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The globalisation of food trade offers many benefits to consumers as it results in wider choices of high quality food items and offers affordability, Mr K.V. Thomas, Union Minister of State of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, has said.
Inaugurating a national seminar here on ‘Food Safety – Role of Standards' here on Monday, the Minister said that global food trade also provides opportunities to earn foreign exchange through export of food items that would be acceptable to people in other countries.
Objectives
Viewed from these angles, the Minister said, the role of standards in the domain of food safety is immense. The main objectives behind formulation of standards includes promoting public health by reducing the risk of food, providing a sound regulatory foundation for domestic and international trade in food and to protect consumers from mislabelled or adulterated food.
The Bureau of Indian Standards, he said, has made significant contribution by way of formulating a number of Indian standards in various fields with the needs and priorities of the country. It has formulated 1,000 Indian standards in the area of food products and food safety.
The three Indian standards recently formulated by BIS such as Indian Standards on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Hygienic Practices (GHP) and Food Retail Management (FRM) are also important in the area of food products and food safety, he said.
Street foods
According to Mr Thomas, the recent growth in street foods and street food vendors has been phenomenal with important economic and nutritional implications in the urban context.
Readily accessible and affordable to urban population, they provide the energy and nutrient needs to large segments of workers and their families in the cities.
BIS has recently finalised Indian standard on basic requirements for street food vendors, which is a noteworthy initiative, he added.
The seminar focussed on various facets of food safety requirements and regulatory requirements applicable to hospitality sector as well as food sector. It discussed on various subjects related to hygienic requirements, good manufacturing practices and standards related to food sector.
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