Implementation of "Agreement" signed between FSSAI, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA) - Customs - Instruction No. 22/2024

Instruction No. 22/2024-Customs, F. No. 401/103/2021-Cus.Ill Government of India Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue (Central Board of Indirect Taxes Customs) Dated 16th October, 2024 To All Principal Chief Commissioners/ Chief Commissioners of Customs/ Customs (Preventive)/Customs Central Taxes All Principal Commissioners/Commissioners of Customs /Customs (Preventive). All Pr. Director General/Director Generals under CBIC Subject: Implementation of Agreement signed between FSSAI, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA) -reg. Madam/Sir, Reference is invited to FSSAI Office Order dated 13.09.2024 issued from File No: TIC/1/2024-IMPORTS-FSSAI (copy attached as Annexure A) on the above subject. 2.1 Vide above order, it is stated that an Agreement has been signed between FSSAI, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA), Ministry of Health, Royal Govt. of Bhutan, at Thimphu on 21 March, 2024. The Agreement aims to recognize the official control exercised by BFDA on Food Business Operators (FBOs) as equivalent to FSSAl's requirement and the BFDA shall issue a Health Certificate as proof of compliance with the requirements prescribed by FSSAI, for export of food products to India. 2.2 It is further stated that, for compliance and smooth implementation of the above said agreement, all the concerned officers shall ensure the compliance of following requirements: i. If the Imported food consignment from the Bhutanese manufacturer with the scope of approval as per the list attached as Annexure B, is accompanied with the prescribed Health Certificate, attached as Annexure C, duly issued by the BFDA Competent Authority, then NOC may be given to the consignment based on the duly compliant accompanied Health Certificate. 3. Specimen signatures of the Authorized signatories issuing the Health Certificate are being shared separately for reference and records. 4. In case of imported food consignments covered under the scope of aforesaid Agreement , the requisite Health Certificate shall be mandatorily uploaded on e-sanchit by the importer/Customs Broker under document code 8511FS and the particulars of the Health Certificate shall be carefully entered while filing the bill of entry. The out-of-charge officer/TSK officer shall verify the Health Certificate as per practice being followed for verification of such documents. In cases, where Customs Officers are functioning as Authorised Officers of FSSAI, they shall ensure, before granting NOC, that requisite documents as stated above are uploaded on e-sanchit and are in order. 5. It is requested that necessary action may be taken to sensitize officers under your jurisdiction regarding the said matter. 6. The difficulties, if any, may be brought to the notice of the Board. Hindi version follows. Yours faithfully (Neeraj Goyal) OSD (Cus-lll) Email: [email protected] Tele: 011 23094012 Annexure A File No: TIC/1/2024-IMPORTS-FSSAI Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (A Statutory body under Ministry of Health Family Welfare, Government of India) (Trade and International Cooperation Division) FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi-110002 Dated: 13 th September, 2024 Office Order Subject: Implementation of Agreement signed between FSSAI, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA) -reg. This is to inform that an Agreement is signed between FSSAI, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA), Ministry of Health, Royal Govt. of Bhutan, at Thimphu on 21 March, 2024. The Agreement aims to recognize the official control exercised by BFDA on Food Business Operators (FBOs) as equivalent to FSSAI's requirement and the BFDA shall issue a Health Certificate as proof of compliance with the requirements prescribed by FSSAI, for export of food products to India. 2. For compliance and smooth implementation of the above said agreement, it is informed that all the concerned officers shall ensure the compliance of following requirements: l. If the Imported food consignment from the Bhutanese manufacturer with the scope of approval as per the list attached, is accompanied with the prescribed Health Certificate duly issued by the BFDA Competent Authority, then NOC may be given to the consignment based on the duly complaint accompanied Health Certificate. Enclosures as below: a. Copy of approved Health Certificate b. Copy of signatures of the Authorized signatories issuing the Health Certificate c. List of approved establishment of Bhutan with scope of approval 3. This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority. Encl: As above (Manvesh Kumar, IRS) Director (Imports) [email protected]