Testing of imported food products at FSSAI notified laboratories - Customs - Instruction No. 1/2020

Instruction No. 1/2020-Customs F. No. 401/05/2020-Cus III Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs North Block, New Delhi. 12th February, 2020 To All Principal Chief Commissioner/Chief Commissioner of Customs/Custom (Preventive), All Principal Chief Commissioner/Chief Commissioner of Central Tax and Customs, All Principal Commissioner/Commissioner of Customs /Custom (Preventive), All Principal Commissioner/Commissioner of Central Tax and Customs. Subject: - Testing of imported food products at FSSAI notified laboratories-regarding Sir/Madam, It is to state that vide notification dated 09.10.2019, FSSAI has notified 150 Point of Entries (PoEs) in order to put in place a robust food import regulatory framework which shall be effective from 01.04.2020 (Annexure 1). These 150 PoEs shall only be food import entry points to facilitate smooth trade. FSSAI has also notified customs officials as Authorised Officers (AOs) at 128 PoEs while 22 PoEs are manned by FSSAI officials. 2. Further, FSSAI has notified 183 NABL accredited laboratories and 18 referral laboratories across the country for testing of food samples (Annexure 2). Details are also available at https://www.fssai.gov.inladvisories.php and the same is updated from time to time. The testing of samples of imported food is to be carried out in these FSSAI notified labs only. Customs officials notified as Authorised Officers at 128 PoEs shall ensure that only these FSSAI notified labs are being utilised for analysis of samples of imported food items. Moreover, as far as possible, use of same lab repeatedly for analysis of imported food samples may be avoided to maintain the confidentiality of testing. Yours faithfully (Kevin Boban) OSD (Customs)