Food Products Order (FPO)

What is Food Products Order (FPO)

FPO (Fruit Products Order), 1955 regulates the fruits and vegetable processing sector. The order is controlled by the Department of Food Processing Industries of Government of India. The Fruit Product Order has the specifications and quality control requirements on the production and marketing of processed vegetables and fruits, sweetened aerated, vinegar, water, and synthetic syrups. For every processing unit which manufacture and market such articles it is essential to get a licence under the Fruit Product Order the designated officers carry out periodic inspections. Besides, the processed fruit products and vegetable products which are imported into the country should also conform to the standards laid down in FPO.

Following are the minimum requirements laid down in the Fruit Product Order for quality standards and hygienic production: a) Place and surroundings of the processing unit.

 b) Hygienic and sanitary settings of building c) employees’ cleanliness, d) water portability, e) machineries & equipments with installed capacity, f) Quality control facilities and Technical staff, g) Product Standard h) Limit of Preservatives and additives.

This FPO order was formulated by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (now FSSAI) through the Directorate of Fruit & Vegetable Preservation. This directorate has its Headquarter in New Delhi, with five regional offices with headquarters located in Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, and Mumbai. There is one sub-office situated in Lucknow under Northern Region. The Regional offices have field officers who are responsible for carrying out periodic inspections of the food processing and manufacturing units and to make sure that hygienic conditions are maintained in the factories. During their inspections the officers may take samples randomly of food products from the manufacturing or processing units and from market. The collected samples are brought to the laboratories for examinations. It is tested whether the food articles were manufactured as per the specifications laid down under FPO.

The Central Fruit Product Advisory Committee consists of Technical experts and officials of concerned Government Departments, representatives of Central Food Technology Research Institute, Bureau of Indian Standards, Fruits and Vegetable Processing Industry and Consumer Organization for recommending amendments in the Fruit Product Order.