Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
Why in News?
- The Supreme Court directed FSSAI to provide a concrete action plan within four weeks regarding mandatory Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPL) for foods high in sugar, salt, and fat.
Core Information & Statutory Framework
- Scientific Evidence Mandate: FSSAI requires companies to provide hard scientific data (nutritional content, Indian consumption patterns, and toxicology) for all new food product approvals and health claims.
- New Product Standards: Stricter standards for meat sausages, edible oils, and packaged drinking water came into effect, though a three-month extension for sausage compliance was granted until May 2026.
- Nutraceutical Growth: FSSAI recently highlighted that India’s nutraceutical industry is poised to potentially surpass pharmaceuticals by tenfold, representing a strategic pillar for the "Viksit Bharat 2047" vision.
- Establishment: A statutory body formed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, consolidating older laws like the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.
- Ministry: Operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
- Headquarters: Located in New Delhi, with six regional offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Guwahati, and Cochin.
- Leadership: Currently headed by Chairperson Punya Salila Srivastava and CEO Rajit Punhani.
Key Functions
- Standard Setting: Framing science-based regulations for food products, additives, and contaminants.
- Licensing: Granting mandatory FSSAI licenses/registrations to all Food Business Operators (FBOs), including manufacturers, retailers, and e-commerce platforms.
- Surveillance: Conducting regular inspections and food sampling to curb adulteration; for instance, over 12,000 cases were launched against defaulting FBOs in FY 2024–25.
- Certification: Accrediting food testing laboratories (NABL) and managing referral labs.
Major Initiatives
- Eat Right India: A flagship movement focusing on safe, healthy, and sustainable food. It includes specific certifications like "Eat Right Station" and "Eat Right Campus" (recently awarded to over 500 hospitals and 100 jails).
- State Food Safety Index (SFSI): An annual ranking of states based on five parameters including compliance and consumer empowerment. Kerala and Tamil Nadu were top performers in the 2024 index.
- Food Fortification: Promoting the use of the "+F" logo for staples like rice, wheat, and milk fortified with essential vitamins and minerals.
- Clean Street Food: Initiatives like "Prasadam" (India's first healthy food street in Ujjain) and training programs for thousands of street vendors.
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