Lok Sabha Question No. 461 (STARRED), answered on 2025-04-03
Subject: Manufacturing/Sale of Fake Food Products
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Smt. Malvika Devi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *461

ANSWERED ON 03 RD  APRIL, 2025

## MANUFACTURING/SALE OF FAKE FOOD PRODUCTS

## *461.  SMT. MALVIKA DEVI:

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the steps taken/being taken by the Government to ensure that the organic way of growing vegetables is encouraged and used by the industries to maintain food quality;
- (b) the details of the steps taken/being taken by the Government to ensure that the exact amount of sugar content is mentioned in processed foods along with the type of sugar present in the specific product;
- (c) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  against  the  companies  that  are manufacturing fake products similar to the actual products made by big companies and sold in rural areas and small villages; and
- (d) the details of the punitive action taken by the Government along with the number of companies penalized in this regard during the last year and the current year?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI CHIRAG PASWAN)

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *461 FOR ANSWER ON 03 RD  APRIL, 2025 REGARDING 'MANUFACTURING/SALE OF FAKE FOOD PRODUCTS'.

(a): Government is promoting organic farming and growing all agricultural and horticulture crops including vegetables, through the schemes of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in all the States/UTs (except North Eastern States), whereas for North Eastern States, Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) scheme is being implemented. Both the schemes stress on end-to-end support to farmers engaged in organic farming i.e. from production to post-harvest management training and capacity building. The main  focus  of  the  PKVY  and  MOVCDNER  scheme  is  to  promote  natural  resource  based integrated  and  climate  resilient  sustainable  farming  systems  that  ensure  maintenance  and increase of soil fertility, natural resource conservation, on-farm nutrient recycling and minimize dependence of farmers on external inputs.

To promote marketing of organic produce, two types of organic certifications systems have been developed to ensure quality control of organic produce, as given below:

(i) Third Party Certification by Accredited Certification Agency under National Programme for Organic Production  (NPOP)  scheme  under Ministry of Commerce  and  Industry for development of export market. Under NPOP certification scheme the production and handling of activities at all stages such as production, processing, trading and export requirements for organic products is covered.

(ii)  Participatory Guarantee System (PGS-India) under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in which stakeholders (including farmers/ producers) are involved in decision making about the operation of the PGS-India certification itself by assessing, inspecting and verifying the  production  practices  of  each  other.  PGS-  India  certification  is  to  meet  the  demand  of domestic market.

Further, Food safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), a statutory body under the administration of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has notified the Food Safety and Standards (Organic Foods) Regulations, 2017 regarding manufacture, pack, sell, offer for sale, market or otherwise distribute or import of Organic food. As per this regulation, all foods offered for sale as 'Organic Food' has to comply with the provisions of National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) or Participatory Guarantee System for India (PGS-India).

Production Linked  Incentive  Scheme  for  Food  Processing Industry (PLISFPI), implemented  by  the Ministry of Food  Processing Industries, specify that the entire manufacturing process, including primary processing, of the food products eligible for coverage under the scheme, must occur in India, with the exception of additives, flavors, and edible oils. This  approach  aims  to  benefit  farmers  by  procurement  of  domestically  grown  agricultural products  in  the  manufacturing  process  thereby  increasing  their  income.  The  Category  II component of the scheme covers Innovative / Organic products including Free Range - Eggs, Poultry, Meat and Egg Products. 16 proposals of Organic products under Category II have been approved under the PLISFPI and an incentive of Rs. 4.24 crore has been disbursed.

(b) to (d): Food  Safety  and  Standard  Act  2006  and  Rules  and  Regulations  framed thereunder, lay down the quality and safety standards for various articles of food. The issues related  to  food  safety,  adulteration,  labelling  violations,  Quality  control,  inspections  and penalties for violation of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Rules and Regulations, are dealt by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the administrative control of the  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare.      Implementation  and  enforcement  of  these standards lies with the FSSAI and State/UT Governments.

FSSAI has notified 'Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020' and this regulation mandates the mention of nutritional information on the labels with respect to salt, sugar and fat.  It also mandates mandatory declarations of the name of sweetener with purity and weight percent of marker compound. Further, FSSAI has published the draft Food  Safety  and  Standards  (Labelling  and  Display)  Amendment  Regulations,  2025  that mandates the mention of nutritional information on the labels with respect to salt, sugar and fat in bold letters and relatively increased font size on labels.

FSSAI undertakes regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of food products through its Regional Offices and State Food Safety Departments throughout the year in urban and rural areas.

In  case  of  non-conformity  found,  measures  are  taken  as  per  FSS  Act  and  Rules  & Regulations made thereunder. Chapter IX (Offences and Penalties) Section 48-67 describe the penalties for the production, sale, storage etc. of food which is in contravention of the FSS Act, 2006,  the  rules  and  regulations  thereunder.  Punitive  action  includes  penalties  and  criminal prosecution in cases of unsafe food.

As informed by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the details of samples analysed and action taken including penalties imposed and convictions made, during last two years, is given below:

| Year     | No. of samples Analysed   | No. of samples found nonconf orming   | Non-Conforming samples   | Non-Conforming samples   | Non-Conforming samples                | Civil Cases        | Civil Cases                      | Criminal Cases     | Criminal Cases                   |
|----------|---------------------------|---------------------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|---------------------------------------|--------------------|----------------------------------|--------------------|----------------------------------|
|          | No. of samples Analysed   | No. of samples found nonconf orming   | Unsafe                   | Sub- Standard            | Labelling defects/ Misleadin g/ Misc. | No. of convictions | Penalties Raised (Rs. In Crores) | No. of convictions | Penalties Raised (Rs. In Crores) |
| 2022- 23 | 177511                    | 44626                                 | 6579                     | 21917                    | 16130                                 | 28464              | 33.23                            | 1188               | 2.75                             |
| 2023- 24 | 170513                    | 33808                                 | 6782                     | 22603                    | 4423                                  | 29586              | 74.12                            | 1161               | 2.67                             |