Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.[4] The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which is a consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India.[5][4] FSSAI is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.[4]

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
Agency overview
FormedAugust 2011[1]
JurisdictionIndia
HeadquartersNew Delhi
Agency executives
Parent agencyMinistry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India
Websitewww.fssai.gov.in

The FSSAI is headed by a non-executive Chairperson, appointed by the Central Government, either holding or has held the position of not below the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.[6] Rita Teotia is the current Chairperson for FSSAI and Shri Arun Singhal is the current Chief Executive Officer for FSSAI.[7]

The FSSAI has its headquarters at New Delhi. The authority also has 6 regional offices located in Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai, Kolkata, Cochin, and Chennai.[8] 14 referral laboratories notified by FSSAI, 72 State/UT laboratories located throughout India and 112 laboratories are NABL accredited private laboratories notified by FSSAI.[9][10]

History

FSSAI was established by Former Union Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss,Government of India on 5 August 2011 under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which was operationalized in year 2006. The FSSAI consists of a chairperson & 22 members. The FSSAI is responsible for setting standards for food so that there is one body to deal with and no confusion in the minds of consumers, traders, manufacturers, and investors.[11][12] Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India is the Administrative Ministry of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.[13][14] The following are the statutory powers that the FSS Act, 2006 gives to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).[15]

  1. Framing of regulations to lay down food safety standards
  2. Laying down guidelines for accreditation of laboratories for food testing
  3. Providing scientific advice and technical support to the Central Government
  4. Contributing to the development of international technical standards in food
  5. Collecting and collating data regarding food consumption, contamination, emerging risks etc.
  6. Disseminating information and promoting awareness about food safety and nutrition in India

Location

FSSAI is located in 5 regions [16]

  1. Northern Region – With head office at New Delhi.
  2. Eastern Region.
  3. North Eastern Region.
  4. Western region.
  5. Southern Region.

Regulatory framework

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is a statutory body under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The Food Safety and Standards Act (FSS), 2006 is the primary law for regulation of food products. This act also sets up the formulation and enforcement of food safety standards in India. The FSSAI appoints food safety authorities on the state level.[17]

The FSSAI functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.[18] The main aim of FSSAI is to

  1. Lay down science-based standards for articles of food
  2. To regulate manufacture, storage, distribution, import and sale of food
  3. To facilitate safety of food

The FSS Act is a bucket for all the older laws, rules and regulations for food safety. The FSS Act took 7 older acts into one umbrella.

  1. Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 [19]
  2. Fruit Products Order, 1955 [20]
  3. Meat Food Products Order, 1973 [21]
  4. Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order, 1947
  5. Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation) Order 1988 [22]
  6. Solvent Extracted Oil, De- Oiled Meal and Edible Flour (Control) Order, 1967 [23]
  7. Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992.[24]

Departments
  1. Import Division
  2. Eat Right India Movement
  3. International Co-operation
  4. Regulatory Compliance Division (RCD)
  5. Food Safety Management System (FSMS) Division
  6. Risk Assessment and R&D division (RARD)
  7. Information Education Communication (IEC) Division
  8. Regulation and Codex Division
  9. Quality Assurance/ lab Division
  10. HR Division
  11. Standards Division

Research and quality assurance

Research

FSSAI has set certain guidelines for food safety research. The Research and Development division is responsible for research with the following objectives:

  1. Generate new knowledge that would help in continuously updating and upgrading food safety standards which are compatible with international organizations
  2. Carry out evidence based studies for improving or building policies.

Quality Assurance

FSSAI has been mandated to perform various functions related to quality and standards of food. These functions in addition to others include "Laying down procedure and guidelines for notification of the accredited laboratories as per ISO17025."[25] The FSSAI notified laboratories that are classified as:

  1. FSSAI notified NABL accredited labs- 112 [26]
  2. State Labs-72
  3. Referral Labs-14 [27]

Standards

Standards framed by FSSAI are prescribed under Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011, Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulation, 2011 and Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins, and Residues) Regulations, 2011.

The FSSAI has prescribed standards for the following:

  • Dairy products and analogues [28]
  • Fats, oils and fat emulsions
  • Fruits and vegetable products
  • Cereal and cereal products
  • Meat and meat products
  • Fish and fish products
  • Sweets & confectionery
  • Sweetening agents including honey
  • Salt, spices, condiments and related products
  • Beverages, (other than dairy and fruits & vegetables based)
  • Other food product and ingredients
  • Proprietary food
  • Irradiation of food
  • Fortification of staple foods i.e. vegetable oil, milk, salt, rice and wheat flour/maida[29]

The development of standards is a dynamic process based on the latest developments in food science, food consumption pattern, new food products and additives, changes in the processing technology leading to changed specifications, advancements in food analytical methods, and identification of new risks or other regulatory options.

Formulation of standards of any article of food under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, involves several stages. After consideration by the Food Authority, the draft standard is published (Draft notified), for inviting stakeholder comments. Since India is a signatory to the WTO-SPS Committee, Draft Standard is also notified in WTO. Thereafter, taking into account the comments received from the stakeholders, the Standard is finalized and notified in Gazette of India, and implemented.[30]

Consumer outreach

Consumers can connect to FSSAI through various channels. A GAMA portal for concerns regarding misleading claims and advertisements too is operated.[31]

Applicable FSSAI License

FSSAI issues three types of license based on the nature of food business and turnover:

  • Registration: For Turnover less than ₹12 Lakh
  • State License: For Turnover between ₹12 Lakh to ₹20 Crore
  • Central License: For Turnover above ₹20 Crore

Other criteria like the location of the business, number of retail stores etc. is needed while evaluating the nature of license applicable.

See also

References
  1. "Enforcement of FSS Act" (PDF). FSSAI. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  2. "Authority of FSSAI".
  3. https://fssai.gov.in/cms/directory.php
  4. "Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)". Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Government of India. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  5. Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
  6. Section 5(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
  7. https://www.livemint.com/companies/people/arun-singhal-appointed-as-ceo-fssai-11590766468076.html
  8. "Regional Laboratories". FSSAI. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  9. "Referral Laboratories" (PDF). FSSAI. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  10. "List of Laboratories". FSSAI. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  11. "FAQ's on FSSA 2006" (PDF). Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Government of India. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  12. "FSSAI calls for EoI for nomination of a scientific committee and panels". FnBnews.com. 7 May 2016.
  13. "FSSAI to formulate new policies for food safety". IndiaToday. 18 February 2016.
  14. "Drug & Food Division(FSSAI/CDSCO)". Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
  15. "Food safety in India - Regulatory framework and challenges" (PDF). swaniti.in. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  16. "FSSAI Head Office". FSSAI.
  17. "Ministry of Law and Justice" (PDF). FSSAI. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  18. "FSSAI to formulate new policies for food safety". India Today. 8 February 2016.
  19. "The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954". India Kanoon.
  20. "Fruit Products Order, I 955" (PDF). Consumer Advice. 8 February 2016.
  21. "Meat Food Products Order, 1973". agmarknet.nic.in.
  22. "The Vegetable Oil Products (Regulation) Order – 1998". Crirec. 17 January 2011.
  23. "The Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation) Order, 1998". Crirec. 17 January 2011.
  24. "Milk and Milk Product Order 1992". Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries.
  25. "Addresses and contact details of NABL accredited food testing laboratories for analysis of food sample taken under FSS Regulation-for 1 Year" (PDF). fssai.gov.in.
  26. "FSSAI Notified NABL Accredited Food Testing Laboratories". Food Safety Helpline. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  27. "Food Safety and Standard Authority of India - Order" (PDF). Food Safety Helpline. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  28. "Shri G. S.G. Ayyangar appointed CEO, FSSAI".
  29. FSSAI. "Fortification of staple foods" (PDF).
  30. "FSSAI appoints new members for scientific panels". Nuffoods Spectrum. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  31. "Grievances Against Misleading Advertisements". gama.gov.in.
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