Lok Sabha Question No. 4918 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-16
Subject: Harmful Chemicals in the Food Items
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: SHARAD TRIPATHI, RAMCHARAN BOHARA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4918 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH DECEMBER,

## HARMF UL CHEMICALS IN THE FOOD ITEMS

## 4918. SHRI SHARAD TRIPATHI:

## SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the use of poisonous and harmful chemicals in the food items is becoming a ca diseases and deaths across the country;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  of  such  cases  which  came  to  light  during  each  of  the  last  t including the current year, State/ UT - wise;
- (c) the details of legal provision in place for checking the use of poisonous/harmful che production of food items and sale thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to take action against those who violate these prov and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KU LASTE)

- (a) & (b): Some reports have, in the past, appeared in the media about the use of poiso and  harmful  chemicals  in  food  production.  However,  specific  details  of  the  use  of substances in food production and the diseases and deaths caused due to their use is not complied and maintained centrally.
- (c): Safety parameters of food products are prescribed under the Food Safety and Stand (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. The tolerance limit for elements, pesticide residue a n he vy metals in food products are prescribed in the Food Safet and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011. Penal provisions rel to unsafe food are specified in Chapter IX of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Contd……….

(d) & (e): Enforcement of the provisions of the FSS Act, 2006 and Rules and Regulation thereunder, primarily  rests with the State/UT Governments. Regular surveillance, monito inspection  and  random  sampling  of  all  food  items  is  undertake n  by  the  State  Food  Safety Officials. In cases, where samples are found to be non - conforming to the provisions of the Act and Regulations thereunder, recourse is taken to the penal provisions under Chapter IX Act.As per information made available b y State/UT Governments, details of action taken against violators  of  the  provisions  of  the  Food  Safety  and  Standards  Act,  2006  and  regula thereunder during the last three years, is as under:

| Year     | No. of cases Launched   | No. of cases Launched   | No. of Convictions/Penalties   | No. of Convictions/Penalties   |
|----------|-------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|          | Criminal                | Civil                   | Convictions                    | Penalties                      |
| 2013- 14 | 3105                    | 7130                    | 913                            | 2950                           |
| 2014- 15 | 2687                    | 7988                    | 1402                           | 2795                           |
| 2015- 16 | 1656                    | 8196                    | 516                            | 3483                           |

…………….