The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on July 21, 2022, issued a notice for Food Safety Training & Certification (FOSTaC) as it is a large-scale training and capacity-building programme for the food business operators launched by FSSAI in May 2017. The FOSTaC programme is aimed at creating a pool of food safety supervisors (FSS), who are trained in good hygiene and manufacturing practices as per requirements in Schedule 4 of Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. A food safety supervisor's certificate is issued to the Food Handlers after successful completion of the FOSTaC training programme. The validity of the FSS certificate issued to the food handler was 2 years in case there is no change in the kind of business (KoB) of the food handler.
FSSAI has received many representations regarding the removal of validity of FSS certificate. The matter has been examined and considering the current training curriculum, the validity clause of FSS certificate is removed with immediate effect for the food handlers who continue to work in the same kind of business.
Accordingly, it has been decided that the FSS certificate will be perpetual. However, if the food handler changes KoB, they will have to undergo the FOSTaC training afresh and obtain a new FSS certificate for the respective KoB
The food handlers having FSS certificates will have to undergo refresher training in case there is any change in Schedule 4 of Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
[Notice No. T-17014/3/2021-Training-FSSAI]
