1. Improvements in quality and food safety processes at cashew processing factories in India Dr. B Jacob Managing Director Trans Synergy Quali Systems (P) Ltd (Synergy Systems) February 19, 2016

2. Conventional Processing Methods 2 Labor Intensive Mostly Manual Emphasis on Product Quality only No serious concern about process quality

3. Major Transition 3 Change from Tin packing to Flexi bag packing. Problems in Flexi bag packing – Bonding – Leaky Pouches – Infestation – Use of non food grade pouches – residual vacuum – Other problems

4. Change in food safety concerns 4 WTO SPS agreement Equivalence Rights and responsibilities of member countries Codex standards

5. Food Safety Management 5 HACCP GMP Personal hygiene Pest control Waste management Monitoring Food Safety throughout the food chain

6. Change in processing methods Mechanical processing replacing manual processing. Problems – Absence of preventive maintenance of machines – Ineffective cleaning of food contact surfaces – Lack of awareness among workers – Contamination from dirt, slime, machine oil, metal parts etc. – Increasing incidence of infestations 6

7. Food Safety Concerns of importing countries US-FSMA CT PAT Traceability FDA registration of food processing units EU Countries regulations Japanese buyers’ expectations End users’ concerns and expectations 7

8. Food Safety certifications HACCP FSMS FSSC IFC BRC GAP Organic Certifications 8

9. Areas requiring attention Skill development for mechanical processing of cashews Introduction of management tools like – Kaizen – 5WHY – 5S Integrated approach for productivity and sustaining product quality 9

10. Research and development Research in improving processing technologies Streamlining production of processes to improve productivity Product development Marketing and promotional techniques 10

11. Track record of improvements over the time Introduction of IPQC (In process quality control) Flexi packaging system High efficiency hot chamber HACCP and Food Safety concepts Steam processing of RCN in place of oil bath roasting 11 Indian Cashew Industry

12. Track record of improvements over the time Installation of metal detectors Aspirators and foreign matter segregators Conveyor system for online checking Use of gas mix of CO2 + N2 in flexi packing Color sorting machines 12

13. Track record of improvements over the time Use of hand sanitizers for workers Use of head gears, aprons, etc Pest control operations including fumigation wherever necessary Use of carton flexi bags, tins confirming to BIS specification Food safety management system implementation (HACCP/FSMS/FSSE/IFS/BRC etc) 13

14. The future Food laws and regulations are likely to undergo dramatic changes in future. Analytical techniques for contaminants and pathogens are becoming more and more sensitive with increased detection capability. Consequently consumers would demand foods with lower limits of contaminants and perhaps, totally free from them. 14

15. The future The demand for safer and healthier foods would be a challenge for the Indian food export Industry, while it would also open opportunities for us to supply foods meeting the exacting requirements of the buying countries and also the domestic market which is getting sensitized by stringent food safety requirements. 15

16. Thank you! 16