FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS AUTHORITY OF INDIA

(FSSAI)

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been established under
Food Safety and Standards , 2006 which consolidates various acts & orders that have
hitherto handled food related issues in various Ministries and Departments. FSSAI has
been created for laying 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.

Establishment of the Authority

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India is the Administrative Ministry
for the implementation of FSSAI. The Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Food
Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have already been appointed by
Government of India. The Chairperson is in the rank of Secretary to Government of
India.

FSSAI has been mandated by the FSS Act, 2006 for performing the following
functions:
 Framing of Regulations to lay down the Standards and guidelines in relation to
articles of food and specifying appropriate system of enforcing various standards thus
notified.
 Laying down mechanisms and guidelines for accreditation of certification bodies
engaged in certification of food safety management system for food businesses.
 Laying down procedure and guidelines for accreditation of laboratories and
notification of the accredited laboratories.
 To provide scientific advice and technical support to Central Government and State
Governments in the matters of framing the policy and rules in areas which have a
direct or indirect bearing of food safety and nutrition.
 What is FSSAI?
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) was set up in 2008 for the
proper monitoring of food hygiene and quality in India. It was functional from 2011 and
ever since has been responsible for managing food safety in our country.

The FSSAI has its headquarters at New Delhi. The authority also has 6 regional offices
located in Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai, Kolkata, Cochin, and Chennai.

The organization has been set up as per the FSS Act 2006, until which different acts
and laws were being administered under the various ministries of Government.

 Collect and collate data regarding food consumption, incidence and prevalence of
biological risk, contaminants in food, residues of various, contaminants in foods
products, identification of emerging risks and introduction of rapid alert system.
 Creating an information network across the country so that the public, consumers,
Panchayats etc. receive rapid, reliable and objective information about food safety
and issues of concern.
 Provide training programmers for persons who are involved or intend to get involved
in food businesses.
 ;and phyto-sanitary standards.
 Promote general awareness about food safety and food standards.

What is the FSSAI Act 2006?

The Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 states:

“An Act to consolidate the laws relating to food and to establish the Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India for laying 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 and for matters
connected therewith or incidental thereto.”

Until this law was passed, the following acts were being followed to manage the food
security in the country:

 Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order, 1947

Functions of FSSAI
Following functions are performed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India:

 Setting Rules and Guidelines – FSSAI sets up rules and guidelines which need to be
followed by all food manufacturing companies, keeping into consideration hygiene and food
safety
 Granting License – To pursue any food related business, the owner needs to get a
certificate and license with the permission of FSSAI
 Test the Standard of Food – the standard and quality of food manufactured by all
companies registered under FSSAI, is done by the organisation themselves
 Regular Audits – Proper inspection is done for food-producing and manufacturing
companies to ensure the standards are at par with the guidelines
 Spreading Food Safety Awareness – It is the responsibility of FSSAI to spread awareness
and inform the citizens about the importance of safe and hygienic food consumption
 Maintain Records and Data – FSSAI also has the responsibility to maintain proper records
and data of all the registered organisations. Any violation of rules prescribed by FSSAI can
lead to the termination of the license
 Keeping the Government Updated – Any food safety-related threat must be informed to
the Government authorities for further action. Also, assist them in framing food standard
policies

Important Initiatives by FSSAI

 Eat Right India – The aim is not just to provide food to one and all, but to provide quality
food to everyone. With this initiative, FSSAI intends to make good quality food accessible to
every citizen of the country
 Clean Street Food – This involves training the street food vendors and making them aware
of the violations as per the FSS Act 2006. This will also help in the social and economic
upliftment of street food vendors
 Diet4Life – This is another initiative taken by FSSAI, to spread awareness about metabolic
disorders.
  Save Food, Share Food, Share Joy – Encouraging people to avoid food wastage and
promote food donation. Through this, FSSAI intends to connect food-collecting agencies with
the food-producing companies and share the food with the ones in need

Apart from this, the first-ever World Food Safety Day was celebrated on June 7, 2019,
by FSSAI, acknowledging the contribution of states, food businesses, and individuals in
maintaining food safety.

Challenges for FSSAI

 Proper laboratories for testing the quality of food need to be organised by the Organisation
 Arranging qualified manpower to test and approve the standards of food being manufactured
 Re-evaluating the regulations and terms as per international standards
 Gaining funds to get advanced technologies
 Ensuring proper licensing of every food manufacturing individual or business

Once the Government of India and FSSAI overcome these shortcomings, the
organisation is capable of regulating and maintaining the food safety standards in all
parts of the country.