The Quality Control (QC) wing of FCI manned by qualified and trained personnel is entrusted with enormous task of procurement & preservation of foodgrains. The foodgrains are procured as per laid down Specifications of Government of India and inspected regularly during storage to monitor the quality. Representative samples of the stocks are drawn for physical and chemical analysis to ensure whether the quality standard meets the parameters of laid down Specifications of Government of India. Foodgrain samples are also referred to NABL accredited laboratories and get tested for its conformity of parameter under FSS Act also.
Food Corporation of India's testing laboratories spread across the country for effective monitoring of quality of foodgrains providing quality assurance as per FSS Act 2006, leading to improved satisfaction level to the customers (consumers).
Laboratories across the country are being upgraded with latest equipment. The IFS (Institute of Food Security) Lab, Gurgaon is in process of upgradation to a State of Art Lab.
The senior Q.C. Officers undertake frequent visits to the procurement & storage points to inspect the quality of foodgrain stocks and advise QC staff on the spot to ensure procurement of foodgrains conforming to Specifications and its maintenance during storage at all levels. Appropriate action is also initiated against defaulters, if any, in order to tighten the supervisory arrangement and fixing responsibilities on all found responsible for procurement of stocks beyond laid down parameters. Long terms/short term training is held for QC staffs on procurement and preservation of foodgrain management.
Periodical disinfestation measures are undertaken i.e. prophylactic and curative treatments are imparted to the stocks with the permitted insecticides to ensure the health of the grains so that it may be preserved in the highest category possible. Preventive measures are also undertaken to control rodents, birds and pest infestation by appropriate measures.
The stocks of foodgrains strictly conforming to Uniform Specifications of Government of India standard are issued to PDS by adopting joint sampling system scrupulously.
Non-Issuable (DAMAGED) Foodgrains And Their Disposal:
Foodgrains which do not conform to FSSA and further cannot be reconditioned for normal issue are considered ‘Non-Issuable grains’. Damage to the stock may occur in the CAP storage or in transit.
Such stocks need to be salvaged to segregate sound grains, for issue under normal channels. Stocks not fit for normal issue will have to be dealt with as ‘Non-Issuable grain’. The Non-Issuable stocks on receipt in the godowns or detected in the depot, are properly checked and segregated on the basis of condition and proportion of sound grains present into different lots.
The Issuable foodgrains classified under various categories are disposed off as per procedure. Fresh allocations and sale of Non-Issuable foodgrains held by the FCI and State Agencies is made only to bonafide registered parties to avoid circulation of Non-Issuable foodgrains into the market. Executive Directors(Zone) & General Managers(Region) are vested with full power for disposal of Non-Issuable foodgrains.
