TAD NewsDesk, New Delhi: In one of the recent decisions by the Central government, it has given additional power to the apex body for food safety in India, namely Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The FSSAI is in charge of the public health and not let it affect by the ignorance into the food sector in the country.
The FSSAI is led by a non-executive member appointed by the Central Government. The person should have atleast have worked as a Secretary to the Government of India.
The primary responsibilities of FSSAI are as follows:
- Regulating the science based Food Standards for articles of food and food products.
- Supervision of manufacture, distribution, storage and sale of the food products.
- Ensuring the safety of food for human consumption.
Under its additional capacity, the following power has been granted to FSSAI:
- Autonomy in animal feed.
- Penalties for violation of the rules enacted.
- Simplifying the various processes in the regulation made.
70 amendments have been made to the 2006 Act to add these additional supervisory power to the FSSAI. The regulation most importantly will focus on the animal feed industry. The food standard will also apply to the packaging of food.
The Amendment has also raised concerns and proposed to make the laws more stringent. A fine of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh will be levied on unsafe manufacturing and sale of food products. If the food products cause life threats the punishment could be extended to life imprisonment.
In the ongoing pandemic, this decision has got a hearty response in the agricultural sector.
