The Food Safety and Standards Act 2006
The Act aims to establish a single reference point for all matters relating to food safety and standards, by moving from multi-level, multi-departmental control to a single line of command.
Various central Acts like Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, Fruit Products Order, 1955, Meat Food Products Order, 1973, Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order,1947, Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation)Order 1988, Solvent Extracted Oil, De- Oiled Meal and Edible Flour (Control) Order, 1967, Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992 and any other order issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (10 of 1955) relating to food are repealed after commencement of FSS Act, 2006.
To this effect, the Act establishes an independent statutory authority – the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India with head office at New Delhi. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the State Food Safety Authorities shall enforce various provisions of the Act.
The Act is implemented through the Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR). Salaries, Allowances and Other Conditions of Service of Chairperson and Members Rules, 2008, The Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011, Procedures for Transaction of Business of the Central Advisory Committee Regulation, 2010, Transaction of Business at its Meetings Regulations, 2010, Procedures of Scientific Committee and Scientific Panels Regulations, 2010 deal with the functioning of FSSAI and Transaction of its Business. The following sections of Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011 concern with the food industries.
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Name of regulations |
Focus area |
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Licensing and registration of food businesses
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Registration and licensing (state and central licensing) of food business. This includes the hygiene and sanitation requirements to be followed by food businesses. |
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Packaging and labelling |
Product specific requirement for packing and labelling. Nutritional information. |
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Food products standards and food additives
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Definition of food products, food additives, chemical and microbiological standard of products. |
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Prohibition and restrictions on sales |
Information about the restrictions on sale of product/ use of ingredients. |
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Contaminants, toxins and residues
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Limits of contaminants, toxins and residue in food article. |
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Laboratory and sample analysis
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Information of notified and referral lab. Quantity of sample required for analysis. |
For details about the Act, Rules and Regulations you may visit the FSSAI web site: http://www.fssai.gov.in/default.aspx
