Lok Sabha Question No. 926 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Monitoring of Processing Units
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Alok Kumar Suman

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 926 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07 TH FEBRUARY, 20 20

## MONITORING OF PROCES SING UNITS

## 926. DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN:

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

(a) whether the food processing and packaging industry is growing very fast in an unreg manner or is regulated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), if the details thereof;

- (b) the methods adopted to monitor hygiene and quality of food processing units;
- (c) whether the Government/FSSAI has a mechanism to check or regulate the use of harmf chemicals and preservatives dangerous to human health; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a): Ministry of Food Processing Industries has informed that during the last 5 years 2017- 18, Food Processing sector has been growing at an Average Annual Growth Rate (AAGR) of around 8.41 per cent similarly, as per Department of Commerce, the food pack aging industry is also growing at 13 - 15% annually.

The mandate of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is to lay do science - based  standards  for  articles  of  food  and  for  regulating  their  manufacture,  s distribution, sale and import for ensuring availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption in the country. In terms of Section 31 of Food Safety and Standards Act, 200 food business operator shall commence or carry on any food business without a valid lice regi stration.

(b) to (d): Quality  and safety  standards of various categories  of food  products have prescribed under Food Safety and Standards Act, Rules and Regulations made thereunder. Th are enforced by the Food Safety Departments of States/UTs to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food in the country.

Sanitation and Hygiene standards for various food sectors are specified in Schedul Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration) Regulations, 2011. Safety Standa includ ing  Maximum  Residue  Limits  (MRL)/tolerance  limits  for  various  Pesticides,  antibio residues, veterinary drugs, heavy metals etc. in food products are specified in Food Sa Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011. Food  Safe ty  and  Standards  (Prohibition  and  Restriction  on  Sales)  Regulations  pl restriction  on  sale  of  certain  ingredients  such  as  use  of  calcium  carbide  for  ripeni Certain additives/preservatives such as potassium bromate are not included in list of p ermitted additives. Regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling  of food items from sources  viz.  manufacturers,  wholesalers,  retailers,  vendors  etc.  is  being  done  by  of State/UT Food Safety Departments and samples are sen t  for analysis to recognised laboratories. Where samples are found to be non - conforming, recourse is taken to the penal provisions under Chapter IX of the Act. FSSAI has also notified Food Safety and Standards (Food Safety Auditing) Regulatio 2018 andempanelled auditors for audit of food business establishments for checking compli of Schedule 4 requirements. Third party Audits are meant to  reduce the burden on the reg encourage  efficient self - inspection conducted by Central or State Licensing Authorities and also compliance by the food businesses.

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