India, Canada look to ease food trade norms

India is looking at mutual recognition of food certification system with Canada for seamless export and import of edibles, keeping in view the growing Indian diaspora in the North American country, people familiar with the matter said.

Last month, an Indian delegation led by representatives from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) – the country’s apex food regulator – took part in the 47th session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling in Québec, Canada.

The delegation met Indian high commissioner to Canada

Sanjay Kumar Verma to facilitate the initiative.

“…a discussion took place on wide issues ranging from harmonisation with the Codex standards to import and export of food items, with an emphasis on the export of traditional food products, keeping in mind the sizeable and growing Indian population in Canada,” FSSAI said in a statement on May 25.

“He (the high commissioner) is likely to meet the President of CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) soon to discuss the mutual recognition of food certification system to improve the export of Indian food products to Canada… also emphasised on the mutual recognition of few of the

Food Testing Laboratories in India and Canada for facilitating trade of food products,” it added.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is an international food standards body established jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) — both agencies of the United Nations — in 1963 with the objective of protecting consumer’s health and ensuring fair practices in food trade. The core codex texts typically deal with hygienic practice, labelling, contaminants, additives, inspection and certification, nutrition and residues of veterinary drugs and pesticides, and apply horizontally to products and product categories. Among the areas being considered for export from India are standards related to food labelling norms, use of new technologies in labelling, labelling of food allergens and labelling for e-commerce, according to the top food regulator.

Previously, India signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Canada for the mutual recognition of food labs in both the countries.

On Wednesday, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the state-of-the-art national training centre for the top food regulator. “The people who will train here will play a significant role in creating healthy citizens in the country,” he said.