FSSAI Notifies Lab Regulations Amendment To Incorporate RAFT Kits

New Delhi, 11 Aug 2020:

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has notified the Food Safety and Standards (Laboratory and Sample Analysis) First Amendment Regulations, 2020, to incorporate the approval of Rapid Analytical Food Testing Kit, Equipment or Method (RAFT).

The FSSAI has been working on development of the RAFT policy for some time and earlier this year in February, the apex food regulator had recommended 20 applications of manufacturers of RAFT, for final approval after review by the Method Review Group of FSSAI and subsequently endorsement by the Scientific Panel on Method of Sampling and Analysis and the Food Authority.

Ashwin Bhadri, CEO, Equinox Labs, says that the RAFT policy will help in building greater consumer trust. These rapid testing kits and devices will help the field officers a lot by getting them quicker and validated results for food items such as cereals, pulses, fish and fish products, meat and meat products. Also, it will assist with on the spot testing of the iodised salt content, milk and edible oil adulteration, amongst others.

"The new rule by FSSAI specifying the approval of Rapid Analytical Food Testing Kit, Equipment, or Method for food testing is a great step to strengthen the food testing ecosystem in the country. These new testing kits can become an integral part of quality assurance and will also reduce the testing load on Food Safety Officers and laboratories by giving test results quickly. These kits are especially essential for quick safety analysis and testing requirements during the current challenging times. Let's hope to build greater consumer confidence by offering quality and innovation in food testing,” he said.

Last year in December, FSSAI had announced introduction of new rapid food testing devices/kits for detection of food-borne pathogens and toxins.

Overall 30 rapid food testing kits/devices were approved by the FSSAI across six product categories including edible oils, milk, water & alcoholic beverages, meat & meat products, fish & fish products, raw & finished products and automated system for rapid detection of pathogens in food matrices. Food And Beverage News