India and Bhutan strengthen partnership on food safety and regulatory standards

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, held a bilateral meeting with the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA) on the sidelines of the Global Food Regulators Summit at Bharat Mandapam. The meeting focused on the implementation protocol of the “Agreement” signed between India and BFDA on March 21, 2024, during the visit of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. This Agreement underscores a mutual commitment to enhancing food safety, aligning regulatory frameworks, simplifying the Food Import Procedure, and fostering technical collaboration.

The Agreement aims to recognize the official control exercised by BFDA over food business operators (FBOs) by the FSSAI. It further seeks to enhance technical cooperation between FSSAI and BFDA, establishing a functional mechanism to facilitate and develop trade between the two countries.

The meeting centered on the implementation of the Agreement and the steps taken by both FSSAI and BFDA in this regard. Various capacity-building initiatives and technical collaboration opportunities for BFDA officials were also discussed to further strengthen this partnership.

G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, chief executive officer of FSSAI, stated, “Today's meeting marks a pivotal development in our partnership with Bhutan in the area of food safety and trade facilitation. The Agreement and the outcomes of our discussions are set to streamline trade processes and enhance food safety standards. This collaboration highlights our shared commitment to maintaining the highest quality standards for consumers. By working closely with the BFDA, we are building a robust and effective food safety framework that will serve the interests of both nations.”

Gyem Bidha, Director of BFDA, emphasized the importance of the Agreement in facilitating safe food trade between the two countries and acknowledged FSSAI’s leadership in food safety. He remarked, “This bilateral meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the implementation challenges of exporting to India and areas of technical cooperation and capacity building to effectively implement the Agreement at the grassroots level.”

The Director also expressed gratitude to FSSAI for the invitation to attend the Global Food Regulators Summit.

The meeting was attended by Gyem Bidha, Director of BFDA, and senior officials from BFDA’s Food Quality and Safety Division. Tashi Peldon, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Royal Bhutanese Embassy, New Delhi, along with senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, were also present at the meeting.