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Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006

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Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 is an integrated food law that lays down standards and guidelines for consumer safety, protection of consumer health and regulation of the food sector. It harmonises Indian standards with the international standards like CODEX and facilitates international trade in food articles. The Act lays down general provisions for food additives and processing of articles as well.

Food Safety and Standards Act came into effect on 5th August, 2011. It is a comprehensive legislation for the sector and subsumes the then existing acts and standards like Prevention of Food Adulteration Act(PFA) of 1954 ,Fruit Products Order of 1955, Meat Food Products Order of 1973, Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order of 1947, Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation)Order of 1988, Solvent Extracted Oil, De- Oiled Meal and Edible Flour (Control) Order of 1967, Milk and Milk Products Order of 1992 and also any order issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 relating to food . [1]

It establishes Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) as the regulator for the food sector. FSSAI is responsible for framing regulations and standards for food articles and specifying an appropriate system for its enforcement. It specifies mechanisms for accreditation of certified bodies engaged in certification of food safety management system for food businesses, and procedures for accreditation of laboratories [2] .The Act dwells on administrative mechanism at the state level to implement the provisions contained in the statue and Food Safety Appellate tribunal for adjudication and trails under food standard offences.

The law is significant in ensuring quality food to the consumer. It protects consumer interest by prohibiting misleading advertisement and penalising adulteration. It also meets the contemporary challenges facing the sector like provisions related to Genetically Modified (GM) crops, functional food, international trade of food items etc. Besides, it is a single reference point for food related matters.


  1. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/article2323850.ece[1]
  2. http://www.fssai.gov.in/AboutFSSAI/introduction.aspx[2]


References

  1. http://mofpi.nic.in/images/fsnstds.pdf
  2. http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/bline/2010/07/19/stories/2010071950541100.htm


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