Food Safety Mitra Scheme

The FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) plans to connect with motivated individuals to enable a food safety ecosystem through the Food Safety Mitra Scheme.

A Food Safety Mitra under the Food Safety Mitra Scheme is an individual who undertakes training and obtains FSSAI certification to perform activities on behalf of the Food Business Operators (‘FBOs’) relating to the Food Safety and Standards (‘FSS’) Act, Regulations and Rules implementation.

The FSSAI aims to establish an ecosystem of Food Safety Mitras, who will help the Food Business Operators (FBOs) with FSSAI registration, FSSAI licensing, training and auditing hygiene at various institutions such as colleges, schools, and corporate campuses. 

Category of Food Safety Mitra

There are three categories of Food Safety Mitra:

• Digital Mitra: Digital Mitras are individuals with an entrepreneurial mindset and IT skills who will help food businesses with their compliances. They will provide solutions to the FBOs relating to FSSAI registration and licenses.

• Trainer Mitra: Any person in the food business or a food professional can be certified as a Food Safety Mitra trainer. Individuals with the knowledge of food safety processes can become certified trainers through the FSSAI ‘Train the Trainer’ programmes and ensure that food safety habits reach a larger set of food professionals.

• Hygiene Mitra: The domain experts from the food industry are encouraged to associate with FSSAI and become hygiene auditors. The Hygiene Mitras will engage with food service establishments and campuses for carrying out food hygiene audits and provide an FSSAI designed hygiene rating through a technology-enabled transparent audit process.

Eligibility for Food Safety Mitra

Digital Mitra Eligibility

Any person/candidate aged between 21 to 60 years, having a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university and having the working knowledge of the internet, computers, etc., are eligible to apply for becoming a Digital Mitra.

Trainer Mitra Eligibility

The educational qualification criteria for a Trainer Mitra for different levels are as follows:

• For Basic level – 
  • Minimum graduate in food technology, science, food science, microbiology, biology, chemistry, or other related subjects.
  • The graduates in other streams must have a minimum of five years of experience in the relevant food industry like manufacturing, catering, retail, etc.
• For Advanced Level – 
  • Minimum graduate in food technology, science, food science, microbiology, biology or chemistry subjects.
  • The graduates in other streams must have a minimum of seven years of work and implementation experience in the relevant food industry like manufacturing, catering, retail, etc.
• For Special Courses –
  • Minimum graduate in food technology, science, food science, microbiology, biology or chemistry subjects.
  • The graduates in other streams must have a minimum of seven years of work and implementation experience in a particular industry sector like fish, meat, milk, etc.

The training experience as trainer and implementation experience criteria for different levels are as follows:

• For Basic level – Minimum three years training experience on hygiene and food safety, including HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point), FSMS (Food Safety Management System), and other similar food safety systems in the relevant food industry.
• For Advanced Level – Minimum five years training experience on hygiene and food safety, including HACCP, FSMS, and other similar food safety systems in the relevant food industry.
• For Special Courses – Minimum five years training and implementation experience on food systems and safety regulations in a particular industry sector.

The general training criteria for basic level, advanced level, and special courses are knowledge of the FSS Regulations and Rules. The skills criteria for basic level, advanced level, and special courses are good motivational and communication skills. The candidates must also be available for training for at least twenty days in a year.

Hygiene Mitra Eligibility

Any person/candidate aged between 21 to 60 years, having a bachelor’s degree in dairy, fisheries, catering, technology, hotel management, oil technology, biotechnology, microbiology, agricultural sciences, biochemistry, or veterinary sciences from a recognised university is eligible to become a Hygiene Mitra.

Such candidates must also possess knowledge of the FSS Act, Regulations and Rules. It is beneficial when they possess sector-specific knowledge of sanitary and hygienic practices, hazards identification, processing techniques, knowledge/control/analysis of contaminants and allergens.

Roles and Responsibilities of Food Safety Mitra

The role and responsibilities of the different categories of the Food Safety Mitras are as follows:

Digital Mitra Roles and Responsibilities

• Filing of new application for FSSAI Registration/License.
• Online correspondences relating to queries raised by authorities.
• Filing application for modification of FSSAI Registration/License.
• Filing of declarations/annual returns.
• Filing applications for approval of label, product and advertisement claim.
• Filing appeal for revoking suspended FSSAI Registration/License.

Trainer Mitra Roles and Responsibilities 

• Conducting training of food safety supervisors.
• Conducting training of food safety personnel in businesses on demand.
• Conducting training at ‘Eat Right Campuses’.

Hygiene Mitra Roles and Responsibilities

• Auditing the hygiene of FBO outlets as per the prescribed guidelines.
• Helping FBOs with the implementation of hygiene guidelines.
• Training the food handlers and food safety supervisors about safe and hygienic food handling practices.

Registration of Food Safety Mitra

The registration process of the Food Safety Mitra is as follows:

• Go to the Food Safety Mitra website.
• Click on the ‘Apply Online’ button on the homepage of the website.
• The ‘FSM Registration’ application will open. The candidates must fill in the details of the FSM Registration like login details, FSM (Food Safety Mitra) details, qualification details, experience and training details.
• The candidates must tick the declaration and click on the ‘Register Yourself’ button.

The Digital Mitra applicants whose applications are shortlisted need to complete the online training and appear for the Computer Based Test (CBT) at one of the specified test centres. After completing the assessment, the Food Safety Mitra will be given a Digital Mitra Certificate valid for two years.

The Trainer Mitra and Hygiene Mitra applicants who meet the eligibility criteria will be registered and need to complete the classroom training and assessments to become a certified Trainer Mitra and certified Hygiene Mita valid for two years. Depending on the service provided by the Food Safety Mitra to the FBOs, they would have to undergo intermediate training.

A refundable security deposit is collected at the time of certification to ensure that the Food Safety Mitras are invested in their goal’s success. Currently, Rs.5,000 is collected from the Food Safety Mitras as a food security deposit which is refunded in case the Food Safety Mitra chooses to exit from the Food Safety Mitra scheme.

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