Lok Sabha Question No. 5325 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-05
Subject: Mechanism for Food Quality Control
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Sanjay(Kaka) Ramchandra Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5325 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5TH APRIL, 2023

## MECHANISM FOR FOOD QUALITY CONTROL

## 5325. SHRI SANJAY KAKA PATIL:

CONSUMER PUBLIC

Will the Minister of AFFAIRS, FOOD AND

- (a) whether the Government has implemented any mechanism to ensure quality control over the under Public Distribution System
- (PDS) through ration shops;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether any action is taken in case of violation of quality norms;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether any grievance redressal mechanism has been set up for filing complaints in cases of lapses in quality; and
- if sO, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

- (a) & (b): Yes Sir, Government has issued following instructions to State and FCI to ensure the supply of good quality foodgrains under PDS:
- Only good quality foodgrains free from insect infestation and conforming to Food Safety Standards are to be issued under TPDS and other welfare schemes:

- Ample opportunities are provided to the State GovernmentiUt Administration to inspect the stocks prior to lifting from FCI godownsStatelUTs may ensure that officers not below the rank of Inspector are deputed for inspection of the foodgrains before their lifting from FCI godowns:
- Samples of foodgrains are to be collected and sealed from the stocks of foodgrains to be issued under the TPDS jointly by FCI and State GovernmentIUT Administration.
- An officer not below the rank of Inspector is to be deputed from State Government to take the delivery of foodgrains stocks from FCI godowns:
- Regular inspection to check the quality of foodgrains is to be carried out the officers of State Governmentby
- It is the responsibility of the concerned State GovernmentIUt Administration to ensure that  during transportation and storage at different stages in the distribution chain, the foodgrains retain the required quality specifications:
- The State Government, where the decentralized procurement is in operation, should ensure that the quality of foodgrains issued under TPDS and other welfare schemes should meet the desired standards under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI):
- (c) & (d): Regular surveillance, monitoring; inspection and random sampling of food products are being carried out by the machinery of Food Safety Departments of the respective States/UTs to check compliance of the standards Iaid down under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Rules and Regulations made there under: In cases, where the food samples are found to be non-conforming, penal action is initiated against the defaulting Food Business Operators as per  provisions of FSS Act, Rules and Regulations made there under-
- (e) & (f): Helpline number 1967/1800-State series number is operational in all the StateslUTs for contacting and redressal of grievances and filling of any type of complaints: