The new US bio-terrorism law, which mandates prior registration of food suppliers with the United States Food and Drug Administration, is likely to adversely affect the Indian food and marines exports, warns a leading non-government organisation EAN-India.
To counter the threat and enable Indian food exporters comply with the traceability and other requirements of the law, EAN-India has introduced certain guidelines for different food segments like meat, fresh fruits and vegetables and marine products.
The law, which will come into force on April 12, mandates prior registration of food suppliers with the USFDA and creation and maintenance of records necessary to identify immediate previous source and recipients of food by all foreign facilities which manufacture, process, pack or hold food for human or animal consumption in the US, EAN-India said in a statement on Friday.
If the requirements of the Act were not met, the exports could be held within the port of entry.
Further, failure to register, update required elements or cancel registration in accordance with the regulation was prohibited and civil action or criminal prosecution could be initiated against the perpetrators.
