Food Recall Plan In FSSAI

The food recall is a procedure used for removing or correcting marketed food products and their labeling if they violate any food law of the Regulatory Authority of the FSSAI.

Recall can be defined as an action to remove food products from market at any stage of the food chain, including that possessed by consumer, which may pose a threat to the public health or food that violate the Act, or the rules or regulations made thereunder. Recall of food product is in the common interest of the industry, the government and in particular the consumer. Recalls afford equal consumer protection but generally are more efficient and timely than formal administrative or civil actions, especially when the product has been widely distributed.

• Manufacturers and/or distributors should voluntarily initiate a recall as part of their responsibility to protect public health from products that present a risk of injury or gross deception or are otherwise defective.
• Firms may also initiate a recall following notification of a problem by Food Authority or a state agency, in response to a formal request by authority, or as ordered by Authority.

Purpose of Guideline

• This guideline has been outlined with the purpose of helping FBOs develop a recall plan that will help them implement the plan if a recall is required.
• It will assist in identifying products that are unsafe or that violate the Act, or the rules or regulations made thereunder and enable recall of the product(s) from the marketplace.

Role of the Food Authority in a Recall

• Monitor the progress of the recall
• Assess the adequacy of the action taken by the FBO in this regard
• After recall, the Food Authority will ensure proper destruction of products of suitable improvement the
• In case of manufacturing defect, the concerned authority may review the license of the FBO concerned
• Publicize the recall if the public needs to be alerted about a health hazard or to clarify the situation to allay public worries
• Alert the public about impending recall in case of public health emergencies and depending on the available evidence

Section 28(1) of FSS Act, 2006 stipulates that If a food business operator considers or has reasons to believe that a food which he has processed, manufactured or distributed is not in compliance with this Act, or the rules or regulations, made thereunder, he shall immediately initiate procedures to withdraw the food in question from the market and consumers indicating reasons for its withdrawal and in form the competent authorities thereof.

Recall can be defined as an action to remove food products from market at any stage of the food chain, including that possessed by consumer, which may pose a threat to the public health or food that violate the Act, or the rules or regulations made thereunder. Recall of food product is in the common interest of the industry, the government and in particular the consumer. Recalls afford equal consumer protection but generally are more efficient and timely than formal administrative or civil actions, especially when the product has been widely distributed.

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Source- https://fssai.gov.in/