Category: Food Sector

SEBI – Regulatory Frame Work

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Sebi – Regulatory Framework for value chain ESG disclosures for listed entities

Sebi came out with a regulatory framework for listed entities on ESG disclosures on supply chain and assurance.

Sebi has introduced BRSR Core, a sub-set of the BRSR (Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report), comprising nine Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for several E, S and G factors that need to be assured. Under the framework, large listed companies will have to make disclosures and obtain assurance as per ‘BRSR Core’ for their value chain.

Keeping in view the relevance to the Indian market context, few new KPIs have been identified for assurance such as job creation in small towns, openness of business and gross wages paid to women. Further, for better global comparability, intensity ratios based on revenue adjusted for purchasing power parity have been included.

In addition, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has introduced disclosures and assurance for the value chain of listed entities, as per the BRSR Core. In the supply chain, Sebi said that ESG disclosures according to the BRSR Core for the top 250 companies on a comply-or-explain basis will start from 2024-25, with assurance beginning the following year, according to a circular.

Disclosures for the value chain will be made by the listed company as per BRSR Core as part of its annual report. In this regard, the value chain would encompass the top upstream and downstream partners of a listed entity, cumulatively comprising 75 per cent of its purchases or sales by value, respectively.

As per Sebi, listed entities will have to report the KPIs in the BRSR Core for their value chain to the extent it is attributable to their business with that value chain partner. Such reporting may be segregated for upstream and downstream partners or can be reported on an aggregate basis. Sebi also said the board of the listed entity will have to ensure that the assurance provider of the BRSR Core has the necessary expertise for undertaking reasonable assurance. Further, the listed entity would have to ensure that there is no conflict of interest with the assurance provider appointed to assure the BRSR Core. For instance, it needs to be ensured that the assurance provider or any of its associates do not sell its products or provide any non-audit related service, including consulting services, to the listed entity or its group entities

Click here to View the SEBI Notification

Source: https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/sebi-puts-in-place-regulatory-framework-for-value-chain-esg-disclosures-for-listed-entities-10948501.html

FSSAI Amendment – Information Update

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Extension in Enforcement of Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Second Amendment 2022

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has announced an extension for the enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Second Amendment Regulations, 2022.

The decision is made after considering the representations received from various stakeholders in the industry, requesting additional time to so as to exhaust the existing inventory of old packaging materials.

The FSSAI had initially provided a six-month extension for the enforcement of sub-regulation (7) of regulation 4, allowing businesses to transition smoothly to the new regulations. However, recognizing the ongoing challenges faced by the industry, fresh representations were received requesting a further extension.

After due consideration of the representations received from the industry and also to ensure sustainable practices for food business operations, the FSSAI has decided to extend the date of enforcement of sub-regulation (7) of regulation 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Second Amendment Regulations, 2022 by a further period of six months from 13thJune 2023.

The FSSAI emphasizes the importance of adhering to the food safety standards and encourages all stakeholders to make the necessary adjustments within the extended timeline.

The extension provides food businesses with an invaluable opportunity to align their practices with the updated advertising and claims regulations. It is expected that this additional time will not only help businesses exhaust their old packaging materials but also enable them to make any necessary adjustments to ensure full compliance with the new standards.

Click here to read Notification

Source: https://www.fssai.gov.in/

Industry Information Update – ESG

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ESGpedia registry ensures suppliers hold accredited ISO certifications, helping companies manage global supply chain sustainability

Asia’s leading environmental, social, and governance (‘ESG’) data and technology solutions company, STACS, announced that its platform ESGpedia can help corporates manage supply chain sustainability by ensuring that suppliers hold accredited ISO certifications. The latest progress involves collaboration with International Accreditation Forum’s (‘IAF’) global certificate database IAF CertSearch and Quality Trade.

Global leader in solar innovation and channels, Maxeon Solar Technologies (‘Maxeon’), is onboard as a corporate representative in the live use case, and is making further progress in its supplier sustainability monitoring using ESGpedia.

Maxeon first commenced utilising holistic data and digital solutions on STACS’s ESGpedia to monitor the sustainability performance of suppliers in Maxeon’s end-to-end supply chain last October 2022.

In the latest development, ESGpedia platform enables Maxeon to ensure that suppliers within its supply chain meet Maxeon’s corporate sustainability requirements of being ISO-compliant.

A company’s supply chain accounts for majority of its scope 3 emissions. With rising regulatory, consumer, and investor scrutiny, companies like Maxeon have implemented corporate sustainability measures to manage its supply chain sustainability and decarbonise – and this is where monitoring comes in place to ensure the success of these initiatives.

Lindsey Wiedmann, Chief Legal & Sustainability Officer at Maxeon, said: “As part of our company’s purpose of Powering Positive Change™, Maxeon screens suppliers carefully and requires them to be ISO-certified. The goal of our partnership with ESGpedia by STACS is to achieve a one-stop holistic view of all relevant ISO certificates of current suppliers in one portfolio on a single data registry.”

In the latest collaboration, ESGpedia connects directly with IAF CertSearch, powered by Quality Trade, to retrieve valid accredited ISO certificates. Validity of certificates is dependent on numerous factors such as expiry or any updates in the company’s sustainability commitment.

Established by the IAF, IAF CertSearch is a global database of 900,000+ verified and accredited ISO Certificates obtained from various accreditation and certification bodies. ESGpedia then harmonises the ISO certificates data into standardized company ESG profiles, and organises Maxeon’s current suppliers’ ESG profiles into a single portfolio for ease of verification and monitoring by Maxeon. Based on various factors, Maxeon is also able to gain full transparency of which suppliers across their entire supply chain hold valid accredited certifications and be alerted when there is a change to the status of any certification, helping Maxeon manage supply chain risk.  

Sharon Yuen, Chief Commercial Officer at STACS, said: “With ESGpedia, we support corporates’ net zero journey and help them manage their supply chain sustainability and scope 3 emissions, to stay ahead of regulations, future-proof, and strengthen their competitive edge. A digital solution is especially key for companies like Maxeon with more complex supply chains and regional suppliers. We are therefore delighted to be collaborating with International Accreditation Forum and Quality Trade, and furthering our partnership with corporates like Maxeon through ESGpedia, to help them ensure the overall green-ness of their supply chains.”

Emanuele Riva, Chair at International Accreditation Forum, said: “The IAF CertSearch database helps businesses, asset owners and regulators know exactly which organisations in their supply chains, portfolios and networks hold valid accredited certifications.”

Rajesh Maheshwari, IAF Database Management Committee Chair, said “There has never been a more important time to know your suppliers, customers, and investees meet international standards, particularly in the area of ESG. The database quells fears of greenwashing as it records and provides transparency of the validity of certifications.”

Nigel Johnston, Chief Executive Officer at Quality Trade, said: “Businesses, asset owners and regulators require swift and reliable exchange of information to operate in today’s digital environment. We look forward to working with STACS to ensure valid accredited certification information can be aggregated and easily accessed on ESGpedia, helping organisation such as Maxeon to achieve their sustainability goals.”

Earlier this year in May (23 May 2023), the latest ESGpedia platform version was launched at its one-year milestone since its deployment in May 2022, with greater data coverage, solutions and analytics, and the ESCAP Sustainable Business Network (‘ESBN’) Asia-Pacific Green Deal for Businesses digital assessment.

Available at no cost on ESGpedia, the digitalised and simplified self-assessment tool is designed to lower the barriers to entry for corporates and SMEs to kickstart their sustainability journey through a form of an easy and guided program towards sustainability, and to report metrics that are aligned with stakeholders’ needs for consistent, comparable, and shareable data.

This helps suppliers who have yet embarked on sustainability or any certifications to start easily with a simplified and guided program, to attain their ESBN Asia-Pacific Green Deal badge to showcase their sustainability commitment to corporates like Maxeon.

For further information, please contact:

STACS (www.stacs.io)
Grace Lim, Senior Marketing Manager
Email: grace.lim@stacs.io

Source: https://stacs.io/esgpedia-registry-ensures-suppliers-hold-accredited-iso-certifications-helping-companies-manage-global-supply-chain-sustainability/

Industry Information update

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Commerce ministry authorises EPCMD to issue registration-cum-membership certificates for exporters

The Commerce Ministry has authorized the newly-established Export Promotion Council for Medical Devices (EPCMD) to issue registration-cum-membership certificates for exporters of specific medical items. These items include bandages, first-aid boxes, hot water bottles, ice bags, gloves, surgical garments, syringes, and stethoscopes.

A Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) is required for exporters to avail benefits under the foreign trade policy, as well as customs and excise benefits

Holding the certificate can also help exporters in availing benefits with respect to customs and excise.

These items also include hot water bottles, ice bags, gloves, personal protective garments for surgical/medical use, surgical gowns and drapes, syringes, with or without needles, and stethoscopes.

The directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT) in a public notice stated that the council has been included in FTP for “issuing RCMC for specific items”.

Click here to read the Notification

source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/commerce-ministry-authorises-epcmd-to-issue-registration-cum-membership-certificates-for-exporters/articleshow/101386747.cms

Notification given by FSSAI

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FSSAI issued a Directions to all FSSAI Notified laboratories for Organic Testing

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has given a Direction to all FSSAI Notified Laboratories for Organic Testing under section 43(1) and 43(2) of FSS Act 2006.

All the FSSAI Notified laboratories are directed for the following:

a. To review their current capabilities and take the necessary steps to enhance the infrastructure and scope of the testing for organic products.

b. To make an application to APEDA for recognition of the laboratory for testing organic products.

c. To apply to National Referral Laboratory of APEDA for participation in proficiency testing as a pre-requisite to qualify for pre-export testing of organic products.

Click here to read the Notification

Source: https://www.fssai.gov.in/

BSI Launch Event: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) certification

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BSI Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Certification – Launch event on Monday, 26th June 2023 between 15:00 hrs – 16:30hrs (IST)

According to the World Health Organization, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been declared a top 10 global public health threat and is expected to get worse unless action is taken. It threatens to undermine the basis of modern medicine by rendering the antibiotics used to treat and prevent infections ineffective.

Resistance can come from many sources – BSI is working with the pharmaceutical industry to focus on the evolution of responsible manufacturing of antibiotics. Manufacturing waste from the production of antibiotics may contribute to the development of AMR in the environment unless emissions from waste streams are effectively controlled

BSI, in collaboration with the AMR Industry Alliance, will launch an industry antibiotic manufacturing certification scheme on 26 June 2023

This independent and impartial certification program is perfectly situated to serve as a mechanism for antibiotic manufacturers to demonstrate evolving best practice and compliance to the Antibiotic Manufacturing Standard. While government regulators have a role to play in promoting responsible manufacturing, the industry has shown its willingness to self-regulate by developing this manufacturing standard and independent certification scheme.

Companies including Centrient, Roche, Pfizer, Teva, Viatris, and Sandoz were participants in the pilot program and have helped provide technical expertise to shape the certification program.

  • Provide independent third-party assurance that your organization is minimizing the risk of waste emissions from manufacturing 
  • Prove that the industry can self-regulate the antimicrobial resistance topic through certification and external third-party independent assessments
  • Differentiate yourselves in healthcare systems tenders by showing your antibiotic products are independently certified by a trusted organization with a recognizable Mark of Trust

Who should attend?

  • Pharmaceutical manufacturers
  • Regulators
  • Government policy makers
  • Trade associations
  • Contract manufacturers
  • Hospital / healthcare systems sustainability procurement
Click here to Register
Click here for speaker details

EGA 2023 – Application Now Open

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Envirocare Green Awards 2023

Envirocare Green Awards is an initiative by Envirocare Labs started in 2018 with a vision to motivate and empower professionals & organization’s in the field of environment. 

EGA is a non-commercial activity of self-motivated and like-minded people dedicated to making a positive difference to Sustainable Care. 

The objective is to inspire stakeholders to think green & contribute towards a world that is not only progressive but also responsible towards its provider.

The applicants for these awards will be evaluated by an independent international Jury – renowned & respected in their professional fields. The award ceremony would be preceded by keynote speaker sessions.  

The application for this award is online and is open for across the globe under the following categories:

1. Individual / s

2. Private Ltd / LLP / MSME

3. Public Sector / Large Corporates

4. Non Government Organisation NGO / Cooperatives

5. Government Organisation / Municipal

6. Academia

7. Others

To apply please click here for online Google Form:https://forms.gle/ZfWBjSR8PA6W5Bqe7

The short listed applicants will be required to make online presentation for Jury evaluation. The data submitted would be confidential and used only for the purpose of EGA

Application deadline 15th June 2023, Please feel free to reach out to EGA Secretariat Ms Deenal Shah: +91 9167232025 | ega@envirocare.co.in

For regular updates on EGA 2023 , visit  https://lnkd.in/eDiKu3R

Workshop on NEC 2023

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Two days workshop on National Electrical Code of India

NFE in association with BIS is conducting a 2-Days workshop across multiple locations in India, including Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad & Ahmedabad. In Chennai, the workshop is scheduled on 20th & 21st April 2023 at L&T, Manapakkam, Chennai.

Free for the NFE Members and for Non – NFE Members Rs.2500 plus GST

To know more about the workshop and its schedule feel free to connect with NFE at info@nfees.org/nec@nfees.org or visit their website at http://www.nfees.org

Click here to register https://lnkd.in/gJZXxreB

SEPC pavilion at Hannover Messe 2023

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Request for participation in SEPC Pavilion at Hannover Messe 2023 (17th to 21st April, 2023)

SEPC is taking up a space to create and facilitate business opportunities for companies in India in Engineering. Engineering Consulting, Architecture, Construction and Design, Environmental, Agriculture & Forestry services. SEPC is taking all necessary steps towards the export promotion of this sector in its renewed focus

SEPC lndia invites participation of its members at their stand at Hannover Messe 2023 which is scheduled from 17th April to 21st April,2023. SEPC is taking 100 sqm space from two sides open in the prominent hall dedicated for services sector covering:

  • Engineering Design & related Construction
  • Energy Management & Solutions
  • Industry 4.0
  • Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
  • Digital Ecosystems
  • Automation, Motion & Drives
  • Compressed Air & Vacuum
  • Engineered Parts & Solutions
  • CO2-neutral Production
  • Hydrogen and Fuel Cells
  • Global Business & Markets
  • Logistics

Key Takeaways from participation apart from International Branding:

  • To forge new business networking, enable newer concepts and new trend adaptation for increasing the exports.
  • Exploring business prospects/overseas busters from all fegions.
  • Expand the marketing network and strengthen the business contracts of Indian companies.
  • Direct Contact with leading Decision makers of the industry.
  • List of visitors being shared post event
Click here to read more

source: https://servicesepc.org/home/index

Seminar on Online Reviews by Bureau of Indian Standards

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BIS Seminar on IS 19000: 2022, ‘Online Consumer Reviews Principles and Requirements for the Collection, Moderation, and Publication for Online Reviews’ 

BIS is organizing a seminar on IS 19000: 2022, ‘Online Consumer Reviews Principles and Requirements for the Collection, Moderation, and Publication for Online Reviews’ on 24th March 2023 from 10:30 AM onwards at Dr. Lal C. Verman Hall, BIS Headquarters, New Delhi.

The objective of the seminar is to create awareness about fake online reviews impacting businesses and customer’s purchasing decisions. 


Registration link: https://lnkd.in/dXG3syCU

To join online, click on the link: https://lnkd.in/dg4cVURf

Seminar No. 2514 493 0188
Password: 12345

Source: https://www.bis.gov.in/

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