How to get approval for non-specified foods?

What are non-specified foods?
Non-Specified food means any food other than proprietary food or food ingredients, including additives, processing aids and enzymes for which standards have not been specified in any regulation made under the Act and the food business operator shall submit to the food authority, a certificate of analysis in respect of the chemical, physical, microbiological and nutritional parameters of the food manufactured or imported.

Prior authorization is required for manufacturing, storage, sale, distribution, and import, among other things.

- Except with the previous consent of the Food Authority, no person shall manufacture or import any non-specified food or food ingredient.

- Any other rules or regulations adopted under the Act are in addition to, not in derogation of, the requirements of these regulations.

The Procedure for Obtaining Prior Approval

1. The manufacturer or importer of non-specified food must submit to the Food Authority an application in FORM – I of these regulations, along with the required papers and fee.

2. The application and information given by the applicant will be scrutinised by the Food Authority.

3. If necessary, the Food Authority may request further supporting documents, data, or explanations from the applicant.

4. Based on the safety evaluation of the piece of food, the Food Authority may approve or reject the application, as per FORM-II.

5. If clearance is granted, the food business operator must produce a certificate of analysis for the chemical, physical, microbiological, and nutritional aspects of the food manufactured or imported to the Food Authority.

6. Any decision to reject a food company operator's application may be appealed to the Chairperson of the Food Authority.

7. A food business operator who is dissatisfied with the Chairperson's decision may file a review petition with the Food Authority, which will be considered in a meeting of the Food Authority.

8. The Food Authority may suspend or revoke any licence for reasons that must be documented in writing. Any food business owner can get approval.

9. The Food Authority may evaluate the charge for filing an application from time to time.

10. If a food business owner has grounds to think that the product for which the approval has been granted has been tampered with, If he finds that the product he has been allowed poses a health danger, he must immediately stop manufacturing, importing, and selling it, sale, or distribution of such a food item, and take action to recall it if notified.

11. Any complaint received concerns the safety of any product approved by the Food Authority under these regulations must be immediately reported to the Food Authority by Food Safety Officers and Designated Officers.

12. After receiving approval, the food company operator must apply for a licence in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.