India Customs: New Authorized Officers for Food Imports – Notification

Introduction: The Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, has released Instruction No. 07/2024-Customs on April 1, 2024, outlining the appointment of authorized officers under the Food Safety Standards Act for regulating food imports in India.

Detailed Analysis: The instruction highlights the appointment of authorized officers by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Customs officials for overseeing food imports at 155 specified Points of Entry across India. This step is crucial in ensuring the safety and compliance of imported food articles with regulatory standards.

The notification emphasizes the review of points of entry for food imports, considering factors such as import trends, testing facilities, and logistics infrastructure. This strategic approach aims to strengthen the food regulatory framework and enhance the efficiency of import clearance procedures.

Furthermore, the notification specifies the roles of FSSAI officials and Customs officers, including superintendents, appraisers, inspectors, and examiners, in facilitating food import clearance at various Airports, Ports, Inland Container Depots (ICDs), Special Economic Zones (SEZs), and Land Customs Stations (LCS).

Conclusion: Instruction No. 07/2024-Customs underscores the collaborative efforts of FSSAI and Customs authorities to ensure the safety and quality of imported food products. By appointing authorized officers at designated points of entry, the government aims to streamline import procedures and mitigate risks associated with food safety. This proactive approach reflects India’s commitment to safeguarding public health and upholding regulatory standards in the importation of food articles.

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F.No.401/103/2021-Cusill
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
(Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs)
Room No. 229A, North Block, New Delhi

Instruction No. 07/2024-Customs | Dated: 01st April 2024

To

All Principal Chief Commissioner/ Chief Commissioner of Customs/ Customs (Preventive)/Customs & Central Taxes
All Principal Commissioner/Commissioner of Customs /Customs (Preventive). All Pr. Director General/Director Generals under CBIC

Subject: – Authorised Officers under Section 25 read with Section 47 (5) of Food Safety Standards (FSS) Act, 2006 and Regulation 13 (1) of FSS (Import) Regulation, 2017 -reg

Madam/Sir,

Reference is invited to Customs Instruction No. 20/2023-Customs dated 05.07.2023 regarding authorized officers under Section 25 read with Section 47(5) of Food Safety Standard Act, 2006 and Regulation 13(1) of FSS (Import) Regulation 2017 and FSSAI Notification issued from File No.1-1715/FSSAI/Imports/2017(Pt.1) dated 07.03.2024 (copy enclosed) .

2. It is stated that , FSSAI has reviewed the Points of entry notified for food imports taking into the account the trend/volume of food import, testing facilities, and logistics infrastructure etc. and notified Authorized Officers (FSSAI officials and Customs officials) from 01.04.2024 at 155 specified Points of Entry for food import, as detailed in Annexure-I of FSSAI notification dated 07.03.2024

3. It is requested that necessary action may be taken to sensitize officers under your jurisdiction regarding the said matter. The above instruction No. 20/2023-Customs dated 05.07.2023, is modified to that extent.

4. The difficulties, if any, may be brought to the notice of the Board.

5. Hindi version follows.

Encls: as above

Yours faithfully,

(Radhe Krishna)
Under Secretary (Cus-III)
Email: uscus.3-dorgov.in
Tele: 011 23094012

FileNo.1-1715/FSSAI/Imports/2017(Pt.1)
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
(A Statutory Authority established under the Food Safety and Standards Act,2006)
(Imports Division)
FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi – 110002

Dated, March, 2024

Notification

Subject: Notification of Authorised Officers under Section 25 read with Section 47(5) of FSS Act, 2006 and Regulation 13(1) of FSS(Import) Regulation, 2017-Reg.

The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 requires the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to inter alia, regulate the import of food articles to ensure their safety.

2. To put in place a robust food regulatory framework at the points of entry to ensure the mandate of safe food imports in India, FSSAI has decided to review the Points of entry notified for food imports taking into the account the trend/volume of food import, testing facilities, and logistics infrastructure etc.

3. In light of the aforementioned considerations, it has been decided to notify Authorized Officers at only 155 specified Points of Entry for food import, as detailed in Annexure-I. Accordingly, FSSAI officials and Custom officials (any official of rank Superintendent/ Appraiser/ Inspector/ Examiner) at all Airports/Ports/ICD/ SEZ/LCS mentioned in annexure-l are hereby notified from 01.04.2024 as Authorised Officers under Section 25 read with 47(5) of FSS Act 2006 and Regulation 13(1) of FSS(Import) Regulation, 2017 for the jurisdiction mentioned against each Airport/Port/ICD/LCS for food import clearance till further orders.

4. This notification is in supersession to all previous notifications/orders issued.

(G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, IAS)
CEO, FSSAI
Email: ceo@fssai.gov.in

To:

1. The Director General, DGFT with a request to notify these 155 entry points as food import entry points as mentioned in Annexure 1.

2. The Additional Director General, Risk Management Division, Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) for information and necessary actions.

3. Director (Customs), CBEC- for information and further necessary action,

4. Commissioner (Single Window Project, CBEC) to ensure food imports through these 150 Polis only, subsequent to DGFI notification and for further necessary action.

5. The Joint Secretary (Customs), jscus@nic.in

6. ADG (Systems) khatri@icegate.gov.in for information and needful action

7. MD & CEO NSDL for information and needful action.

8. Commissioner, (single window project, CBIC)

9. Additional Director General, NCTC, Mumbai.

10. Additional Director, ICEGATE, CBIC, New Delhi

11. Chief Technology Officer, IT Division FSSAI for making necessary changes in FICS.

12. All Regional Directors, FSSAI for compliance.

Copy:-

1. ED (HR), ESSAI

2. ED (RCD), FSSAI

3. Advisor (Standard), FSSAI

4. Head (Regulation), FSSAI

5. Advisor (QA), FSSAI

6. Head (Legal/GA), FSSAI All present Authorised Officials of FSSAI

7. CITO, FSSAI for uploading on the ISSAL website and for communicating by email to all FSSAI licensed and active Food Importers

Annexure-1

Airports

Inland Container Depot (ICD) and Special Economic Zone (SEZ)