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 three 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 are as follows:

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

FSSAI extends financial and technical assistance to States/UTs for strengthening 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 the 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, 2,997 Food Safety Officers and 668 Designated Officers are working.

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 the 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 focus 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 a 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.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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