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Food Safety Mitra Scheme

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has recently launched the food safety Mitra scheme. The Food Safety Mitra Scheme was mainly started to support the small and medium food business in compliance with the food safety laws by providing licensing and registration, hygiene ratings, and training facility. Also, the Scheme will create employment opportunities for youth across the country. This article looks at the Food Safety Mitra Scheme in detail.

Also, read Food Safety Training and Certification (FOSTAC)

Objectives of the Scheme

The objectives of the Food Safety Mitra Scheme are as follows:

• To create employment opportunities for the youth belonging to food and nutrition backgrounds.
• To promote the ease of doing business by creating an organized and transparent ecosystem supporting the food business.
• To engage motivated individuals with the food safety ecosystem at ground level.

Food Safety Mitra

Food Safety Mitra is an individual who undergoes training and is certified by FSSAI to perform activities on behalf of food business operators concerning implementing the FSS Act, Rules, and Regulations.

Categories

The food safety Mitra is divided into three categories as given below:

• Digital Mitra
• Trainer Mitra
• Hygiene Mitra

Eligibility Criteria for Digital Mitra

• The applicant age group should be between 21 to 60 years.
• The applicant should have completed a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
• The applicant should know about operating computers, the internet, etc.

Eligibility Criteria for Trainer Mitra

S.No	Particulars	Basic Level	Advance Level	Special Courses
1.	Educational Qualification	Graduate in Science/food/technology/biology/chemistry/microbiology or other related fields.   If a degree holder is in any other stream, a minimum experience of 5 years in a relevant food industry, such as manufacturing, catering, retail, etc., is required.	Graduate in Science/food/technology/biology/chemistry/microbiology or other related fields.   If a degree holder is in any other stream, a minimum experience of 7 years in a relevant food industry, such as manufacturing, catering, retail, etc., is required.	Graduate in Science/food/technology/biology/chemistry/microbiology or other related fields.   If a degree holder is in any other stream, a minimum experience of 7 years in a particular sector, such as milk, fish, meat, etc., is required.
2.	Training Experience	Minimum training experience of 3 years in food safety and hygiene, including HACCP, FSMS, and other similar food safety systems in the relevant Food Industry.	Minimum training experience of 5 years in food safety and hygiene, including HACCP, FSMS, and other similar food safety systems in the relevant Food Industry.	Minimum training experience of 5 years in food safety and system regulations in the particular sector of the industry.
3.	General Training Received	Knowledge of FSSAI rules and regulations	Knowledge of FSSAI rules and regulations	Knowledge of FSSAI rules and regulations
4.	Skills	Should possess good communication and motivational skill. Should be available for training at least 20 days per year.	Should possess good communication and motivational skill. Should be available for training at least 20 days per year.	Should possess good communication and motivational skill. Should be available for training at least 20 days per year.

Eligibility Criteria for Hygiene Mitra

• The applicant age group should be between 21 to 60 years.
• The applicant should have completed a bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management, Catering Technology, Bio-Technology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Food, Dairy, Fisheries, Oil Technology, Agricultural Sciences, and Veterinary Sciences from a recognized university.
• The applicant should know the FSSAI rules and regulations.

Note: The priority will be the applicants knowing hazard identification, hygienic and sanitary practices, processing techniques, and analysis or control of contaminants and allergens.

Roles and Responsibility

The roles and responsibilities of the Food Safety Mitra are listed out:

Digital Mitra

• Online filing of a new application for registration or license.
• Online application filing for a modification of registration or license.
• Online filing of annual returns.
• Online applications are filing for approval of Product/label/Advertisement Claims.
• Online appeal filing for revocation of suspended registration or licenses.

Trainer Mitra

• To conduct training at Eat Right Campuses
• To conduct training of food safety supervisors
• To conduct training of food safety personnel in businesses on demand.

Hygiene Mitra

• Auditing hygiene of Food Business Operators (FBO) outlets as per guidelines.
• FBO assists with the implementation of hygiene guidelines.
• Train food safety supervisors and handlers about hygienic and safe food handling practices.

To read about Punishment for Food Adulteration–FSSAI click here

Service Charge

Following are the charges that will be obtained by the food safety Mitra from the food business operators:

S.No	Type of Service	Service Charge
1	Online filing of the new application for registration, license, and annual returns.	Rs.100
2	Online application filing for a modification of registration or license.	Rs.500
3	Training Basic level Advanced Level Special Level	Negotiable by Trainer Mitra Rs.2000 for FBO with 15 employees or less. Rs.5000 for FBO with 15 employees or more.
4	Hygiene Audit	Rs.2000 for FBO with 15 employees or less. Rs.5000 for FBO with 15 employees or more.

Online Application Procedure for Food Safety Mitra Scheme

To apply for Food Safety Mitra Scheme, follow the steps given below:

Step 1: The applicant has to access the official website of FSSAI.

Step 2: Click on the “Apply Online” link which is visible on the home page of the portal.

Step 3: Now, complete the online application form with the required details such as personal details, qualification details, contact details etc.

Step 4: After filling the form, read the terms and conditions carefully and click on the “Agree” button.

Step 5: Click on “Register Yourself” button to complete the registration process.

Note: After successful registration takes a print out of Application form for future reference.

Payment of Registration Pay

• After registration candidates have to pay registration charges of Rs. 500/- for training and online Assessment.

Online Assessment Examination

FSSAI has now introduced Online Assessment Examination. The exam will be of 100 Marks, in which candidates must acquire a minimum of 75 Marks to pass the Examination.

• If the candidate fails the exam, he has to repay the registration fees of Rs.500/- and undergo training and online Assessment.
• Candidates, who have already paid the registration fees and waiting for the Assessment, can go to an online evaluation if the training module is completed.

Download FSM Certificate

Once a candidate passes the exam, he has to pay a security deposit of Rs. 5000/- f. The certificate will be downloaded after the security deposit payment and approval from the regional offices.

After completing the Assessment, the food safety Mitra will be provided with a certificate for two years. Depending upon the service provided by the FSM to the food business operator, FSM would be required to undergo intermediate training.

Renewal of the FSM certificate

The procedure for renewal of the FSM certificate by the existing Food Safety Mitra has also been made online.

Prescribed date for FSM Certificate Renewal

• FSSAI announced that FSM could apply for renewal of the certificate from 6 months before the expiry date and up to six months after the certificate’s expiry date.
• If renewal is not applied up to six months after the certificate’s expiry date, the certificate shall not be renewed in any case. Willing FSM, whose certification has expired, will be required to apply for a fresh certificate.

Conditions for FSM Certificate Renewal

The conditions and detailed procedure for renewing the FSM certificate are explained below:

Food Safety Mitra who has applied 50 or more Licenses/Registrations through FoSCoS in the period from the date of issuance of the last certificate to the date of expiry of the certificate shall be allowed for the instant renewal of their certification and extend the validity by two years on providing the Consent/Declaration. The renewal procedure will not require FSM to undergo any further examination.

FSM who have not applied even 50 applications of Licenses/Registrations through FoSCoS. Will be required to reappear for the FSM test on the deposition of the exam registration fee of Rs.500/- [as per existing fee]. After clearing the exam, FSM Certificate will be generated with two years validity, and they will not be required to submit the security deposit [if the Carlier security deposit has not been withdrawn].

Procedure to Exit the FSM scheme

Food Safety Mitra, who wants to exit the FSM scheme, can apply for withdrawal of the FSM Certificate and Security Deposit through the FSM portal only. This security deposit will be refunded if an FSM chooses to exit from the Scheme.

In case of a complaint or on Assessment of the performance, FSSAI may impose a penalty by way of forfeiture of deposit, suspension for some time, and cancellation of certificate of FSM or future debarring registration as FSM for a specified period.

The grounds for the cancellation, which may warrant such actions, are given below:

• If State Food Safety Authorities report any misconduct of FSM.
• if FSM refuses to give a copy of the receipt/acknowledgment to the FBO;
• if FSM fails to furnish his name and unique identification number in the application/ return filed by him;
• if FSM fails to enter any information made available to him by the FBO correctly in the application/ return by him;
• if FSM makes repeated mistakes relating to filing of applications/returns prepared by him;
• if FSM makes a wrong or fraudulent application/return despite being in the know
• if FSM is engaged in any financial irregularity, forgery, or fraud;
• if FSM fails to comply with the directions issued by the FSSAI from time to time;
• if FSM fails to upgrade the skills as required by the FSSAI from time to time; or
• If FSM, after issuance of FSM Certificate to him under this Scheme, takes employment in any Government Department.
• Any act violating these guidelines may lead to a wrong declaration to the Authority by FBO.

Before cancellation, Food Authority may allow FSM to explain its position.

For more details on the Procedure to Obtain Food Business Operator License in India, click here