The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has called for an urgent and special surveillance and enforcement drive across the country for the months of September and October 2025. The initiative is aimed at ensuring the safety, quality, and prevention of adulteration of food products during the peak festive season.
The FSSAI noted that the onset of festivals leads to a significant surge in demand for items like sweets, savouries, and milk and milk products, such as ghee, khoa, and paneer. This seasonal rush creates economic incentives for adulteration, which poses serious risks to public health and erodes consumer confidence.
Directives for State and UT Authorities
Commissioners of Food Safety in all States and Union Territories have been requested to conduct focused surveillance and enforcement drives. These drives are to be concentrated on identified “hot spots” and sensitive market locations within their respective jurisdictions.
A key part of the strategy involves the strategic deployment of Food Safety on Wheels (FSWs) vehicles. These mobile units, where available, are to be placed in prominent market areas or deployed based on specific intelligence. The FSWs will serve to facilitate on-the-spot testing, strengthen vigilance, create consumer awareness, and boost public trust by assuring the availability of safe and quality food products during the festive period.
All relevant data concerning inspection, sampling, and their outcomes must be mandatorily updated and recorded on the FoSCoS or FoSCoRIS online portals. Authorities have been given a deadline of November 15, 2025, to report this data. The matter has been designated as “MOST IMPORTANT” due to the public health concerns involved.