About Quality Council India

• The Quality Council of India (QCI) set up in 1997 is an autonomous body attached to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• It was set up jointly by the Government of India and the Indian Industry.
• Its mandate is to establish and operate the National Accreditation Structure (NAS) for conformity assessment bodies and providing accreditation in the field of health, education and quality promotion .
• The Chairman of QCI is appointed by the Prime Minister on recommendation of the industry to the government.

Why in News?

Quality Council of India at the behest of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has come out with a Scheme for approval of Hygiene Rating Audit Agencies to scale up Hygiene Rating by increasing the number of recognised Hygiene Rating Audit Agencies in the country.

About the scheme

• FSSAI’s initiative of ‘Food Hygiene Rating Scheme’ is a certification system for food businesses supplying food directly to consumers, either on or off premise.
  
• The food establishments are rated based on food hygiene and safety conditions observed at the time of audit.
• The hygiene rating will be in the form of smileys (1 up to 5) and the certificate should be displayed prominently in the consumer facing area.
• The scheme aims to allow consumers to make informed choices/decisions pertaining to the food outlets where they eat by encouraging food businesses to improve their hygiene and safety standards.
• The recognised Hygiene Rating Audit Agency will verify the compliance with food hygiene and safety procedures laid by FSSAI.

Reference:

1. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1680753