It’s been two months and FSSAI- the apex food regulator of the country - has no full-time chairperson to oversee its functioning. And according to sources, it is unlikely that the apex body gets chairperson in the next one month at least.
Interestingly, currently, Bhanu Pratap Sharma, who is secretary, ministry of health and family welfare, has been given additional charge of FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) for a period of two months.
When asked about the post lying vacant since two months on the sidelines of a programme here recently, J P Nadda, Union minister for health and family welfare, replied that the ministry was looking into the matter. “No decision was taken on this issue (of chairmanship),” he remarked.
It is pertinent to mention here that in a recent bureaucratic reshuffle by the Union government, Bhanu Pratap Sharma replaced Lov Verma as secretary, Union ministry of health, on February 2.
The position of chairperson, FSSAI, was vacated upon retirement of K Chandramouli on January 23 earlier this year, while Sharma was given additional charge of the chairperson of FSSAI for a period of two months.
Meanwhile, the ministry of health is reviewing the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and Regulations, 2011. Experts feel that a full-time chairperson may have been an asset during the deliberations as post-review, the chairperson has to take it forward when it comes to regulations, advisories and so on as per the deliberations.
With regard to the review, Sharma stated that the work was on. “Soon the Task Force will submit the report on all the aspects including product approval and we’ll examine the report and take appropriate action,” he replied.
The health minister, in the winter session of Parliament, had announced that the ministry of health will form a Task Force to review the FSS Act and Regulations. Verma was a key person involved in the reviewing of the Act since it was first conceived during the then health minister Harshvardhan.
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