FSSAI Directs Officials to Clear Imported Consignments of Pulses & Edible Oils in Time

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has instructed regional directors & authorized officers to clear imports of pulses and edible oils at the country's ports in a timely manner.

This arrives after it gained a reference from the Agricultural Ministry and Consumer Affairs Ministry for the facilitation of timely processing and clearance of imported consignment of food grains including pulses and crude oil of edible grade.

"All Authorized officers are directed to enable and carry out food import clearance process of all such imported consignments without delay," said FSSAI in an order issued on March 7.

It also instructed authorised officers to issue a provisional no objection certificate after visual inspection for imported food shipments.

"Authorized Officers are directed to bring out a visual inspection and upon satisfactory visual inspection, shall draw samples and issue Provisional No Objection Certificate (P-NOC) without waiting for the analysis report from the laboratory. The Authorized Officer shall issue the final No Objection Certificate upon receipt of the laboratory analysis report, if the product conforms to the FSSAI standards," the order added.

In December, the Center chose to extend the free imports of urad and tur daals by one year till March 31, 2024. It also decided earlier this month to remove the basic customs duty on all tur daal. These are among the various measures being implemented by the government to increase domestic availability of lentils and keep the prices of these vital food commodities stable.

Prior to the issuance of a no-objection certificate, importers must submit a declaration that the imported food consignments will be kept in a storage facility and not released into the market.