The Quality Council of India (QCI) recently announced a new scheme to approve Hygiene Rating Audit Agencies (HRAA). This development is part of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. The scheme aims to scale up the hygiene rating by increasing the number of recognised HRAA across the country.
About the Scheme for Approval of Hygiene Rating Audit Agencies
This scheme envisions an increase in the number of recognised Hygiene Rating Audit Agencies (HRAA) around the country, significantly improving the overall hygiene rating. Under the purview of this strategy, the recognised HRAAs will be accountable for verifying the adherence to food hygiene and safety procedures laid down by FSSAI and obtaining hygiene ratings on behalf of establishments.
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme: An Overview
Initiated by the FSSAI, the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme operates as a certification system for food businesses supplying food directly to consumers, either on-premise or off-premise. Its primary objective is enabling consumers to make informed choices about the food outlets they frequent by incentivizing food businesses to enhance their hygiene and safety standards. This scheme applies to various foodservice establishments including but not limited to hotels, restaurants, cafeterias, dhabhas, sweet shops, bakeries, and meat retail stores.
Understanding the Role of Quality Council of India
Established in 1997, the Quality Council of India (QCI) serves as a groundbreaking experiment of the Government of India in instituting organisations in collaboration with the Indian industry. The Indian industry is represented in QCI by three premier industry associations – Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and FICCI.
The main role of QCI extends to establishing and operating the National Accreditation Structure (NAS) for conformity assessment bodies and providing accreditation in fields like health, education, and quality promotion.
In addition to implementing the accreditation structure, it also fosters the adoption of quality standards related to Quality Management Systems, Food Safety Management Systems, Product Certification, and Inspection Bodies. The services are provided through the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB).
Conclusion
The introduction of the scheme for Approval of Hygiene Rating Audit Agencies by QCI marks a significant step towards boosting the hygiene standards of food businesses across India. Besides improving consumer trust and confidence, this move is also likely to encourage more establishments to comply with the strict food safety protocols laid down by FSSAI.