Lok Sabha Question No. 1089 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-08
Subject: FSSAI
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: DHARMENDRA YADAV, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, Shrirang Appa Barne

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1089 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 TH FEBRUARY, 2019

## FSSAI

## 1089. SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

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

- (a) whether Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is responsible for implementing the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is a fact that neither FSSAI nor the state food authorities have documented policies and procedures on risk - based inspections and the FSSAI does not even have a database on food businesses in the country;
- (c) if so, the response of the Union Government thereon;
- (d) whether there is an acute shortage of licensing and enforcement officers in the States which has severely affected food safety measures and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether there is lack of food safety authorities in districts and if so, whether the Union Health Ministry has sought appointment of Sub - Divisional Officers as 'designated officers' for food safety in every district; and
- (f) if so, the details thereo f and the steps taken by the Union Government in this regard?

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

- (a): The Food Safety and Standards Authority of  India (FSSAI) has been established un the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 for laying down science based standards for artic food and to regulate manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to nsure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.

As  per  Section  29  of  the  Food  Safety  and  Standards  Act  (FSS)  Act,  2006,  the  Fo Authority and the State Food Safety Authorities shall be responsible for enforcement of th

(b)& (c): To  optimally  utilise  the  limited  regulatory  manpower  with  States/UTs  and focus  on  high - risk  food  businesses,  FSSAI  has  developed  a  comprehensive  Risk  Based Inspection System (RBIS). Under this system, food businesses are categorised accordi ng to risk involved which forms the basis for prioritisation and frequency of inspect Licensed/registered food establishments have been identified on the basis of risk categor medium and low risk) and this has been shared with States/UTs and t hey have been requested and advised to start carrying out inspections of Food Business Operators' premises based on risk associated with the food products.

Regarding Food Business Operators (FBOs) still operating without obtainin license/registration under FSS Act, 2006, States/UTs have been asked to identify all such operating in their jurisdiction and share their data with FSSAI

(d): There is shortage of licensing and enforcement offices in most of the States/UTs. FSSAI  has  been  continuously  pursuing  the  issue  with  the  States/UTs  through  letters,  V Conferences  and  through  platform  of  Central  Advisory  Committee  meetings  urging  th States /UTs to augment the enforcement manpower. Consequently, over the past few years, Sta Governments  like  Gujarat,  Goa,  Kerala,  Tamil  Nadu  and  Uttar  Pradesh  have  done commendable  job  in  creating  a  vibrant  and  strong  food  safety  ecosystem  in  their  resp e jurisdictions. All these States have at least one Designated Officer (DO) in each distr least  one  Food  Safety  Officer  (FSO)  in  each  sub - district  (Taluk/Tehsil)  level.  They  have additional DOs/FSOs in urban areas, particularly for large cities a nd some at the headquarter as well. Other States /UTs have also been asked to take immediate action to address this i shortage of regulatory staff for effective compliance and enforcement.

(e)& (f): The  Food  Safety  and  Standards  Rules,  2011  have been  amended  by  the Government vide GSR. 1516(E) dated 13 th December, 2017 by which clause (ia) was inserted in sub- rule 1 (relating to qualification) of rule 2.1.2 which empowers the Commissioner of Safety to appoint Sub - Divisional Officer of  the a rea on additional charge basis as Designated officer, with the previous approval of the State Government.