Lok Sabha Question No. 464 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Food Safety Committee
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: D. M. Kathir Anand

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.464 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

## FOOD SAFETY COMMITTEE

## 464. SHRI D.M. KATHIR ANAND:

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

- (a) whether the Government has any plans to start a food safety committee for each district to check, monitor and identify the adulteration in food products and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  taken  stringent  measures  to  curb  adulteration  of  food products and consumables and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  adulteration  of  food  products  and  consumables  with  dangerous  chemicals  is rampant and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has any plans to appoint more Food Safety officers to inspect and identify the adulteration of food products and to book the defaulters under the law; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the role of State Governments in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

- (a): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) advised States/UT Governments to constitute District Level Advisory Committee(DLAC) vide letter dated 20 th November, 2018 to assist aid and advise the Commissioner of Food Safety on food safety related issues. 496 DLACs have been constituted by States/ UTs.
- (b) & (c): Implementation and enforcement of provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 primarily lies with State/UT Governments.  Commissioner of Food Safety of States/UTs regularly conducts surveillance, sampling and enforcement drives to curb adulteration of food products. Further, in order to ensure the availability of sale and supply of safe and wholesome food,  FSSAI  regularly  interacts  with  the  Commissioner  of  Food  Safety  of  States/UTs  to ensure that  food safety officials  regularly drawfood samples and take strict action against the offenders under the provisions of FSS Act, 2006.As per reports received from States/UTs, the number of food samples analysed, found non-conforming and action taken thereon during the last two years i.e. 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 is at Annexure.
- (d) & (e):  States/UTs have been advised by FSSAI to appoint the Food Safety Officers for proper  enforcement  of  the  provisions  of  FSS  Act,  2006  and  Rules  and  Regulations  made thereunder. As per the information shared by the States/UTs, 2537 FSOs are available across the country.

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## Annexure

## Details of Food Samples Analysed, Found Non-Conforming and Action Taken during 2019-20 and 2020-21

| Year    | No. of Samples Analysed   | No. of Samples found non- conforming   | Civil Cases           | Civil Cases          | Civil Cases        | Criminal Cases        | Criminal Cases       | Criminal Cases     |
|---------|---------------------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------|----------------------|--------------------|-----------------------|----------------------|--------------------|
| Year    | No. of Samples Analysed   | No. of Samples found non- conforming   | No. of Cases launched | No. of Cases decided | No. of Convictions | No. of Cases Launched | No. of Cases decided | No. of Convictions |
| 2019-20 | 118775                    | 29589                                  | 27412                 | 18192                | 17345              | 4681                  | 828                  | 780                |
| 2020-21 | 107829                    | 28347                                  | 24195                 | 15878                | 14817              | 3869                  | 520                  | 506                |