Lok Sabha Question No. 3485 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-22
Subject: Quality of Food in PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Margani Bharat

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3485 TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH, 2023 22ND

## QUALITY OF FOOD IN PDS

## 3485. SHRI MARGANI BHARAT:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC

- (a) whether the Government has implemented any mechanism to ensure quality control over the food provided 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 violations 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 complaints in cases of lapses in quality; and filing
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

A NSWER 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 GovernmentIUTs 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 GovernmentlUt Administration to inspect the stocks to  lifting from FCI godowns. StatelUTs may ensure that officers not below the rank of Inspector are deputed for inspection of the foodgrains before their lifting from FCI godowns: prior
- Samples of foodgrains are to be collected and sealed from the stocks of foodgrains to be issued under the TPDS jointly FCI and State GovernmentIUT Administration. by
- 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 by the officers of State Government.
- It is the responsibility of the concerned State GovernmentlUt 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 laid 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 States/UTs for contacting and redressal of grievances and filing of any type of complaints: