FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS ACT, 2006

The safety of food is vital to all consumers and food businesses. Consumers must have confidence that the food they buy and eat will be what they expect, Food will do them no harm and that they are protected from adulteration/fraud. The importance of this confidence cannot be underestimated for businesses. Although food safety legislation affects everyone in the country, it is particularly relevant to anyone working in the production, processing, storage, distribution and sale of food, no matter how large or small the business. This includes non-profit making organisations

The new Act, Rules, and Regulations w.e.f. 5/8/11

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Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 Food Safety and Standard Rules 2011
FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS (LICENSING AND REGISTRATION OF FOOD BUSINESSES), REGULATIONS 2011 FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS (PACKAGING AND LABELLING) REGULATIONS, 2011 FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS (FOOD PRODUCTS STANDARDS AND FOOD ADDITIVES) REGULATIONS, 2011 part I and II FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS (PROHIBITION AND RESTRICTIONS ON SALES) REGULATIONS, 2011 FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS (CONTAMINANTS, TOXINS AND RESIDUES) REGULATIONS, 2011 FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS (LABORATORY AND SAMPLE ANALYSIS) REGULATIONS, 2011

FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS ACT, 2006

The Food Safety & Standards Act 2006 is Act to consolidate the laws relating to food and to establish the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India for laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage distribution, sale and import, to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 Fruit Products Order, 1955 Meat Food Products Order, 1973 Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order, 1947 Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation) Order, 1988, Solvent Extracted Oil, De-oiled Meal and Edible Flour (Control) Order, 1967 Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992 Any order under Essential Commodities Act, 1955

SALIENT FEATURE OF THE ACT

Movement from multi-level and multidepartment control to a single line of command FSSAI as a single reference point for all matters relating to Food Safety and Standards, Regulations and Enforcement Integrated response to strategic issues like Novel foods, Health Foods, Nutraceuticals, GM foods, international trade etc. Decentralisation of licensing for manufacture of food products Achieve high degree of consumer confidence in quality & safety of food Investors friendly regulatory mechanism with emphasis on self regulations and

SALIENT FEATURE OF THE ACT: Enforcement of the legislation by the State Governments/UTs through the State Commissioner for Food Safety, his officers and Panchayati Raj/Municipal bodies Emphasis on gradual shift from regulatory regime to self compliance through food safety management system. Consistency between domestic and international food policy measures without reducing safeguards to public health and consumer protection Adequate information dissemination on food to enable consumer to make informed choices. Compounding and Adjudication of cases to reduce Courts workload and expedite the disposal of cases Graded penalty depending upon the gravity of offences

NEW PROVISIONS UNDER THE ACT

Regulation of food imported in the country Provision for food recall Surveillance New enforcement structure Envisages large network of food labs New justice dispensation system for fast track disposal of cases Harmonization of domestic standards with international food standards Covering Health Foods, supplements, nutraceuticals

NEW PROVISIONS UNDER THE ACT

Issuing Licenses within a time frame of 2 months Provision of Improvement Notice by Designated Officers Compensation to Victims (for any case of Injury/ Grievous injury/ Death) Reward to informer (informing about the violators adulteration etc.) by State Govt. No License for small food business operators; only registration is mandatory

SCOPE OF THE ACT

The Act covers activities throughout the food distribution chain, from primary production through distribution to retail and catering. The Act gives the Government powers to make regulations on matters of food safety. The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India is the principal Government Authority

ENFORCEMENT OF THE ACT

Authorities responsible for enforcement of Act.(1) The Food Authority and the State Food Safety Authorities shall be responsible for the enforcement of this Act. (2) The Food Authority and the State Food Safety Authorities shall monitor and verify that the relevant requirements of law are fulfilled by food business operators at all stages of food business. (3) The authorities shall maintain a system of control and other activities as appropriate to the circumstances, including public communication on food safety and risk, food safety surveillance and other monitoring activities covering all stages of food business. (4) The Food Safety Officers shall enforce and execute within their area the provisions of this Act with respect to which the duty is not imposed expressly or by necessary implication on some other authority.

ENFORCEMENT OF THE ACT

(5) The Commissioner of Food Safety and Designated Officer shall exercise the same powers as are conferred on the Food Safety Officer and follow the same procedure specified in this Act.

PROPOSED STRUCTURE OF ENFORCEMENT AT STATE.

ADJUDICATION AND FOOD SAFETY TRIBUNALS

Commissioner of Food Safety

Commissioner of Food Safety appointed by the State Government for implementation of food safety and standards and other requirement of the act. Shall perform following functions Prohibit manufacture/storage/ distribution / sale of any article of food in the public interest. Carry out survey of food processing

 Conducting or organizing training programmers for different segment of food chain for generating awareness on food safety Ensure an efficient and uniform implementation of standards Ensure high standards of objectivity, accountability, practicability, transparence and credibility Sanction prosecution for offences punishable with imprisonment

Designated Officer
Designated Officer appointed by the Commissioner Food Safety to be the in-charge of food safety administration of the area. Shall perform the following functions: to issue or cancel license of food business operators; to prohibit the sale of any article of food;

 to receive report and samples of article of foods from Food Safety Officer under his jurisdiction and get them analyzed to make recommendations to the Commissioner of Food Safety for sanction to launch prosecutions in case of contraventions punishable with imprisonments

 to sanction or launch prosecutions in cases of contraventions punishable with fine to maintain record of all inspections made by Food Safety Officers to get investigated any complaint in respect of contraventions of the provisions of act. to investigate any complaint which may be made in writing against the

Food Safety Officer

Food Safety Officer appointed by the Commissioner Food Safety for performing functions under the act. The Food safety Officer may take a sample of any food, or any substance, which appears to him to be intended for sale, or to have been sold for human consumption; seize any article of food which appears to the Food Safety Officer to

 The Food Safety Officer may enter and inspect any place where the article of food is manufactured, or stored for sale, Seize Any adulterant found in the possession of a manufacturer or distributor of, or dealer, Seize any books of account or other documents

Control on Advertisement
This act provides for restriction on advertisement of any food which misleads or contravenes the provisions of the Act or the rules and regulations made there under. It also provides for prohibition as to any unfair trade practice for the purpose of promoting sale, supply, use and consumption of articles of food or adoption of any unfair or deceptive practice to mislead the public regarding the standards, quality, quantity, usefulness or giving of any guarantee of the efficacy that is not based on an adequate or scientific justification thereof.

PROVISIONS RELATING TO IMPORT

An imports of articles of food to be subject to this Act.No person shall import into India(i)Any unsafe or misbranded or sub-standard food or food containing extraneous matter; (ii)Any article of food for the import of which a licence is required under any Act or rules or regulations, except in accordance with the conditions of the licence and (iii)Any article of food in contravention of any other provision of this Act or of any rule or regulation made there under or any other Act.

SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AS TO FOOD SAFETY

Responsibilities of the food business operator.(l) Every food business operator shall ensure that the articles of food satisfy the requirements of this Act and the rules and regulations made there under at all stages of production, processing, import, distribution and sale within the businesses under his control. (2) No food business operator shall himself or by any person on his behalf manufacture, store, sell or distribute any article of food(i)Which is unsafe; or (ii)Which is misbranded or sub-standard or contains extraneous matter; or (iii)For which a licence is required, except in accordance with the conditions of the licence; or (iv)Which is for the time being prohibited by the Food Authority or the Central Government or the State Government in the interest of public health; or

SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AS TO FOOD SAFETY

(v) in contravention of any other provision of this Act or of any rule or regulation made there under. (3) food business operator shall not employ any person who is suffering from infectious, contagious or loathsome disease. (4) No food business operator shall sell or offer for sale any article of food to any vendor unless he also gives a guarantee in writing in the form specified by regulations about the nature and quality of such article to the vendor e.g. bill, cash memo, or invoice etc.

Liability of Manufacturers, packers, wholesalers, distributors and sellers.(l) The manufacturer or packer of an article of food shall be liable for such article of food if it does not meet the requirements of this Act and the rules and regulations made there under. (2) The wholesaler or distributor shall be liable under this Act for any article of food which is(a)supplied after the date of its expiry; or (b)stored or supplied in violation of the safety instructions of the manufacturer; or (c)unsafe or misbranded, or (d)unidentifiable of manufacturer from whom the article of food have been received; or (e)stored or handled or kept in violation of the provisions of this Act, the rules and regulations made there under; or (f)received by him with knowledge of being unsafe.

SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AS TO FOOD SAFETY

SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AS TO FOOD SAFETY

(3) The seller shall be liable under this Act, for any article of food which is(a) sold after the date of its expiry; or (b) handled or kept in unhygienic conditions; or (c) misbranded; or (d) unidentifiable of the manufacturer or the distributors from whom such articles of food were received; or (e) received by him with knowledge of being unsafe.

SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AS TO FOOD SAFETY

Food recall procedures.(l) If a food business operators considers or has reasons to believe that a food which he has processed, manufactured or distributed is not in compliance with this Act, or the rules or regulations, made there under, he shall immediately initiate procedures to withdraw the food in question from the market and consumers indicating reasons for its withdrawal and inform the competent authorities thereof. (2) A food business operator shall immediately inform the competent authorities and co-operate with them, if he considers or has reasons to believe that a food which he has placed on the market may be unsafe for the consumers.

SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AS TO FOOD SAFETY

(3) The food business operator shall inform the competent authorities of the action taken to prevent risks to the consumer and shall not prevent or discourage any person from co-operating, in accordance with this Act, with the competent authorities, where this may prevent, reduce or eliminate a risk arising from a Food. (4) Every food business operator shall follow such conditions and guidelines relating to food recall procedures as the Food Authority may specify by regulations.

Quality & Safety Regulations

The Path of Convergence of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 to the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
# Subject to content 1 Total sections 2 Rules 3 Central Advising authority 4 Chairman 5 Duties & functions of Food Authority 6 State Authority 7 Local Health Authority 8 Enforcing staff 9 Sample Analizer Provision under the FSS Act 2006 101 Rules published Food Safety and Standard Authority of India and Central Advisory Committee P. I. Suvarthan. Prescribed u/s 16 Mr. H. G. Koshia, Commissioner of Food Safety, Food & Drugs Control Administr5ation, Gujarat State. Designated officer (Appointed from present staff) (Section-36) Food Safety Officer (Appointed from present staff) (Section-37) Food Analyst ( Appointed from present staff) (Section45)

Quality & Safety Regulations

The Path of Convergence of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 to the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
# Subject to content 10 Food sample analytical laboratory 11 No. of days for analysis 12 Food Recall Procedure 13 Prohibition of Food Provision under the FSS Act 2006 Laboratories to be recognized by FSSAI and acriditiesed by NABL. Temporary relief is given. 14 days from receipt of sample Yes, Section-28 Category of Unsafe Food added to adulterated, Misbranded and contravention of any other provisions (Section-26) Provision made for sale of expired food or handled or kept in unhygienic condition (Section-27) Provision made under section 28 by which Food business operator can recall food if he believes that it contravenes provision of the act.

14 Liability of Food Seller 15 Food Recall procedures

Quality & Safety Regulations

The Path of Convergence of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 to the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
# 18 Subject to content Provision under the FSS Act 2006 Dispatch of* 1 Part to The Food Analyst sample * 2 Parts to the Designated officer * Fourth part to the Accredited laboratory if requested by the Food business operator to the Food Safety Officer. Penalty for selling food not of the nature or quality demanded, or Penalty substandard food (up to 5 lakh Rs.) Misbranded food (up to 3 lakh Rs.) Misleading advertisement (upt o 10 Lakh Rs.), Food containing extraneous matter (up to 1 lakh Rs.), Failure to comply with the directions of FSO (upto 2 lakh Rs.), Unhygienic processing (up to Rs. 1 lakh), possessing adulteration : * Not injurious up to 2 lakh * injurious up to 10 lakh For no specific provision (up to 2.0 lakh Rs.) Punishment Punishment for Unsafe food :* Not injurious - Jail up to six months & fine up to 1 lakh. * Non grievous injury- Jail up to 1 year & fine up to 3 lakh. * Grievous injury- Jail up to 6 years and fine up to 5 lakh. * Death - Jail more than 7 year & up to life term and fine not less

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Quality & Safety Regulations

The Path of Convergence of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 to the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
# 21 Subject to content Provision under the FSS Act 2006 Punishment for subsequent offence * twice the punishment of the 1st conviction. * Further fine on daily basis which may extend up to 1.0 lakh where the offence is continuing one * Cancellation of licence with publication. Licensing Provision for licence and new provision of registration introduced for Registration petty business operators (Section-31) Improvement notice Provision made under Section-32. DO shall give the notice to FBO to comply with the provision of the act. Prohibition orders Any Food business operator is convicted of an offence the court may issue prohibitory order after hearing of FBO regarding use process, equipment, premises. Surveillance Section 30(2) (b) Commissioner empowered - to carryout survey of industrial units. Sanction forSanction to be given by Commissioner of Food safety in offences prosecution punishable with imprisonment (Section 30 (2) (e) Procedure forD.O. shall decide whether the offence is punishable with launching ofimprisonment or fine only after receiving report from Public Analyst, prosecution. and shall forwarded with recommendation to Comm. of Food Safety for offences of imprisonment within 14 days of receipt of PA report. The Comm. shall give his consent and concerned F.I. shall launch

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Quality & Safety Regulations

The Path of Convergence of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 to the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
# Subject to content Provision under the FSS Act 2006 28 Appeal for RetestAn appeal for against the report of Food Aalyst shall lie before the D.O. who shall decide that the sample be send to the referral laboratory or not for opinion. ( Section 46 (4) ) 29 Power toThe Commissioner of Food Safety may by order may empower Compound Designated Officer to accept from petty manufactures who himself offences manufacture and sell any article of food, retailers hawkers etc. against whom a reasonable belief exists for an offence, payment of a sum of money by way of composition of the offence ( Section 69 ) 30 General - Fine upto Rs. 1.0 lakh & relieve of custody. provisions Guideline is given for quantum of penalty based on nature of relating tocontravention ( Section 49 ) penalty. 31 Adjudication - The adjudicating officer after giving opportunity of hearing in the matter and if on such inquiry believes that the person has committed offence may impose such penalty as per section 49. - Adjudicating officer shall have the powers of a civil court. 32 Food SafetyTo hear the appeals against the decision of the Adjudicating officer under Appellate Section 68. Tribunal 33 Civil Court not toNo Civil court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or proceeding have jurisdiction in respect of matter which an Adjudicating officer or the Tribunal is

Quality & Safety Regulations

The Path of Convergence of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 to the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
# Subject to content Provision under the FSS Act 2006

35 Time limit for prosecution 36 Reward by State Government

No court shall take cognizance of an offence under this act after the expiry of the period of 1 year from the date of offence (Section 72) The state Government may empower the commissioner to order payment of reward to be paid to a person. who renders assistance in the detection of the offence or the apprehension of the offender (Section 95) shall be recovered as an arrear of land revenue and defaulter's licence shall be suspended till the penalty is paid (Section 96) Deemed to be regulations under this act (Section 99) Amendments to the infant milk substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infand Food. (Regulation of production,

37 Recovery of penalty 38 Milk and Milk Products order, 1992 39 Infant Milk substitute,

License: - Under the purview of Central Licensing Authority [3.2.2(3)]

1 Dairy units 2 Vegetable oil processing & solvent extracting unit 3 Slaughter houses 4 Meat processing >50,000 liter of liquid milk/day or 2500 MT milk solid/year >2 MT/day 50 large animals or >150 small animals or .1000 poultry birds >500 kg/day or .>150 MT/ year

5 All food processing units including >2 MT/ day repackers other than above except grain, cereals & pulses milling units

6 100 % EOU 7 All importers importing food items for commerce use. 8 All Food Business Operators manufacturing any article of food which does not fall under any of the food categories prescribed under regulations. 9 Retail chains in 3 or more states 10 Food catering in establishments & units under Central Government Agencies like Railway, Air, Seaport, and Defense