FOOD SAFETY LAWS IN INDIA

- SANMAYA PRADHAN
(122FP0626)

Food safety rules in India are important and for the following reasons :
1.It prevents food poisoning : India has a high number of food poisoning
cases.
2.It helps in protecting public health : Food safety rules help protect
consumers from foodborne illnesses and injuries.
3.Consuming safe, wholesome food can improve one's health and
safeguard consumers against illnesses.

What is done by the Indian Government to ensure food safety ?

The Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) 2006 was established. It is an
act to consolidate the laws relating to food and to establish the Food
Safety and Standard Authority of India for laying down science based
standards for food and to regulate their manufacture , storage , sale ,
distribution and import.

The mission is to achieve excellence in the formulation of food safety

standards based on modern science and to regulate the food sector in a
responsive , efficient and effective manner.

What are Indian Standards ?

FAO and WHO set international standards for all the principal foods
while Indian standards are based on international codex alimentarius
suitable modifications such as Compulsory standards and Voluntary
standards.

What do you mean by Compulsory Standards ?

It includes set of acts that deal with food quality and adulteration
like
Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954
This act was passed in 1954 and its rules were framed in 1955 to protect
the consumers against the supply of low quality and adulterated food
products.

Objectives of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954

1. To prevent the sale of substandard food containing harmful

substances.
2. To protect the society against anti-social dealers by eliminating
fraudulent practices.
3. The PFA standards are formulated and revised by an expert body
called Central Committee for food standards under the Ministry of
Health and Family welfare.

There are many other compulsory standard acts such as :

Meat Products Control Order 1973

- Controls the manufacture , quality and distribution of all raw

processed meat and meat products.
- Requires meat to be obtained from healthy animals, slaughtered in a
licensed slaughter house and is fit for consumption.
Fruits Product Order (FPO)

- Issued by the ministry of Food Processing Industry which also

develops the standards for this mark.
- FPO guarantees that the product was manufactured in a hygienic
environment and to the specifications and quality control
requirement.
- FPO certification is mandatory for all food processing industries.

These were all essential commodity act but why there is a need of this act ?
- Maintaining or increasing their supplies
- Securing any essential commodity for the defense of India or the
efficient conduct of military operations.
- Equal distribution and availability at fair prices of commodities
concerned.

Now it is important to understand the integration of all these laws into the
Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.

Power of FSSAI under FSSA, 2006

- Laying down the guidelines for accreditation of laboratories for food

testing.
- Framing of regulations to lay down food safety standards.
- Providing scientific advice and technical support to the Central
Government.
- Collecting Data regarding food consumption, contamination,
emerging risks , etc.
Research and Quality Assurance :

The research and development division is responsible for research with the
following objectives :
- Generate new knowledge that would help in continuously updating
and upgrading food safety standards which are compatible with
international organizations.
- Carry out evidence based studies for improving policies.

Standards on Weights and Measures Rules 1977

It is obligatory to declare the quantity of the packed commodity on the

label.

Voluntary Standards

These include Bureau of Indian Standards BIS , Agmark etc.

Bureau of Indian Standards

- It is a national standards body of India responsible for formulating

National Standards for various types of articles (both edible and non
edible), testing apparatus and methods , etc.
- The objectives are to promote the concept of standardization and
quality control in industries.
- To operate ISI certification scheme.
- To establish testing labs of its own
- To formulate Indian Standards for various articles, processes, methods
of test etc.
 CONCLUSION

As food is the most basic commodity for every living beings ,

its exploitation should be checked so as to maintain proper
supply of food.
Thus the food laws is forged so as to avoid the malpractices
regarding the food production and supply. These laws not only
protect the interest of customers but also of the producers.

SANMAYA PRADHAN
122FP0626