Lok Sabha Question No. 3313 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-05
Subject: FSSAI
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: R. PARTHIPAN, PRATHAP SIMHA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 3313 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH AUGUST, 2016

## FSSAI

## 3313. SHRI R. PARTHIPAN: SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has received complaints regarding services provided by Food Sa and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to make FSSAI more transparent and user friendly for public and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  action  plan  to  induct  more  labs,  manpow training and technology to regulate the adulteration of food in the food industry, if so, the detail thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes  to update and modify regulatory framework and fast t elimination of harmful ingredients/additives from foods/beverages and if so, the details and the steps taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

- (a): Occasional  complaints  have  been  received  by  the  Government  regarding services provided by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The complaints are mainly about   delay in grant of licences to Food Business Operators (FBOs) and delay in issua No - objection  Certificate  for  imported  food  consignments.    However,  such  delays  have  b found to be mostly on account of time taken by FBOs in providing inform ation required by the FSSAI.
- (b): The Government is committed to enhance transparency, objectivity and predictabilit the working of the FSSAI and with this in view, has taken a number  of initiatives in th past for streamlining processe s relating to grant of licences, import clearance, improving fo testing facilities, etc. Further, all important information pertaining to functioning of has been uploaded on its  website.

Contd…….

(c): Several steps have been taken to increase the capacity of the food regulatory structures the country including food testing facilities. The number of National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories ( NABL ) accredited private laboratories notified by FSSAI to car ry out test/analysis of food samples has been increased to 112, in addition to 72 St testing  laboratories  and  14  referral  laboratories.  The  FSSAI  is  regularly  organising programmes  for  food  analysts  and  other  laboratory  technicians  to  enha nce  availability  of qualified manpower for testing of food products. Training programmes are also being orga for  food  regulatory  staff  and  for  FBOs  including  street  food  vendors  for  improving -compliance with the prescribed regulatory requirements . The FSSAI, on 13.05.2016, has also launched  a  Mobile  Application  to  enable  the  consumers  to  raise  concerns  about  food  sa FSSAI distributed rapid milk testing equipment [Electronic Milk Adulteration Tester (EM with Milk Analyser] to three States/U Ts i.e. Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and UT of Chandigarh on pilot basis .

(d): In the recent past, an all out effort has been made by the Ministry and the FSSAI down  standards  for  a  large  number  of  food  items.  As  part  of  this  effort,  the  FSSA operationalised standards of food additives for use in various food categories. These s are  harmonised  with  Codex  General  Standards  for  Food  Additives  based  on  the  safe assessment by JECFA (Joint Expert Committee for Food Additives ) of Food and A griculture Organization and World Health Organization.

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