The Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 (FSSA)collaborate all the prevailing laws related to food and to start the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India for arranging down science-based morals for article of Food and to legalize their storage, manufacture, distribution, sale, and import, to ensure accessibility of safe as well as nutritious food for human eating in a single codified act. The Authority of food acts as a single-window to provide guidance and issue clarifications for all matters related to food safety and security.
Objectives of FSSAI Act
- To generate confidence among all the stakeholders of being a friendly, accessible, and responsive (public service) body or authority.
- To ensure the establishment of Standards and practices that fully assure consumers interest and adhere to the highest degree of integrity possible
- Building capacity of various stakeholders for an active participatory role in food safety.
- The expansion of effective information dissemination channels allowing consumers to make informed choices regarding the food they consume.
- Create a framework/structure of food safety with the definite responsibility of each Food Business operator.
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Functions of FSSAI
- Drafting of Regulations to lay down the Standard guidelines concerning articles of food and requiring any appropriate system of implementing various standards, thus notified.
- Placing down mechanisms and guidelines for the authorization of certification bodies engaged in certification of food safety management system for food business operators.
- Placing down processes and guidelines for the authorization of laboratories and notification of the authorized laboratories.
- To provide scientific information and technical support to Central and State Governments in the materials related to inclosing the policy and rules in areas that have a direct or indirect bearing of food safety and nutrition.
- Collect and collaborate data regarding food consumption, incidence, and prevalence of biological risk, contaminants in food, residues of various pollutants in food products, identification of emerging threats, and introduction of the rapid alert system.
- Creating an information data network across the country so that the consumer, public, etc. receive fast, dependable, and objective data about food safety and issues of concern.
- Training programs are provided to persons who are involved and proposed to get involved in food businesses in India.
- Contribution in the development of international procedural standards for food, sanitary and Phyto-sanitary methods.
- Encourage general awareness about food safety and food standards all over India.
Reason for FSSAI Existence
With the change in the situation regarding food habits of the public, progress in food technologies, and the use of processed food of different diversities worldwide, and to end the multiplicity of food laws and multi-departmental control, the need was felt to have an integrated new food lawIn a form of one codified law. The Indian government passed a new food law called as the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, FSSAI and to give effect to the provisions of this Act, Rules, and Regulations have been made thereunder recognized as the Food Safety and Standards Rules,2011 and Regulations 2011.
The impartial of the food law is to make available safe, pure, wholesome, and nutritious food to the public. In 1954, the Indian government passed the food law known as Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954[1] and Rules were made thereunder in 1955. Besides this Act, many other orders related to food like FPO, 1955, Milk and Milk Product Order, 1973, and many others were being executed in the country, and the multiplicity of food laws and multi-departmental control was there.
Food related laws that were being implemented in India
On 5th August 2011 the new Food Safety & Standards Act (FSSA), Rules and Regulations replace the subsequent food-related laws that were being implemented in India.
- The Solvent Extracted Oil, and De-oiled Meal, and Edible Flour Order, 1967.
- Any order related to food distributed under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
FSSAI or Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is functioning as an independent authority under the organizational control of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India.
Before the formation of FSSAI, from 1954 onwards, the Prevention of Food Adulteration was under the Directorate General of Health Services. After having separate from the direct administrative control of the Health Ministry, this Authority is holding an independent body and has reached a special status.
Food-related Acts, rules, controlling orders, licensing, registration, circular instructions, enforcements, exports, and imports were dealt with various sections and several departments previously. Now all of them have been taken under one Authority called – FSSAI
Conclusion
In 1954, the Indian government passed the food law known as Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 and Rules were made thereunder in 1955. Besides this Act, many other orders related to food like FPO, 1955, Milk and Milk Product Order, 1973, and many others were being executed in the country, and the multiplicity of food laws and multi-departmental control was there.Food-related Acts, rules, controlling orders, licensing, registration, circular instructions, enforcements, exports, and imports were dealt with various sections and several departments previously. Now all of them have been taken under one Authority called – FSSAI.
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