There is a need to constitute a single coordinating body to look into various overlapping issues and quicken the process of bureaucratic clearances for food products, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister, Ram Vilas Paswan said at an event here on Thursday.

He said he would bring issues faced by the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry to the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly those derailing innovation. “We will write to each and every department and also to the Prime Minister that we need to seriously look into such issues raised by the industry. The Prime Minister had also recently said whatever people say, we should maintain decorum on the Maggi issue. Until we do not get the facts, there is no need to create unnecessary noise,” said Paswan, at the Assocham event held here. FMCG players, particularly those engaged in food and beverages manufacturing, have to seek approvals from various agencies across ministries, including the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), at present.

Paswan said that there should be a time-bound redressal mechanism for the industries’ grievances and urged business officials to write to the Consumer Affairs Ministry about the problems they faced such as delays in product approvals. The Minister, however, warned that companies needed to ensure quality control if episodes like the one involving Nestle’s Maggi were to be prevented.

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