Food Safety Regulator Launches Special Category Provision To Promote Gender Equality In Food Business Sector

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has introduced a new provision of ‘Special Category’ in the online Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) portal.

Conceptualized as the umbrella system which is integrated with FSSAI’s other existing IT platforms, Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) is an enhanced version of Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS) which was launched in 2012 for issuance of pan-India FSSAI licenses and registration.

The newly launched provision, according to a statement from the authority, aims at promoting gender equality and equal opportunities for women and transgender entrepreneurs in the food business sector.

Under this provision, Licensing and Registering Authorities will process “Special Category” applications in a balanced manner to maintain one-to-one ratio alongside regular applications, until there are no pending application in either category, a statement from the FSSAI said.

The identification of these individuals will be done during the application submission process through Aadhaar or PAN authentication.

“This initiative reflects FSSAI”s commitment to inclusivity, diversity and gender equality within the food industry,” the statement added.