FSSAI directs ports to facilitate clearance of pulses, oil consignments

The FSSAI has issued an order regarding clearance of imported consignments of food grains including pulses and edible oil, wherein the port authorities were asked to facilitate the clearance of such consignments. All authorised officers are directed to facilitate and carry out the food import clearance process of all such imported consignments without delay, reads the order issued by the FSSAI.

The order added that importers shall declare and submit the undertaking /declaration in the form as prescribed to concerned Authorised Officer- AOs wherein the FBOs need to mention their details including bills, addresses of the importers and store/warehouse and so on. AOs were also directed to carry out visual inspection of imported consignments and upon satisfactory visual inspection, they were asked to draw samples and issue Provisional No Objection Certificate (P-NOC) without waiting for the analysis report from the laboratory.

On receipt of the analysis report from the laboratory, the Authorised Officer shall issue the final No Objection Certificate, if product conforms to the FSSAI standards, reads the order. The declaration prescribed by the FSSAI also lays down that no part of the consignment shall be released into the market prior to issuance of No Objection Certificate.

According to the FSSAI, in view of references received from the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture regarding Indian pulses production, consumption scenario and import requirements, it was decided that the imported consignment of food grains including pulses and crude oil (edible grade) are to be facilitated to ensure timely processing and clearance.