Photo credit: ANI NEW DELHI: Imported food items may reach consumers faster and in better condition, after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) changed its clearance process to reduce delays at ports.In a key change, FSSAI has allowed inspection and testing of imported food consignments to happen together, instead of waiting for payments at every stage. This is expected to significantly cut the time taken for clearance.At the same time, FSSAI has kept safety checks in place. Final clearance, including the No Objection Certificate (NOC), will be given only after all fees are paid, ensuring that food safety is not compromised.Earlier, the process was sequential and time-consuming. After document scrutiny, importers had to pay fees before inspection could begin, and again before samples were sent for laboratory testing. Any delay in payment would slow down the entire process, leading to consignments being held up at ports.Under the revised system, once documents are cleared and visual inspection is completed, samples can be drawn immediately without waiting for payment confirmation. This allows inspection and testing to run in parallel, reducing delays.For consumers, the impact could be direct. Faster clearance means perishable food items such as fruits, dairy and processed products spend less time at ports, reducing the risk of spoilage and helping maintain quality.The move is also expected to ease congestion at ports, improve supply chains and reduce logistics delays, which could help stabilise availability and prices in the market.Officials said the change is aimed at making the import clearance system faster and more efficient, while ensuring that all mandatory safety checks continue before any product reaches consumers.The decision is part of broader efforts to streamline procedures and improve ease of doing business without diluting food safety standards.About the AuthorAnuja JaiswalAnuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosVikram Misri Holds Key Talks With French FM, Discusses West Asia Conflict, Bilateral TiesMEA Responds As 15 Indian Ships Remain Stranded Amid Trump’s Hormuz BlockadeUS Naval Blockade on Iran: Why Strait of Hormuz Tensions Could Hit India’s Oil, LPG and InflationTCS Nashik In Eye Of Storm As Women Allege Harassment, Conversion Pressure At Workplace’We Have Common Fate’: Iran Envoy Thanks ‘Friend’ India, Responds On Hormuz Toll RowSupreme Court Refuses To Quash CBI Case Against Lalu Yadav In Land-For-Jobs Scam, Trial To ContinueNoida Protests Explained: Pay Gap Rising Costs And Labour Issues Behind The ViolenceTrust Deficit Grows In Ladakh As Activist Sonam Wangchuk Flags Delay In Talks With CentrePatna Posters Push Nishant Kumar As Next Chief Minister Of BiharDelhi To Dehradun In 2.5 Hours? PM To Flag Off India’s New Expressway That Opens New Era Of Speed123PhotostoriesCute pet names for your little princessWhat is ‘Saree cancer’? Why this rare condition develops and the simple habits that can help prevent it8 elegant baby girl names inspired by rare flowers you have probably never heard of10 scientific breakthroughs that rewrote the rules of warPoila Boishakh 2026: 9 traditional Bengali dishes served on New YearDelhi-Dehradun Expressway: Travel From Delhi To Dehradun In Just 2.5 Hours! Check Top Facts & PhotosFrom Brad Pitt to Baby Dakota Fanning: 7 actors you totally forgot were on ‘Friends’TV’s 6 female protagonists who were ahead of their time: Tulsi Virani, Anupamaa and more5 cities in West India experiencing real estate boom in 2026Baisakhi 2026: Traditional Baisakhi dishes and their cultural importance in the harvest festival123Hot PicksIran warStock market holidayPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingStock market holidayBank holiday todayKaty PerryAnna Kepner murderDon TzuDelhi-Dehradun ExpresswayPraful HingeIPL Points TableKavya MaranNFL news roundup
NEW DELHI: Imported food items may reach consumers faster and in better condition, after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) changed its clearance process to reduce delays at ports.In a key change, FSSAI has allowed inspection and testing of imported food consignments to happen together, instead of waiting for payments at every stage. This is expected to significantly cut the time taken for clearance.At the same time, FSSAI has kept safety checks in place. Final clearance, including the No Objection Certificate (NOC), will be given only after all fees are paid, ensuring that food safety is not compromised.Earlier, the process was sequential and time-consuming. After document scrutiny, importers had to pay fees before inspection could begin, and again before samples were sent for laboratory testing. Any delay in payment would slow down the entire process, leading to consignments being held up at ports.Under the revised system, once documents are cleared and visual inspection is completed, samples can be drawn immediately without waiting for payment confirmation. This allows inspection and testing to run in parallel, reducing delays.For consumers, the impact could be direct. Faster clearance means perishable food items such as fruits, dairy and processed products spend less time at ports, reducing the risk of spoilage and helping maintain quality.The move is also expected to ease congestion at ports, improve supply chains and reduce logistics delays, which could help stabilise availability and prices in the market.Officials said the change is aimed at making the import clearance system faster and more efficient, while ensuring that all mandatory safety checks continue before any product reaches consumers.The decision is part of broader efforts to streamline procedures and improve ease of doing business without diluting food safety standards.
