Know about FSSAI Facts about Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

Know about FSSAI Facts about Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

Following are the important facts about Food Safety and Standards Authority of India [FSSAI]

1-
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been established under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which consolidates various acts & orders that have hitherto handled food related issues in various Ministries and Departments.

The head office of the Food Authority = Delhi

2-
FSSAI has been created for laying 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.

3-
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 etc. will be repealed after commencement of FSS Act, 2006.

The Act also 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. To this effect, the Act establishes an independent statutory Authority – the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India with head office at Delhi. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the State Food Safety Authorities shall enforce various provisions of the Act.

4-
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India is the Administrative Ministry for the implementation of FSSAI. The Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have already been appointed by Government of India. The Chairperson is in the rank of Secretary to Government of India.

5-
FSSAI has been mandated by the FSS Act, 2006 for performing the following functions:

Framing of Regulations to lay down the Standards and guidelines in relation to articles of food and specifying appropriate system of enforcing various standards thus notified.

Laying down mechanisms and guidelines for accreditation of certification bodies engaged in certification of food safety management system for food businesses.

Laying down procedure and guidelines for accreditation of laboratories and notification of the accredited laboratories.

To provide scientific advice and technical support to Central Government and State Governments in the matters of framing the policy and rules in areas which have a direct or indirect bearing of food safety and nutrition.

Collect and collate data regarding food consumption, incidence and prevalence of biological risk, contaminants in food, residues of various, and contaminants in foods products, identification of emerging risks and introduction of rapid alert system.

Creating an information network across the country so that the public, consumers, Panchayats etc. receive rapid, reliable and objective information about food safety and issues of concern.

Provide training programmes for persons who are involved or intend to get involved in food businesses.

Contribute to the development of international technical standards for food, sanitary and phyto-sanitary standards.

Promote general awareness about food safety and food standards.

drawing  up  of  proposal  for  the  Food  Authority’s  work  programmes  in
Consultation with the Central Advisory Committee;

Implementing the work programmes and the decisions adopted by the Food
Authority;

The Food Authority and the State Food Safety Authorities shall monitor and verify that the relevant requirements of law are fulfilled by food business operators at all stages of food business.

6-
Food Recall Procedure as per Food Safety and Standards Authority of India [FSSAI]

(1)
If a food business operator considers or has reasons to believe that a food which he has processed, manufactured or distributed is not in compliance with this Act, or the rules or regulations, made thereunder, he shall immediately initiate procedures to withdraw the food in question from the market and consumers indicating reasons for its withdrawal and inform
The competent authorities thereof.

(2)
A food business operator shall immediately inform the competent authorities and co-operate  with  them,  if  he  considers  or  has  reasons  to  believe  that  a  food  which  he  has placed on the market may be unsafe for the consumers.

(3)
The  food  business  operator  shall  inform  the competent authorities  of  the  action taken to prevent risks to the consumer and shall not prevent or discourage any person from cooperating,  in  accordance  with  this  Act,  with  the  competent  authorities,  where  this  may prevent, reduce or eliminate a risk arising from a food.

(4)
Every food business operator shall follow such conditions and guidelines relating to food recall procedures as the Food Authority may specify by regulations.

7-
Time limit for prosecutions -
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, no court shall take cognizance of an offence under this Act after the expiry of the period of one year from the date of commission of an offence:
Provided that the Commissioner of Food Safety may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, approve prosecution within an extended period of up to three years.

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Wednesday, June 03, 2015

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