Parliament Question: Review of Food Safety and Standards Act

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3225 TO BE ANSWERED ON07THAUGUST, 2026 REVIEWOFFOODSAFETYAND STANDARDSACT

3225. SHRIAMRINDERSINGHRAJAWARRING:

Will the Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:

(a)whether anyreviewofthe existingframework ofthe FoodSafetyandStandardsAct,2006, has been carried out by the Government recently given the inadequacy of the existing penal framework, the shortage of Food Safety Officers, ineffective laboratory infrastructure, delays in adjudication, non-recovery of penalties and widespread licensing irregularities, if so, the detailsthereof;

(b) whether the Government is aware that the Supreme Court has recently taken notice of the said issue, if so, the detailsthereof; and

(c) the steps taken by the Government to address the growing national concerns regarding food adulteration, contamination, misleading labelling, unsafe packaged food products and inadequateenforcement of food safety standards across the country? ANSWER THE MINISTEROFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (c): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is mandated to lay 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. The implementation and enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006isa shared responsibility between the Central andStateGovernments.

To strengthen food safety enforcement, FSSAI regularly reviews the performance and vacancies of Food Safety Officers of all States/UTs through various forums like Central Advisory Committee (CAC) meetings, Inter-State ZonalCouncil Meetings.

For the safety of the food and food products through testing, FSSAI has notified a network of 259 NABL accredited food testing laboratories comprising laboratories of State/UT Governments, Government institutions, and NABL-accredited private laboratories for the analysis of food samples. FSSAI has also notified 24 Referral Food Laboratories for the analysis of appeal samples. There are also 305 Mobile Food Testing Laboratories (FoodSafetyon Wheels) deployed across the countrytoconducton-the-spot testing, distribute rapid kits, anddrive public awareness inremote areas.

SoFTeL scheme (Strengthening of Food Testing System in the Country including provision of Mobile FoodTesting Labs) isaninitiativeimplemented bythe FSSAItoupgrade state food labs, set up microbiology facilities, and deploys mobile food testing vans. Under this scheme, 47 State Food Testing Laboratories have been structurally upgraded with advancedanalytical equipment.

Around 98% of the Food Business Operators (FBOs) fall within the jurisdiction of the State/UT Food Safety Authorities. Accordingly, the enforcement and implementation of the provisions of the FSS Act, 2006 primarily rests with the State/UT Food Safety Authorities within their respective jurisdictions. To ensure compliance with the standards, limits, and other statutory requirements prescribed under the FSS Act, 2006, and the regulations made thereunder, the State Food Safety Authorities undertake regular surveillance, monitoring, targeted enforcementdrives, inspections, andsampling activities across the food sector.

Court cases wheneverfiledare responded mentioningthe provisions of FSSAct, 2006 andregulationsmade thereunder from time totime.

FSSAI has launched various campaigns such as “#No To Adulteration” & “How to Check for Adulteration” video on its official YouTube channel campaign to raise consumer awareness about food adulteration and how to identify adulterated products;

"#HarLabelKuchKahtaHai" (Every Label Speaks) campaign to empower citizens with label literacy for healthier eating and informed choices. This initiative educates consumers on key elements like nutritional information (calories, fats, sugars, protein), ingredient lists, allergen warnings, and date markings. These initiatives include advertisements, educational materials, andonline platformstospread awareness.

FSSAI has introduced DART (Detect Adulteration with Rapid Test) book which covers 44 tests that can be performed easily at households with the help of water and simple solutions like tincture of iodine for food products such as Milk & Milk Products, Oils, Sugar & Confectionary, Food Grains & its products, Spices & Condiments. These tests also include sensory evaluation tests for establishing authentication of food products. DART book depicts differences between pure and adulterated food product through pictorial representation. The same isavailableon FSSAI Website.

Also, Food Safety Magic Box is a compact and user-friendly kit containing simple, rapid test methods to detect common food adulterants in seven types of food commodities.

This kit is used and distributed in schools as part of food safety awareness initiative. It aims to engage students through hands-on learning, enabling them to identify adulteration in everydayfood itemssuch asmilk,spices, oils, andgrains.

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