Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which is a consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India.

 FSSAI is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.

The FSSAI has its headquarters at New Delhi. The authority also has 6 regional offices located in Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai, Kolkata, Cochin, and Chennai.

FSSAI has set certain guidelines for food safety research. The Research and Development division is responsible for research with the following objectives:

1. Generate new knowledge that would help in continuously updating and upgrading food safety standards which are compatible with international organizations

2. Carry out evidence based studies for improving or building policies.

FSSAI has been mandated to perform various functions related to quality and standards of food.

The FSSAI has prescribed standards for following food products:

Dairy products and analogues

Fats, oils and fat emulsions

Fruits and vegetable products

Cereal and cereal products

Meat and meat products

Fish and fish products

Sweets & confectionery

Sweetening agents including honey

Salt, spices, condiments and related products

Beverages, (other than dairy and fruits & vegetables based)

Other food product and ingredients Proprietary food Irradiation of food. The development of standards is a dynamic process based on the latest developments in food science, food consumption pattern, new food products and additives, changes in the processing technology leading to changed specifications, advancements in food analytical methods, and identification of new risks or other regulatory options.

Formulation of standards of any article of food under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, involves several stages. After consideration by the Food Authority, the draft standard is published (Draft notified), for inviting stakeholder comments. Since India is a signatory to the WTO-SPS Committee, Draft Standard is also notified in WTO. Thereafter, taking into account the comments received from the stakeholders, the Standard is finalized and notified in Gazette of India, and implemented.

Consumers can connect to FSSAI (https://fssai.co.in/) through various channels or call Toll free Number 1800112100. Recently an online platform called ‘Food Safety Voice’ has been launched which helps consumers to register their complaints and feedbacks about food safety issues related to adulterated food, unsafe food, substandard food, labeling defects in food and misleading claims & advertisements related to various food products.