PCQI Food Safety Training for Indian Food Imports into the US
$550 (40,626 INR)
The PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) is a role required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in order for a manufacturer to export food to the United States. The standards that a manufacturer must meet vary by industry, so it’s important that anyone receiving PCQI training in India understands precisely what sort of products their company plans to export. Understanding these requirements and completing comprehensive training can speed processes, reduce costs and risks, and improve the safety of food for consumers.
The FDA outlines a comprehensive list of requirements for everything from additives and condiments to fruits and vegetables. Of course, there are also overarching requirements for every product type, such as the stipulation that all food may be reviewed in order to confirm that no pests or bugs are present.
It is also required that the US receives notification of any incoming imports prior to their arrival so they can prepare for any necessary inspection or testing at the port of entry. Appropriate customs documentation is necessary as well. More specific requirements may pertain to individual products, though.
Dairy — Cream and milk require a particular permit from the FDA to import them into the US and the country of origin must be clearly labelled on the packaging. Beyond that permit, there are a number of requirements pertaining to details like the fat and moisture content in cheese, or microbial contaminants. These details vary depending on the specific type of dairy product being imported. Dairy products will be inspected by the Department of Agriculture to ensure compliance with FDA regulations, so manufacturers should take note of the requirements that pertain to their products.
Fruits — Aside from the obvious stipulation that the FDA may examine fruits for disease, rot, and insects, there are a number of requirements pertaining to the presence of mold, pits, and even artificial coloring. The FDA may test products to ensure that a shipment of fruit complies with standards before it is allowed into the US. As of 2016,18% of all fresh fruit in the US was imported from India, so this is a major market.
Vegetables — Many of the FDA requirements for vegetables mirror those for fruits, with additional strictness on topics like insect filth and bug damage. Specific vegetables, like asparagus and tomatoes, may have detailed requirements that ought to be noted. Like fruits, fresh vegetables may be tested by the Department of Agriculture to ensure compliance with FDA standards.
Meat and Poultry — The FDA claims jurisdiction over meat and poultry products entering the US. Countries must meet the same quality standards as products produced in the US and not all countries are allowed to import meat to the U.S. Meat and poultry from India is currently not eligible to enter the US. This means that, regardless of quality standards, meat and poultry from Indian manufacturers will not be accepted by the FDA.Anyone receiving PCQI Training in India must receive a thorough education on the overarching FDA requirements for importing food to the United States, as well as the industry-specific stipulations in order to truly understand how to navigate this space. Naturally, that means that choosing the proper training provider is critical.