World Accreditation Day 2020, Improving Food Safety

Today is 9^th June 2020; day celebrates as World Accreditation Day 2020.

#WAD2020

To promote the value of accreditation across the world, this day celebrate as “World Accreditation Day”.

This initiative has been taken up by the two global associations of Accreditation Bodies; they are ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) and IAF (International Accreditation Forum) at the global level.

Theme on this “World Accreditation Day-2020” is,

Accreditation: Improving Food Safety

Why this theme,

In  April  2019,  a  Joint  Statement  issued  by  the  Food  and  Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the  World  Health  Organization  (WHO)  and  the  World  Trade Organization (WTO)1stated that :

“Foodborne  diseases  have  a  significant  impact  on  public health,  food  security,  productivity  and  poverty.  Nearly 600 million people fall sick and 420 000 die prematurely each year because of foodborne diseases, and 30% of foodborne deaths occur among children under five years of age. ”

So, accreditation activity can contributes in preventing and treatment of the adverse effects of unsafe and adulterated food.

FOOD SAFETY IN INDIA

The FSSAI (Food Safety and Standard Authority of India) is apex body for regulation of Food safety and Standard is empowered and function under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

The FSSAI (Food Safety and Standard Authority of India) depends on accreditation from NABCB (National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies) to ensure and improve standard of food production.

In India, the NABCB, National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies provides accreditation as per the Board’s criteria and in accordance with International Standards and Guidelines to Certification and Inspection Bodies based on assessment of their competence.

The FSSAI working in India with motto

“Inspiring Trust, Assuring Safe & Nutritious Food”.

One Nation, One Food Law

The act of food safety is known as, Food safety and Standard Act, 2006.The function of fssai is to regulate and monitor the manufacture, processing, distribution, sale and import of food, so as to ensure safe and wholesome food.

1. Have globally benchmarked food standard and practices
2. Ensure consistency in enforcement
3. Manage food testing with standardised testing methods and protocol

LIST OF INTERNATIONAL ACCREDTATION AND CERTIFICATION STANDARDS USE IN FOOD SAFETY

1. ISO/IEC 17025:2017 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
2. ISO/IEC 17020:2012 Conformity assessment — Requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection
3. ISO/IEC 17065:2012(en) Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services
4. ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems — Part 1: Requirements
5. ISO 22000:2018 Food safety management systems
6. ISO 9001:2015 Quality management systems-Requirements

GLOBALLY INSPIRING NUMBERS IN FOOD SAFETY

1. ILAC MRA signatory Accreditation bodies – 102
2. IAF MLA signatory Accreditation bodies – 72
3. GFSI Scheme , Certified sites – 80,000
4. ISO Standard , food related – 1,600
5. Certification of ISO 22000- Food safety management system – 32,000
6. Inspection bodies – 10,500
7. Laboratories – 76,500
8. Certification bodies – 8,400
9. Proficiency testing – 400

COVIS-19 pandemic and celebration of #WAD2020

We all know that, to contain this corona virus, we are following the Social Distancing in every part of world and in view of this let us celebrate the “World Accreditation Day-2020” digitally as a New Normal.