By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, JUNE 25, 2016 : FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) has joined hands with CHIFSS (CII-HUL Initiative on Food Safety Sciences) a partnership initiative between India's premier business association CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) and FMCG giant HUL (Hindustan Unilever Limited) with the purpose of driving science based food safety in order to further strengthen consumer safety and enable a science based innovation environment.

At the Launch of the CII-HUL Initiative on Food Safety Sciences (CHIFSS), Mr Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI signed an MOU with CHIFSS.

FSSAI has already paved the way for a world class regulatory system with its work on harmonization of Indian Standards with Codex and is now focusing on capacity building to develop an inclusive ecosystem through a participative approach involving all stakeholders.

"We are happy to sign the MoU with CHIFSS,"said Mr Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI on the occasion of the launch. "This collaborative initiative will drive and disseminate food safety on science based risk analysis in India and work towards improving food safety through fact and data based technical briefs, food safety plan guidance documents and on-line training programs,"he added.

Ms. Anuradha Prasad, Joint Secretary, Ministry of food processing industries, thanked FSSAI for largely resolving the issues being faced by Food Processing Industry at the launch ceremony. She highlighted it as a positive move in a short span of six to eight months. In her address she pointed "it is a right time to move beyond compliance and incorporate best international practices on food safety to create and ensure safe food”.

Mr Chandrajit Banerjee in his welcome remarks mentioned about CII's extensive outreach and service portfolio on Food Safety and Quality for more than a decade, covering Awareness Campaigns, Collaborative Certificate courses for Food Professionals, Workshops on Risk Assessments and Standards formulation. "We are delighted to launch the CII-HUL Initiative on Food Safety Sciences for driving Science behind Food Safety which will work in a partnership mode with FSSAI, eminent scientists, academia and key opinion formers. The overall purpose of the initiative is tocontribute to a holistic growth of the Indian food sector while ensuring safe food for all,"stated Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, DG CII.

Mr. Sanjiv Mehta, in his address, stressed the need for a globally benchmarked national food safety agenda, founded on science based food safety principles. He highlighted the expertise of Unilever in food safety sciences and the fact that Unilever experts are globally recognized thought leaders in the areas of food microbiology and toxicology are actively working with academics and scientific institutions globally on food safety matters. He also reiterated HUL's commitment towards partnering with all stakeholders to enhance the science based food safety in India. He said, "We are delighted to see CHIFSS fructify into a reality. The pioneering partnership between CHIFSS and FSSAI will further strengthen industry-government collaboration to promote science based food safety which stimulates innovation while ensuring consumer safety."