The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provided a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, detailing the steps taken by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to strengthen food safety enforcement and control adulteration.
FSSAI is responsible for laying down science-based standards for food articles and regulating their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import to ensure safe and wholesome food. While FSSAI is responsible for setting standards and overall coordination, State Food Safety Authorities are primarily responsible for enforcement at the field level.
Key Initiatives for Enforcement and Testing
FSSAI conducts regular localized, targeted special enforcement, and surveillance drives through State/UT food safety authorities and its 4 regional offices. Surveillance programs are conducted in a structured manner on staple foods and commodities prone to adulteration to collect data for monitoring, risk assessment, and standard setting.
1. Strengthening Laboratory Infrastructure (SoFTeL Scheme)
Under the scheme “Strengthening of Food Testing System in the Country Including provision of Mobile Food Testing Labs (SoFTeL)”, FSSAI has provided technical and financial assistance to States/UTs to enhance testing infrastructure.
- 47 State food testing laboratories have been upgraded.
- 34 microbiology labs have been set up in the area of food safety and quality parameters.
2. Mobile Food Testing Laboratories (MFTLs)
To bridge the gap in testing capabilities and extend outreach for on-the-spot food testing in remote areas lacking infrastructure, MFTLs have been deployed.
States/UTs have procured and deployed 305 MFTLs against the funds provided by FSSAI for 541 MFTLs.
3. Notified Laboratories
To ensure compliance and for the testing of food samples, FSSAI has notified:
- 246 National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) for testing food samples.
- 24 Referral Food Laboratories, primarily owned by Central Government departments and institutions, for the analysis of appellate samples.