Lok Sabha Question No. 984 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Quality of Food Sold by Petty Vendors
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 984 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07 TH FEBRUARY, 20 20

## QUALITY OF FOOD SOLD BY PETTY VENDORS

## 984. SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the newspaper reports that there is ambiguity in S 31(1) and 31(2) of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2016 as far as registration of petty dors, retail hawkers and temporary stall - holders of food is concerned, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether there is any mechanism with Government to check the quality of food being supp by these petty vendors;
- (c) whether the Government would e nsure the availability of safe and wholesome food to the consumers and for keeping a check on the problems of food adulteration in the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

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

- (a): No. No such report has come to the notice of Food Safety and Standards Authority India (FSSAI).  It is informed that clause (1) and clause (2) of Section 31 of Food Sa Standards (FSS) Act are specific and there is no ambiguity. Clause (1) of Section 31 of FSS Act is an omnibus clause stating therein that no person shall commence or carry on any bu except under a license. Clause (2) is an exception clause which allows the petty busines kind men tioned therein to carry on business   by merely registering themselves.
- (b) to (d): Implementation and enforcement of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 primarily lies  with  State/UT  Governments.  Regular  surveillance,  monitoring,  inspection  and  ran sampling of all food items are being done by the Food Safety Officers of the States/UTs and the samples are sent to the laboratories recognised by FSSAI for analysis. In cases where s are found to be non - conforming to the provisions of the Act and the Rules and Regulations mad thereunder,  recourse  is  taken  to  the  penal  provisions  under Chapter  IX  of  the  Act.      FSSAI regularly  interacts  with  State  food  safety  authorities  through  meetings  of  Central  A Committee,  video  conferencing  and  regular  visits  of  senior  officials  to  States/UTs  to proper   enforcement activities by Stat es/UTs.

Contd……..

As per the information available from States/UTs, number of samples of food produ analysed, found non - conforming and prosecution launched during the year 2018 - 19 is as under:

| (a) food samples analysed                        | 1,06,459        |
|--------------------------------------------------|-----------------|
| (b) Samples found Non conforming                 | 30,415          |
| (c) Non - conforming samples -                   |                 |
| (i) Unsafe                                       | 3,900           |
| (ii) Substandard                                 | 16,870          |
| (iii) labelling defects/misleading/Miscellaneous | 9,645           |
| (d) No. of cases launched - Criminal             | 2,813           |
| (e) No. of cases launched - civil                | 18,550          |
| (f) No. of convictions                           | 701             |
| (g) No. of cases in which penalty was            | imposed 12,734  |
| (h) Total amount of penalty imposed              | Rs. 32.57 crore |

…………………….