Lok Sabha Question No. 3195 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-06
Subject: Human Resource Capacity in FSSAI
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Maneka Sanjay Gandhi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3195 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 TH DECEMBER, 2019

## HUMAN RESOURCE CAPAC ITY IN FSSAI

## 3195. SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI:

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

- (a) the initiative being taken by the Government to check food adulteration in the country;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is planning  to  bring  amendments  as  per Supreme  Court directions  to Food  Act  andIPC  in  order  to  make  special  provisions  to ensure  deterrent punishments to adulterators of milk and other food products, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether reports and studies suggest that the human resource capacity of FSSAI is very les s and inadequate, if so, the steps taken by the Government to increase the human resource capacity in FSSAI;
- (d) whether the Government has the adequate  number  of  laboratories  and technology  and equipment  to  conduct analysis  and  testing  and  if  so,  the quantum  of  funds  allocated  and utilized in the last three financial years in this regard; and
- (e) whether these labs are accessible to the general public to check/measure adulteration in the food items and if so, the details thereof?

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

- (a): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken a number of ste for checking food adulteration in the country. FSSAI has developed over 500 food product standards,  reviewed  and  expanded  standards  for  food  additives  that  now  has  over  9 provisos covering 350 additives and food processing aids by harmonizing the standard food additives with Codex Standards. It has also put in place a m echanism for approval of products  which  are  not  covered  in  the  existing  regulations.  All  Food  Business  Oper (FBOs) have to ensure adherance to these standards.

FSSAI has established a robust food testing   infrastructure across India by no adequate  number  of  food  testing  laboratories.  It  has  provided  assistance  under  a  C Sector  Scheme  for  strengthening  of  State  Food  Testing  Labs.  FSSAI  has  promoted  se testing by consumers through simple tests which can be conducted at home through 'De tect Adulteration  with  Rapid  Test  (DART)'  booklet  which  is  available  on  website.  FSSAI  has announced a policy for adoption of Rapid Analytical Food Testing (RAFT) Kit/Equipment/Method for regulatory purpose (either on field, in laboratory or both) in cludes kits for analysis of milk including adulterations.

Risk based sampling and digital inspection called Food Safety Compliance throu Regular Inspections and Sampling (FoSCoRIS) has been introduced for revamping Inspectio System.

Robust feedback m echanism has been put in place to enable seamless reporting of cases of food adulteration by the consumers. Food category specific provisions have made such as ban on sale of loose oil, mandatory BIS certification for packaged dri water etc.

- ( b): The  Food  Safety  and  Standards  Act,  2006  does  not  supplant  the  penal  provisio available under the other Acts but supplement them. Therefore, action can be taken a adulterators under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and other Acts.
- (c): The sanctioned strength of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) h been increased from 356 to 824 in August, 2018.
- ( d): FSSAI  at  present  has  a  network  of  262  laboratories  across  the  country  which sufficient.  This  network  comprising  of  24 4  laboratories  for  primary  testing  and  18 laboratories  for  appellate  (referral)  testing both  in  Private  as  well  as  Government  Sector. Most of the private laboratories notified by FSSAI have adequate modern equipment to food  samples  in  the  country.  No  funding  is  required  for  such  laboratories.  FSSAI supported State Food Testing Laboratories through a Central Sector Scheme f 'St rengthening of Food Testing System in the Country including Provision of Mobile Fo Testing Labs' with an outlay of Rs.481.95 crore from the financial year 2016 - 17.
- (e): Yes. These  labs  are  accessible  to  the  general  public  for  testing  of  food  sam Further, Section 40 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, also enables the purchaser of any article of food to get analyzed such food from the Food Analyst after informing t he food business operator at the time of purchase of his intention to have such article so anal