Lok Sabha Question No. 2994 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-06
Subject: Standards of Hygiene in Fish and Meat Markets
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: S. Gnanathiraviam, Vijay Kumar

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

## LOK   SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2994 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 TH  AUGUST, 2021

## STANDARDS OF HYGIENE IN FISH AND MEAT MARKETS

## 2994.   SHRI GNANATHIRAVIAM S: SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR (ALIAS) VIJAYVASANTH:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the falling standards of hygiene in the fish and meat markets across the country resulting in serious health hazards to human beings, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any proposal is under consideration of FSSAI to start hygiene rating for fish and meat shops in the country;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the time by which the above proposal is likely to be implemented?

## 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) has informed that it has specified guidelines with respect to Specific Hygienic and Sanitary Practices to be followed by Food Business  Operators  engaged  in  manufacture,  processing,  storing  and  selling  of  Meat  and Meat Products in the country. These guidelines have been prescribed under Regulation 2.1.2 (1)  (5),  Schedule  IV;  Part  IV  of  Food  Safety  and  Standards  (Licensing  and  Registration) Regulations, 2011.  FSSAI has also specified general Requirements on Hygienic and Sanitary Practices to be followed by all Food Business Operators applying for License including Food Business  Operators  engaged  in  business  of      Fish  and  Meat  under  Schedule  IV;  Part  II  of Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration) Regulations, 2011.

Further,  the  implementation  and  enforcement  of  Food  Safety  and  Standards  Act, 2006 primarily rests with the State/ UT Governments. Regular surveillance, monitoring and inspection is undertaken  by  State/UT  Governments  under  FSS  Act,  2006  to  check compliance of  the provisions laid down under Regulation 2.5 of Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 along with Schedule-IV of Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration) Regulations, 2011.

(b) to (d): FSSAI has recently advised States/UTs to conduct audits of Meat shops. For this, FSSAI  asked  States/UTs  to  nominate  a  City  wherein  the  audit  of  meat  shops  will  be conducted  through  audit  agencies  recognized  by  FSSAI  under  the  FSS  (Food  Safety  and Audit)  Regulations,  2018  as  per  their  scope  of  audit  and  conduct  the  audits  and  take necessary  corrective  actions  at  their  end.        As  per  reports  received  from  the  State/UT Governments, as on 31.03.2021, audit of 396 meat shops had been conducted.

FSSAI  has  implemented  the  scheme  of  hygiene  rating  since  the  year  2019  under which Food Business Operators are given score based on the audit, which, when displayed in the establishment enables the consumers to make an informed choice. The Hygiene Rating Certification is valid for 2 years.

The  frequency  of  audits  and  inspection  of  food  business  operators  have  been categorized on the basis of risk i.e. high, medium and low risk food categories. Meat and fish have  been  placed  in  high  risk  category.    The  inspection,  audit  and  hygiene  rating  is  an ongoing process.