised by the BFDA over food business operators (FBOs) within Bhutan.
Additionally, the Agreement aims to foster technical cooperation between FSSAI and BFDA including capacity-building initiatives and technical collaboration, aimed at empowering BFDA officials with the necessary skills and knowledge to maintain food safety standards.
Kamala Vardhana Rao, CEO of FSSAI, highlighted the significance of the partnership, stating: “This collaboration highlights our shared commitment to maintaining the highest quality standards for consumers. By working closely with the BFDA, we are building a robust and effective food safety framework that will serve the interests of both the nations.”
Gyem Bidha, Director of BFDA, acknowledged the leadership of FSSAI in setting global food safety standards and emphasised the Agreement’s importance in facilitating safe food trade between India and Bhutan.
Meanwhile, the MoU between FSSAI and MAPA starts a new phase of cooperation aimed at improving food safety through joint projects and technical collaboration.
The representative from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil added “The signing of the MoU marks a milestone in the bilateral relations between the two countries in the field of food safety, allowing for technical cooperation and exchange of experience and knowledge with the aim of strengthening the institutional collaboration and pursuing joint initiatives.”
During the just concluded Global Food Regulators Summit 2024, it was made known that the FSSAI categorises cultivated meat and precision-fermented foods as ‘non-specified’ products or ‘novel foods’, since they have no history of consumption in the country.
But the food safety regulator since March, has been formulating a framework for these proteins, with a senior official saying: “We are working on drafting regulations for cultured meat products.”
“The rapid globalisation, technological advancements, and evolving consumer preferences are reshaping our food systems at an unprecedented pace,” India’s health minister JP Nadda explained.
“FSSAI has made remarkable strides in reviewing and developing new standards based on cutting-edge advancements in food technology.”
That said, while it is believed that cultivated meat will be regulated under the Approval of Non-Specified Food and Food Ingredients Regulations (NSF Regulations) by the FSSAI, there is currently no specific definition of cultivated meat or guidance provided under these rules.
The FSSAI had previously formed a Working Group on Cultured Meat with regulatory and scientific experts to study the possible regulatory pathways for cultivated meat in India, although experts say the framework needs to be more dynamic and align with ongoing innovations.
