FSSAI: About, History, Functions and Importance

FSSAI: About

FSSAI stands for Food Safety and Standard Authority of India. It is a statutory body under the Ministry of health and family welfare, the Government of India. The FSSAI was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, of 2006. The FSSAI aims to protect and promote public health with proper regulations and supervision on food safety.

The head of FSSAI is a non-executive chairperson, who is appointed by the Central Government, who either holds or has held a position, not below the rank of secretary to the Government of India. The headquarters of FSSAI is located in New Delhi. It has six regional offices located in Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai, Kolkata, Cochin, and Chennai. There are 14 referral laboratories, 72 states, and union territories laboratories located throughout India, and 112 private Laboratories accredited by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

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FSSAI: History

FSSAI was established on 5th August 2008 by the former Union Minister Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The FSSAI includes a chairman and 22 members. FSSAI focuses on setting standards for food so that there is no confusion in the mind of consumers, traders, manufacturers, and investors. The following are the statutory powers that the FSS Act, 2006 gives to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

1. Framing of Regulations to lay down food safety standards
2. Laying down guidelines for accreditation of laboratories for food testing
3. Providing scientific advice and technical support to the Central Government
4. Contributing to the development of international technical standards in food
5. Collecting and collating data regarding food consumption, contamination, emerging risks, etc.
6. Disseminating information and promoting awareness about food safety and nutrition in India.

FSSAI: Functions

1. FSSAI sets rules, guidelines, and regulations which are necessary to be followed by all the food manufacturing companies, which includes keeping the food clean and hygienic.
2. It is compulsory for any business that is related to food, to get permission, license, and certificate from FSSAI.
3. The food manufactured by the food companies is tested and marked as the standard and quality of the food by the FSSAI only.
4. FSSAI conducts regular inspections in food-producing and manufacturing companies to ensure the hygiene and standards of the food.
5. The main work of FSSAI is to make the consumers aware to buy and take only those food products that are healthy, safe, and hygienic for consumption.
6. All the registered food manufacturing companies are inspected regularly and a report is kept by the FSSAI which is updated regularly.
7. FSSAI makes sure that the food manufacturing companies produce food according to their guidelines and regulations.
8. If the FSSAI finds any food-related threat, it has to inform the government as soon as possible and the government authorities take proper action against it.

FSSAI: Importance

FSSAI takes care of the food standard and security in India. It aims to provide food to all but with good quality and standard. It ensures that the quality of food must be enjoyed by all. It makes good food accessible to all citizens in India. It also trains the street vendors to make them aware of the violations under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.

This will help them to understand the importance of hygienic food and it will help in the upliftment of street vendors. FSSAI has taken many initiatives under which comes Diet4life, which spreads awareness among people about metabolic disorders. It promotes the idea of saving food, sharing food, and sharing joy, it encourages people to not waste food and donate food to needy people. Through FSSAI the food-collecting agencies are connected with food-producing companies to reduce any food waste. The world’s first-ever World Food Safety Day was also observed by FSSAI in 2019, on 7th June.

FAQs related to FSSAI

1. What is FSSAI and what does it do?
Ans. FSSAI is the food security and standard authority of India. It was set up in 2008 and it monitors the hygiene and cleanliness of food produced in India.

2. Who is the current Chairperson of FSSAI?
Ans. Rita Teaotia is the current Chairperson of FSSAI.