Lok Sabha Question No. 825 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-25
Subject: Food Testing Infrastructure
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Pallab Lochan Das

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 825 ANSWERED ON 25.07.2023

## FOOD TESTING INFRASTRUCTURE

## 825.    SHRI PALLAB LOCHAN DAS:

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

- (a) the  details  of  central  assistance  provided  to  Assam  Government  to  set  up  food  testing Infrastructure and improvement of manpower;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  taken  several  initiatives  regarding  food  safety  and  consumer empowerment;
- (c) If so; the details of initiatives undertaken by the Government for food safety?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

- (a)  Food  Safety  and  Standards  Authority  of  India  (FSSAI)  under  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family Welfare, Government of India is implementing a Central Sector Scheme named 'Strengthening of Food Testing System in the Country including provision of Mobile Food Testing Labs (SOFTeL) under which an assistance of Rs. 14.80 Crore has been released to Assam from FY 2016-17 to 2022-23, towards up-gradation of State Public Health Laboratory, Baminimaidan, Guwahati, Assam.
-  Further, FSSAI has provided assistance in the form of mobile food testing laboratories, Raptor Diagnostic Reader, Frying Oil Monitor, Compact Cabinets, Vehicle Mounted Mobile Freezer Units, portable chill boxes and backpack style box to the State of Assam. FSSAI has also imparted Capacity building of laboratory personnel.
-  Ministry of Food Processing Industries has also supported one of the project of Govt. of Assam namely State Public Health Laboratory, Guwahati, under the Scheme of Setting up/Up gradation of Food  Testing  Laboratories  with  grant  in  aid  of Rs.1.72  Crore .  The  project  got  completed  on 26.02.2020.
- (b)  &  (c).  Yes,  the  Government  has  taken  initiatives  regarding  Food  Safety  and  Consumer Empowerment.
-  Under Eat Right India, FSSAI has increased awareness of consumers towards healthy, safe and sustainable  eating  habits.  Funds  have  been  provided  to  States  under  MoU  for  various  certification programmes and to conduct IEC activities through media for raising consumer awareness.  FSSAI has provided  assistance  of Rs  4.58  crore for  FY  21-22  &  22-23,  under  the  annual  Memorandum  of Understanding (MoU) with the state of Assam for strengthening of State Public Health Laboratory, Guwahati.
-  Further,  FSSAI  has  also  an  online  grievance  portal  on  Food  Safety  Compliance  System (FoSCoS) namely 'Food Safety Connect' where a consumer can register complaint relating to the food

articles.  Further,  Food  Business  Operators  (FBOs)  are  required  to  mandatorily  display  License  / Registration  number  on  the  invoices/  sale  or  cash  receipts  enabling  consumers  to  make  informed choices while making food purchase.

-  Further, regarding empowerment of consumers, the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 has been enacted, which provides for  establishment of three-tier quasi-judicial machinery, called Consumer Commissions,  at the District, State and National levels to provide simple and speedy redressal to consumer disputes; establishment of a Central Consumer Protection Authority(CCPA), Ministry of Consumer  Affairs,  Government  of  India  to  regulate  misleading  advertisements  and  unfair  trade practices affecting consumers as a class; simplification of the adjudication process in the Consumer Commissions  such  as  enhancing  pecuniary  jurisdiction  of  the  Consumer  Commissions,  filing  of complaint from the Consumer Commission having jurisdiction over the place of work/residence of the consumer  irrespective  of  the  place  of  transaction,  e-filing  and  e-payment,  videoconferencing  for hearing, deemed admissibility of complaints if admissibility is not decided within 21 days of filing; court monitored  mediation to facilitate early disposal of cases; provision of product liability; penal provisions for manufacture/sale of adulterated products/spurious goods; provision for making rules for prevention of unfair trade practice in e-commerce and direct selling.
-  Under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has been established w.e.f 24.07.2020 to regulate matters, inter alia, relating to false or misleading advertisements which are prejudicial to the interests of public and consumers as a class.
-  Provision  for  filing  cases  online  through  e-Daakhil  has  been  introduced  in  Consumer Commissions at the district, state and national level for speedy and hassle-free resolution of cases.
-  The National Consumer Helpline (NCH), as a pre-litigation mechanism, has been set up to receive grievances of consumers through telephone (short code 1915), web portal, letters, SMS, emails etc. and Mobile App. These grievances are taken up with the concerned entities for resolution.
-  Department  of  Consumer  Affairs  has  launched  the  'Jago  Grahak  Jago'  campaign  through electronic and print media for consumer awareness and joint awareness campaigns on consumer rights and  responsibilities.  Department  of  Consumer  Affairs  has  also  launched  'Jagriti',  a  mascot  for empowering consumers and making them aware of their rights. By bringing the Jagriti Mascot, DoCA aims to strengthen its consumer awareness campaign presence in digital and multimedia and reinforce a young empowered and informed consumer as a top-of-mind consumer rights awareness recall brand.

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