Lok Sabha Question No. 704 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-14
Subject: Food Safety Mechanism
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: OM BIRLA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 704 TO BE ANSWERED ON  14 TH DECEMBER, 2018

## FOOD SAFETY MECHANIS M

## 704. SHRI OM BIRLA:

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

- (a)  whether  it  is  true  that  India  lacks  a  robust  food  safety  mechanism  for  the  welfa citizens , if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to create the same;
- (c) whether the Government has taken note of the fact that poor implementation of the Fo Laws has resulted in rampant food adulteration and various food scandals;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the corrective measures taken in this regard; and
- (e)  the other  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  address  the  issue  of  poor  food  sa infrastructure in the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) to (e): The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been established under Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006 which consolidates various acts & orders have hitherto handled food related issues in various Ministries and Departments. FSSAI ha createdfor  laying  down  science  based  standards  for  articles  of  food  and  to  regulate manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and w food for human consumption.

Food Safety and Standards Rules and Regulations, 2011 have been notified under the Act and  came  into  force  with  effect  from  5th  August,  2011.  The  FSS  Act,  2006  in  its  esse involves  having  an  effective  enforcement  machinery  to  ensure  availability  of  safe wholesome  food  to  the  consu mers.  The  enforcement  machinery  in  States/UTs  includes  Food Safety  Commissioner,  Designated  Officers  (DOs)  and  Food  Safety  Officers  (FSOs).  Th Designated Officers at the District Level and Food Safety Officers at sub - district level assist

Contd……..

Food Safety Commissioner in enforcing the provisions of FSS Act, 2006, Rules and Regulati made  thereunder.  To  make  the  food  safety  system  robust,  FSSAI  has  set  norms  and  h continually been following up with States/UTs to increase manpower i.e. streng th of DO /FSOs for effective compliance of provisions of FSS Act, 2006. The frequency of Central Advi Committee  (CAC)  meetings  has  been  increased  in  recent  years  for  better  interaction engagement.

Further, to strengthen the food safety surveillance system,  Food Safety  and Standards (Food Safety Auditing) Regulations, 2018 had been notified and accordingly FSSAI has init audits  of  Food  Business  Operators  through  third  party  auditing  agencies.  Special  Driv Licensing/ Registrati on of Food Business Operators are carried out throughout the country fro time to time to bring all food business operators under the ambit of FSS Act, 2006, Rul Regulations made there under. In addition, regular surveillance, monitoring and inspecti on and sampling of food products are carried out by Food Safety Officers of State/UT Government check compliance of the provisions laid down under FSS Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations ma there under.

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