Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)-Thelegalbank

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a free body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. The FSSAI has been put under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which is a consolidating statute connected to food safety and regulation in India. FSSAI is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and monitoring of food safety.

The FSSAI is governed by a non-executive Chairperson, elected by the Central Government, either holding or has held the position of not following the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.  Pawan Kumar Agarwal is the present Chief Executive Officer for FSSAI. The FSSAI has its head office in New Delhi. The government also has 6 regional offices established in Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai, Kolkata, Cochin, and Chennai. 14 referral labs notified by FSSAI, 72 State/UT laboratories located throughout India and 112 laboratories are NABL approved private laboratories notified by FSSAI.

Applicable FSSAI License

FSSAI issues 3 types of license based on the nature of the food business and turnover:

1. Registration: Turnover of less than ₹12 Lakh
2. State License: Turnover between ₹12 Lakh to ₹20 Crore
3. Central License: Turnover above ₹20 Crore

Other examples like the location of the business, the number of retail stores, etc. is needed while assessing the nature of license application.

Regulatory framework

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is a legal body under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The Food Safety and Standards Act (FSS), 2006 is the first law for the control of food products. This act also sets up the formulation and implementation of food safety standards in India. The FSSAI furnishes food safety authorities on the state level.

The FSSAI functions under the regulatory control of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The principal aim of FSSAI is to

1. Lay down science-based standards for material of food
2. To control the manufacture, storage, distribution, import and sale of food
3. To facilitate the safety of food

The FSS Act is a container for all the older laws, rules and guidelines for food safety. 

FSS Act, 2006 incorporates many acts & orders that had earlier handled food-related issues in several Ministries and Departments, such as–

1. Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954
2. Fruit Products Order, 1955
3. Meat Food Products Order, 1973
4. Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order, 1947
5. Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation) Order 1988
6. Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992

• These were repealed after the start of FSS Act, 2006.
• FSSAI was consequently established in 2008 but work within the Food Authority finally began in 2011 after its Rules and key Regulations were published.
• This marked a shift from a multi-level to a single line of control with a focus on self-compliance rather than a pure administrative regime.