FSSAI Third-Party Audit Services in India – Strengthening Food Safety and Compliance

ISO Certification

ISO certification is a credential that validates a business’s fulfillment of requirements relating to quality process standards as defined by the International Standards Organization

ISO 9001

ISO 9001 improves the management of your organization’s quality process

ISO 22000

ISO 22000 sets out the requirements for a food safety management system and can be certified to it. It maps out what an organization needs to do to demonstrate its ability to control food safety hazards in order to ensure that food is safe. It can be used by any organization regardless of its size or position in the food chain.

ISO 50001

ISO 50001 helps you to optimize energy efficiency and sustainability

ISO 22000

ISO 14001

ISO 14001 improves your environmental management approach

ISO 45001

ISO 45001 helps you to define your organization’s occupational health and safety policies and objectives to create better and safer working conditions

GMP Certification

GMP refers to the Good Manufacturing Practice Regulations promulgated by the US Food and Drug Administration under the authority of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (See Chapter IV for food, and Chapter V, Subchapters A, B, C, D, and E for drugs and devices

HACCP Certification

The HACCP system is a procedure control system guidelines which is applicable to any organization those who are dealing with Manufacturing, trading, supply, retailing, packing, transportation etc

HALAL Certification

Halal certification is a process that certifies that a food product or ingredient is permissible for consumption according to Islamic law. The certification process includes ensuring that the food does not contain any prohibited ingredients and that it has been prepared in accordance with Islamic guidelines.

Organic Certification

Organic certification is a certification process for producers of organic food and other organic agricultural products. In general, any business directly involved in food production can be certified, including seed suppliers, farmers, food processors, retailers and restaurants.

CE Marking

The CE marking (an acronym for the French “Conformite Europeenne”) certifies that a product has met EU health, safety, and environmental requirements

FSSAI 3rd Party Audits

To strengthen the food safety surveillance system, FSSAI has envisaged audits of Food Business Operators through Private Auditing Agencies. In order to cultivate and foster the growth of compliance culture, FSSAI is enabling compliance through private recognised Auditing Agencies. Food Safety and Standards (Food Safety Auditing) Regulations, 2018 have been notified on 28th August 2018 for the same.

Food Safety Audits will reduce the regulatory Food Safety Inspections conducted by Central or State Licensing Authorities. Satisfactory Audits will lead to less frequent regulatory inspections by Central or State Licensing Authority except the regulatory sampling. This will strengthen food safety surveillance system and encourage self-compliance while at the same time assuring safe food to the consumers.

What Are FSSAI Third-Party Audit Services?

FSSAI third-party audit services in India are objective tests carried out by FSSAI-impaneled audit agencies to gauge the food safety and hygiene standards being followed by Food Business Operators (FBOs). These agencies are authorized to work under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Safety Auditing) Regulations, 2018, which were issued on August 28, 2018.

The primary purpose of such audits is to formulate a culture of compliance within the Indian food industry. A sufficient third-party audit decreases the rate of visits by central or state organizations, with the exception of random sampling and testing.

FSSAI Third-Party Auditing Agencies in India

There are some FSSAI third-party audit agencies operating in India, which have been empanelled by the authority for performing food safety audits. Such agencies are empowered to perform compliance audits on different sectors of foods like manufacturing, processing, storage, distribution, and catering.

Some of the certifications provided by such agencies are:

ISO Certification: Affirms a company’s compliance with international quality standards.
ISO 9001: Specializes in quality management systems.
ISO 22000: Especially for food safety management systems.
ISO 50001: Assists with energy efficiency improvement.
ISO 45001: Concentrates on occupational health and safety.
GMP Certification: This means good manufacturing practices in food manufacturing.
HACCP Certification: A system of hazard analysis to determine and control food safety hazards.
HALAL Certification: Ensures that food is prepared according to Islamic principles.
Organic Certification: For producers using organic farming practices.
CE Marking: Guarantees conformity to EU health, safety, and environmental regulations.

These certifications not only enhance the integrity of food companies but also ensure that they are compliant with international food safety protocols.

FSSAI Third-Party Audit Checklist

A critical part of the audit process is the FSSAI third-party audit checklist, which assists auditing agencies and food companies with different compliance areas. The checklist often contains:

Cleanliness and hygiene standards
Staff personal hygiene
Storage and transport practices
Pest control processes
Food handling and processing practices
Documentation and record-keeping
Labeling and packaging procedures
Training of staff on food safety

Adherence to this checklist guarantees that food businesses conform to FSSAI regulations and are able to pass third-party audits with confidence.

FSSAI Third-Party Audit Frequency

The frequency of the FSSAI third-party audit is determined by the food business’s risk classification. The FBOs are classified as high-risk, medium-risk, or low-risk depending on the nature of operations and the type of food being handled.

High-risk enterprises (such as dairy and meat processing) could be audited every six months.
Medium-risk enterprises would be audited every year.
Low-risk enterprises can be audited every two years.

The intention is to allow continuous improvement in food safety behavior while minimizing unnecessary regulatory checks on enterprises with consistent compliance.

Is FSSAI Third-Party Audit Mandatory?

Food business operators are often wondering, Is FSSAI third-party audit mandatory?

It is both yes and no.

Although the FSSAI third-party audit is not compulsory for all food businesses, it is compulsory for certain types, particularly the ones falling under the category of high-risk. Furthermore, third-party certification strengthens the credibility of the business as well as prevents the business from being regularly inspected by the authorities.

Voluntary audits are strongly suggested for FBOs seeking to gain the confidence of the consumers and remain ahead in the market competition.

FSSAI Audit Process for Food Businesses

The FSSAI audit process for food businesses is transparent, objective, and improvement-oriented. Here’s the process:

Application: FBO makes an application for a third-party audit with an impaneled agency.
Scheduling: The agency arranges the audit visit.
Inspection: An in-depth audit is done following FSSAI guidelines and checklists.
Reporting: The auditor creates a detailed report with strengths and non-conformities.
Corrective Actions: Non-compliance areas should be addressed by the FBO within a stipulated time frame.
Certification: If all is well, the agency issues a certificate of audit, which could minimize future government inspections.

This is not only good for food safety but also for consumer confidence and corporate reputation.

Advantage of FSSAI Third-Party Audit Services

Encourages self-regulation and internal control
Reduces frequency of government inspections
Improves domestic and global credibility
Facilitates early detection of potential risks
Enhances customer confidence and brand reputation

By implementing FSSAI third-party audit services in India, food enterprises can establish a safer environment and achieve a competitive advantage.

We at thefairlabs.com help you coordinate FSSAI 3rd party audits right from the shortlisting the agency till successful completion of the audit.