Any imported foods that come into the country must be in compliance with food regulations so they are safe for human consumption. It is the responsibility of importers to ensure food safety. Importers must be fully aware of food regulations with regard to import of commodities, ingredients, raw materials or processed foods so they do not pose any food safety risk for consumers in the country.
Table of Contents
Food Safety imports
These days, foods are exported and imported at a global level and this can pose a food safety risk if the foods are imported from high risk countries. It is important to monitor foods that come from high risk countries as these nations might not adhere completely to food safety laws. Importers must understand the food safety requirements so foods being imported from high risk countries do not lead to adverse health issues for consumers within the nation. All procedures must be followed when foods are being shipped from other countries.
Following procedures
Ensuring food safety is a challenging task especially for foods that are being shipped from far away countries. However, following all procedures in food safety can reduce the risk to a great extent. Importers must be fully aware of the supplier and the reputation the supplier has as well as the type of food that is being imported. If importers know the risk that is associated with the food being imported they can ensure that the supplier monitors the foods so risk is eliminated.
Supplier must follow Food Safety
Before importing foods the importer must make sure that the supplier has the reputation for following food safety requirements. Importers can seek an audit report from the supplier and evaluate all procedures being followed in manufacturing, storage, transport of all food products being imported. It is important to assess how well the supplier has performed when exporting foods to other countries and if all procedures of food safety have been followed in an accountable and traceable manner. Importer must carry out food safety verifications to ensure they are in compliance with food safety laws in India. They must ask the supplier to furnish food testing reports so there is no food safety risk. Once the food reaches the country of import sampling and testing must be carried out here also to ensure complete food safety.
Hazard analysis required for food safety
Hazard analysis of potential chemical, biological and physical in imported foods must be identified during the manufacturing processes of foods being imported. Hazards can be identified on the basis of past history of the manufacturer, any scientific data available, or if any illnesses have been reported as a result of consuming such foods. It is the responsibility of the importer to ensure that all quality control measures have been taken and the foods are safe to import. Importers must ensure that all procedures have been followed by the manufacturers with regard to raw materials, formulation of the product, packaging, labelling, storage and transportation.
