Daily Current Affairs : 24-September-2024
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has added a brand new initiative called the Food Import Rejection Alert (FIRA) portal. This device will assist enhance food safety in India by alerting authorities about food consignments that have been rejected at Indian borders due to safety concerns. The portal was launched at the Global Food Regulators Summit 2024 and aims to strengthen India’s food safety framework.
Purpose of the FIRA Portal
The primary aim of the FIRA portal is to ensure that food entering India meets safety standards and does not pose health risks to the public. By sharing real-time information about rejected food consignments, the portal helps speed up decision-making and ensures that unsafe food does not reach consumers.
Some key benefits of the FIRA portal include:
- Quick Information Sharing: Authorities can immediately be notified of rejected food consignments.
- Health Risk Prevention: By tracking rejected items, FSSAI can prevent the circulation of harmful food products in the market.
- Enhanced Border Safety: It ensures better control over food imports and strengthens food safety regulations at borders.
FSSAI’s Efforts in Food Safety
In the past year, FSSAI rejected over 1,500 imported food items because they did not meet Indian food safety standards. This action helps protect consumers from foodborne illnesses and unsafe products. FSSAI’s efforts in monitoring food imports play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of food products available in the market.
Other Healthcare Initiatives
Apart from food safety, the Indian government has launched several other healthcare initiatives to improve the well-being of its citizens.
- Ayushman Bharat PMJAY: The government expanded this health insurance scheme to cover all senior citizens aged 70 and above, benefiting around 60 million people. This expansion aims to provide affordable healthcare services to older citizens, particularly those from economically weaker sections.
- U-WIN Portal: The U-WIN portal has digitized vaccination services and successfully registered 64 million beneficiaries so far. This initiative has made vaccination services more accessible and efficient across the country.
- New TB Treatment: The government introduced a new treatment regimen for tuberculosis (TB), designed to reduce the treatment time. This new approach is expected to be rolled out nationwide soon, improving the treatment process for millions of TB patients.
Important Points:
Launch of FIRA Portal: The Food Import Rejection Alert (FIRA) portal has been introduced by the FSSAI to enhance food safety in India by notifying authorities about rejected food consignments at borders.
Purpose of FIRA Portal:
- Ensures food imports meet safety standards.
- Helps prevent the distribution of unsafe food products.
- Facilitates quicker decision-making and communication about rejected consignments.
Key Benefits of FIRA Portal:
- Quick Information Sharing: Authorities are immediately notified of rejected food items.
- Health Risk Prevention: Prevents unsafe food from entering the market.
- Enhanced Border Safety: Strengthens food safety regulations at Indian borders.
FSSAI’s Food Safety Efforts:
- In the past year, over 1,500 imported food items were rejected for failing to meet Indian food safety standards.
Other Healthcare Initiatives:
- Ayushman Bharat PMJAY: Expanded to cover senior citizens aged 70+, benefiting 60 million people.
- U-WIN Portal: Successfully registered 64 million beneficiaries for digital vaccination services.
- New TB Treatment Regimen: Introduced to shorten treatment times, with plans for nationwide rollout.
Why In News
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched the Food Import Rejection Alert (FIRA) portal, which will notify authorities about food consignments rejected at Indian borders due to safety concerns, ensuring faster response times and improving the overall efficiency of food safety monitoring across the country.
MCQs about FIRA Portal
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What is the main purpose of the Food Import Rejection Alert (FIRA) portal launched by FSSAI?
A. To monitor food prices
B. To reject food imports at the border
C. To notify authorities about rejected food consignments due to safety concerns
D. To manage food distribution across India
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How many imported food items were rejected by FSSAI in the past year due to safety concerns?
A. 500
B. 1,500
C. 3,000
D. 2,000
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Which of the following is a benefit of the FIRA portal?
A. Reducing food prices in India
B. Enhancing food safety regulations at borders
C. Increasing food imports to India
D. Creating new food safety standards for India
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Which healthcare initiative covers senior citizens aged 70 and above under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY?
A. Health Insurance for the Poor
B. U-WIN Portal
C. Expansion of Ayushman Bharat PMJAY
D. TB Treatment Program
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