Lok Sabha Question No. 3459 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-13
Subject: Food Safety Enforcement by FSSAI
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Rajesh Naranbhai Chudasama, Shri Kali Charan Singh, Shri Bhojraj Nag, Shri Madhavaneni Raghunandan Rao, Shri Rajkumar Chahar, Shri Ravindra Shukla Alias Ravi Kishan, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Shri Manish Jaiswal, Shri Chandra Prakash Choudhary, Smt. Smita Uday Wagh, Shri Balabhadra Majhi

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3459 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13 TH MARCH, 2026

## FOOD SAFETY ENFORCEMENT BY FSSAI

## †3459. SHRI BHOJRAJ NAG:

SMT. SMITA UDAY WAGH:

SHRI RAJESH NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA:

SHRI MANISH JAISWAL:

SHRI BALABHADRAMAJHI:

SHRIANURAGSINGHTHAKUR:

SHRIRAJKUMARCHAHAR:

SHRICHANDRAPRAKASHCHOUDHARY:

SHRIKALI CHARANSINGH:

SHRIMADHAVANENIRAGHUNANDAN RAO:

SHRI RAVINDRA SHUKLA ALIAS RAVI KISHAN:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of food samples collected and tested by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) during the last three years, year-wise and State/UT-wise, along with

the details of samples found sub-standard, misbranded or in violation of labelling and expiry norms;

- (b) the total number of risk-based inspections conducted during the said period, year-wise, including inspections of cloud kitchens, warehouses and online food delivery platforms;
- (c) the details of violations detected and action taken against Food Business Operators (FBOs) under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 during the last three years, including penalties imposed, licences suspended or cancelled, prosecutions launched and convictions secured, year-wise and State/UT-wise;
- (d) whether the Government has assessed gaps in testing capacity, manpower and enforcement infrastructure and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to strengthen food safety surveillance, improve labelling transparency, prevent expiry-date tampering and restrict reuse of cooking oil beyond prescribed limits; and
- (f) the measures proposed to enhance food quality monitoring and consumer protection across the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (f): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is mandated to lay down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. The implementation and enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006 is a shared responsibility between the Central and State Governments.

While the FSSAI, is responsible for laying down science-based standards and ensuring overall coordination, the State Food Safety Authorities are primarily responsible for enforcement at the field level. Designated officers (DOs) and Food Safety Officers (FSOs) under the Commissioner of Food safety in the States/UTs are entrusted with the responsibility of enforcing the provisions of FSS Act, 2006. State/UT wise details of Enforcement Samples analysed, found non-conforming and penal action taken during last 03 years are attached at Annexure.

FSSAI has developed Risk Based Inspection System (RBIS) where frequency of inspection is decided based on risk associated with Food businesses and issued guidelines. Annual inspections are to be conducted for all food categories identified as high risk. The details of Risk based inspections carried out is given below-

| Financial Year   |   Total Risk based Inspection conducted |
|------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| 2022-23          |                                   11904 |
| 2023-24          |                                   18098 |
| 2024-25          |                                   26267 |

Furthermore, all the Food Business Operators (FBOs) (general manufacturing) holding Central License has to undergo Third Party Audit from FSSAI empanelled agencies once in a year.

FSSAI extends financial and technical assistance to States/UTs for strengthening of food safety infrastructure in the country. The support includes the following:

-  Strengthening Enforcement and Compliance such as Licensing and Registration
-  Inspections and Audits, Sampling and Testing of Enforcement and Surveillance Samples
-  Consumer Grievance Redressal
-  Capacity Building for Officers.
-  Strengthening of Food Testing Ecosystem such as High End/ Basic equipment for labs
-  Promotion of FSSAI initiatives such as Eat Right Campus, Eat Right School
-  Flexi Assistance such as Hiring of vehicles for undertaking inspection and sampling by FSOs and DOs

In the States/UTs, 2997 Food Safety Officers are working against 4208 sanctioned posts and 668 Designated Officers are working against 718 sanctioned posts.

Appropriate punitive actions have been taken, in accordance with the provisions of the FSS Act, 2006, against non-compliant Food Business Operators (FBOs). This includes issuance of Improvement Notices under Section 32 of the Act, followed by further action, such as suspension or cancellation of license in cases of non-compliance. In addition, actions such as penalties, adjudication proceedings, or prosecution have been taken under the relevant provisions of the Act, depending upon the nature and gravity of the violation detected during inspection.

Additionally, FSSAI has notified the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, which focuses on ensuring transparency, accuracy, and consumer awareness. These regulations mandate clear and detailed labelling and display requirements for food products.

In order to restrict Used Cooking oil, FSSAI mandates FBO to maintain record of UCO disposal if edible oil consumption for frying is more than 50 litres per day. Also, FSSAI, vide Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2017 has inserted the provision that ' . vegetable oil having developed Total Polar Compound more than 25% shall not be used ' .

To strengthen the food regulatory ecosystem in the country, FSSAI has notified 252 food testing laboratories for analysis of food samples and 24 Referral Food Laboratories for the analysis of appellate samples. FSSAI has also provided funds for Mobile Food Testing Laboratory (MFTL) referred to as ' Food Safety on wheels ' (FSW) to States/UTs. It is an important means to combat adulteration as FSWs are equipped with basic infrastructure for on spot testing of adulteration in various food commodities. Currently, 305 FSWs are deployed across 35 States/UTs.

Further, for any food safety-related grievances, consumers/citizens can lodge a complaint/ grievance against the Food Business Operator on https://foscos.fssai.gov.in/consumergrievance/. Grievances may also be submitted via email at helpdesk-foscos@fssai.gov.in or compliance@fssai.gov.in or through the toll-free helpline 1800-11-2100.

*****

Annexure

|     | State/UT wise                       | details of Enforcement   | details of Enforcement   | details of Enforcement   | details of Enforcement   | Samples analysed, found non-conforming   | Samples analysed, found non-conforming   | Samples analysed, found non-conforming   | Samples analysed, found non-conforming   | action taken during last 03 years   | action taken during last 03 years   | action taken during last 03 years   | action taken during last 03 years   |
|-----|-------------------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| S.  | State/UT                            | No. of Samples Analysed  | Civil Cases              | Criminal Cases No. of    | Cancelled License        | No. of Samples Analysed                  | Civil Cases Decided with                 | Criminal Cases No. of                    | Cancelled License                        | No. of                              | Civil Cases Decided                 | Criminal Cases No. of               | Cancelled License                   |
| No. |                                     |                          | Decided with Penalty     | Convictions              |                          |                                          | Penalty                                  | Convictions                              |                                          | Samples Analysed                    | with Penalty                        | Convictions                         |                                     |
| 1   | Andaman And Nicobar Islands         | 810                      | 0                        | 0                        | 1                        | 0                                        | 0                                        | 0                                        | 0                                        | 1200                                | 58                                  | 0                                   | 0                                   |
| 2   | Andhra Pradesh                      | 5984                     | 464                      | 8                        | 15                       | 6439                                     | 646                                      | 8                                        | 40                                       | 3607                                | 339                                 | 12                                  | 64                                  |
| 3   | Arunachal Pradesh                   | 125                      | 7                        | 0                        | 5                        | 501                                      | 2                                        | 0                                        | 25                                       | 258                                 | 0                                   | 0                                   | 20                                  |
| 4   | Assam                               | 1705                     | 0                        | 0                        | 19                       | 1139                                     | 0                                        | 0                                        | 0                                        | 602                                 | 0                                   | 0                                   | 0                                   |
| 5   | Bihar                               | 2863                     | 25                       | 0                        | 7                        | 2806                                     | 79                                       | 0                                        | 10                                       | 2935                                | 39                                  | 0                                   | 10                                  |
| 6   | Chandigarh                          | 374                      | 116                      | 41                       | 5                        | 311                                      | 87                                       | 52                                       | 1                                        | 473                                 | 27                                  | 8                                   | 4                                   |
| 7   | Chhattisgarh                        | 2069                     | 143                      | 6                        | 1                        | 1373                                     | 86                                       | 2                                        | 0                                        | 1468                                | 119                                 | 8                                   | 0                                   |
| 8   | Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman& Diu | 56                       | 0                        | 0                        | 0                        | 185                                      | 0                                        | 0                                        | 0                                        | 164                                 | 13                                  | 0                                   | 0                                   |
| 9   | Delhi                               | 2624                     | 18                       | 16                       | 1                        | 3412                                     | 36                                       | 12                                       | 1                                        | 3133                                | 86                                  | 10                                  | 0                                   |
| 10  | Goa                                 | 1172                     | 11                       | 0                        | 0                        | 599                                      | 17                                       | 0                                        | 1                                        | 699                                 | 11                                  | 0                                   | 4                                   |
| 11  | Gujarat                             | 12387                    | 859                      | 91                       | 8                        | 15841                                    | 1701                                     | 65                                       | 7                                        | 14562                               | 547                                 | 24                                  | 15                                  |
| 12  | Haryana                             | 2233                     | 599                      | 59                       | 20                       | 3485                                     | 593                                      | 47                                       | 15                                       | 4445                                | 915                                 | 35                                  | 25                                  |
| 13  | Himachal Pradesh                    | 1587                     | 471                      | 0                        | 3                        | 1618                                     | 376                                      | 2                                        | 6                                        | 2720                                | 93                                  | 1                                   | 9                                   |
| 14  | Jammu& Kashmir                      | 6955                     | 1,239                    | 29                       | 17                       | 9057                                     | 1612                                     | 22                                       | 19                                       | 13502                               | 1592                                | 15                                  | 42                                  |
| 15  | Jharkhand                           | 364                      | 52                       | 0                        | 1                        | 384                                      | 59                                       | 0                                        | 2                                        | 943                                 | 44                                  | 8                                   | 1                                   |

| 16   | Karnataka      |   9371 | 283    |   32 |   34 |   5492 |    75 |   16 |   50 |   3416 |   191 |   15 |   56 |
|------|----------------|--------|--------|------|------|--------|-------|------|------|--------|-------|------|------|
| 17   | Kerala         |  10767 | 1,088  |  206 |   40 |  10792 |   854 |  134 |  137 |   8533 |   454 |   33 |   90 |
| 18   | Ladakh         |    417 | 38     |    0 |    0 |    638 |    19 |    0 |    1 |    220 |    23 |    0 |    0 |
| 19   | Lakshadweep    |      0 | 0      |    0 |    0 |      0 |     0 |    0 |    0 |      0 |     0 |    0 |    0 |
| 20   | Madhya Pradesh |  13920 | 2,597  |   22 |    3 |  13998 |  1938 |   46 |   10 |  12507 |  1908 |   71 |   22 |
| 21   | Maharashtra    |   5403 | 1,147  |    0 |    9 |   5087 |   154 |    0 |    4 |  11077 |   198 |    5 |   17 |
| 22   | Manipur        |    126 | 2      |    0 |    1 |    168 |     0 |    0 |    0 |    169 |     0 |    0 |    3 |
| 23   | Meghalaya      |    388 | 0      |    0 |    0 |    123 |     0 |    0 |    0 |    409 |     0 |    0 |    0 |
| 24   | Mizoram        |      0 | 0      |    0 |    0 |      0 |     0 |    0 |    0 |    140 |     0 |    0 |    0 |
| 25   | Nagaland       |    223 | 0      |    0 |    0 |    138 |     3 |    0 |    1 |    109 |     0 |    0 |    1 |
| 26   | Orissa         |   2282 | 27     |    0 |    2 |   2003 |     0 |    0 |   24 |   1368 |    47 |    0 |   40 |
| 27   | Puducherry     |    173 | 0      |    0 |    0 |     31 |     0 |    0 |    0 |      0 |     0 |    0 |    1 |
| 28   | Punjab         |   4131 | 333    |    8 |    1 |   6041 |  1204 |  102 |    0 |   8179 |  1404 |    5 |    1 |
| 29   | Rajasthan      |  13840 | 3,114  |   30 |    2 |  18536 |  2181 |   12 |    0 |  13184 |  2435 |    4 |    1 |
| 30   | Sikkim         |    254 | 0      |    0 |    0 |    231 |     0 |    0 |    0 |    279 |     4 |    0 |    0 |
| 31   | Tamil Nadu     |  18071 | 1,536  |  492 |    7 |  18146 |  2195 |  478 |   36 |  24188 |  3714 |  678 |   47 |
| 32   | Telangana      |   3347 | 125    |    0 |    1 |   6156 |   425 |    0 |    6 |   4809 |   315 |    0 |    9 |
| 33   | Tripura        |    123 | 0      |    0 |    0 |     87 |     0 |    0 |    0 |     31 |     0 |    0 |    0 |
| 34   | Uttar Pradesh  |  30380 | 14,920 |  215 |   16 |  27750 | 14627 |  163 |    9 |  30140 | 13148 |  251 |   50 |
| 35   | Uttarakhand    |   1509 | 256    |    4 |    1 |   1998 |   332 |    0 |    1 |   1839 |   507 |    5 |    1 |
| 36   | West Bengal    |  14502 | 672    |    6 |    0 |   5948 |   285 |    0 |    2 |   6203 |   233 |    0 |    0 |
|      | Total          | 170535 | 30142  | 1265 |  220 | 170513 | 29586 | 1161 |  408 | 177511 | 28464 | 1188 |  533 |