India Rejects Food Shipments From China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, And Turkey Over Safety Concerns
India Rejects Food Shipments From China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, And Turkey Over Safety Concerns
India has rejected several food consignments from countries including China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Turkey this year, citing safety and quality issues. Items such as apples, nuts, alcoholic beverages, and sushi were found to be below the country’s food safety standards, leading to the rejections.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has made these rejections public through its newly launched Food Import Rejection Alert (FIRA) portal. This platform facilitates the exchange of information about rejected food consignments, enabling quick action by relevant authorities to prevent health risks. FIRA ensures better traceability, transparency, and swift response to potential food safety hazards.
In particular, FSSAI rejected cinnamon flower buds from Sri Lanka and Arecanut from Bangladesh due to contamination and mold issues. Tea bags from Japan were turned away because they contained an unapproved plant, while fresh apples from Turkey were rejected for having a short shelf life. In another case, non-alcoholic beer from China was rejected for failing to meet the prescribed pH levels for alcohol-free beverages.
These rejections follow India’s three-tier verification process, which includes document scrutiny, visual inspection, and laboratory testing. FSSAI’s actions are aligned with the Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017, ensuring that imported food complies with Indian safety standards for pesticides, heavy metals, and other quality parameters.
India imports food from over 100 countries, and FSSAI’s rigorous food safety measures continue to safeguard consumers from potentially harmful imports.
