With the objective to consolidate the laws relating to food and for laying
down science based standards for articles of food, the Food Safety and
Standards Act was enacted and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
(FSSAI) was established in 2008.
The following FSS Regulations have been notified in 2011.
The enactments and orders mentioned in the Second Schedule of the Act
(including the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act) and the Milk and Milk
Products Regulations, 1992 have been repealed w.e.f. 5.8.2011. FSS Act has been
made operational from 5.8.2011. The food regulatory framework has now moved
from limited prevention of food adulteration regime to safe and wholesome food
regime.
Operationalizing the Enforcement
structure at the Centre and State level:
All the States have operationalized the FSS (Licensing and Registration
of Food businesses) Regulations, 2011. About 2,77,801 licenses and 8,60,119
registrations have been issued by the State Governments till date.At the
Central level, 9,348 licenses have been issued till 11.3.2013.
Initiatives taken by FSSAI for fixing of standards
of food articles:
1.
Draft
standards for caffeinated beverages have been formulated and are under
notification for seeking public comments.
2.
Draft
notification for fixation of limit of Trans Fatty Acid in partially
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, has been notified for seeking public comments.
3.
Draft
notification for fixing standards for Antibiotics in Honey, has been notified
for seeking public comments.
4.
Draft
standards for Olive Oil have been notified for seeking public comments.
5.
Regulations of
Alcoholic Drink- Alcoholic Drink has been defined as Food under Food Safety and
Standards Act 2006 and the process of framing standards and regulation thereof
has begun. After following the prescribed process of Standards setting, the
same would be brought to the Food Authority for discussions.
6.
Draft
regulations of Imported Food safety have been framed.
Surveillance
of Food and Food Borne Diseases:
Surveillance action has been initiated on milk and
iodized salt. The report of milk survey conducted by FSSAI has been released.
FSSAI has also commissioned a nation–wide survey of schools to finalise
guidelines regarding serving of food in the schools.
Framework on Food Safety Management System (FSMS):
Framework of
FSMS has been finalized.
Harmonisation of Standards with Codex and other
international standards:
FSSAI has
begun the exercise of harmonizing the standards for the various food items.
Constitution of the Scientific Committee and eight
Scientific Panels:
FSSAI has
constituted and apex Scientific Committee to provide scientific opinion to the
Authority on wide range of subjects that are within the mandate of the
Authority. The Scientific Panels on Functional Foods, Food Additives, Method of
Sampling and Analysis, Biological Hazards, Contaminants in Food, Pesticides and
antibiotic residues, Genetically modified organisms and food and Labelling,
claims/advertisements have been formed.
Food Import Clearance System (FICS):
Implementation
of IT enabled Imported Food monitoring system at major entry points in the
country i.e. Food Import Clearance System (FICS) has become operational at
select ports of Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai including airports and
importers are getting the food items tested, cleared using the IT enabled
system.
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