Steps taken to boost food safety standards

The Government of India enhances street food safety through rigorous inspections, awareness campaigns, and enforcement through the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). FSSAI is mandated to lay 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.

Section 31 (1) and 31 (2) of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006 provide that no person shall commence or carry on any Food Business except under a license/registration, whichever is applicable. Therefore, all Food Business Operators (FBOs) have to comply with prescribed standards and the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration) Regulations, 2011. Every FBO has to follow the Schedule 4 sanitary and hygienic requirements and other requirements as prescribed under above mentioned regulation based on the type and scale of the food business. The sub-regulation 2.1.1. (6) of the Regulation mandates food safety inspection of Registered Petty Food Manufacturers once a year by the Registering Authority or any officer or agency specifically authorized for the purpose.

Further, FSSAI, through State/ UTs and its regional offices, conducts regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection, and random sampling of food products to check compliance with the standards laid down under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations made thereunder. In case the food samples are found to be non-conforming, penal action is initiated against the defaulting Food Business Operators as per provisions of the FSS Act, Rules and Regulations made thereunder. The details of the inspections conducted for the last three years are given below, and State-wise details are as below: 

Total Inspections conducted, State/UT, and year-wise

To enhance awareness and promote safe food practices among food handlers, including street food vendors, FSSAI launched the Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) programme in 2017. This initiative offers training in food safety and standards for individuals engaged in food business, whether as food business operators or employees. Under FoSTaC, a specialized awareness course titled “Street Food Vending” has been developed. Till now, more than 3 lakh street food vendors across the country have been trained through this programme.

FSSAI is carrying out a nationwide initiative, “Eat Right India movement” to ensure food safety and hygiene for all citizens. It is a collective effort to transform the food ecosystem of the country. Under this initiative, Eat Right certificates are awarded to ensure food safety and hygiene in places where food is prepared or served.

FSSAI has designed the Eat Right Street Food Hub certification programme to educate people about food safety and hygiene at Food Streets. It is a cluster-based initiative, where food vendors are educated to maintain the food safety standards. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials are provided to display, enhancing visibility, building consumer trust, and encouraging one and all to eat safe and hygienic. There are 405 Eat Right Street Food Hubs certified under Eat Right India.

Further, to extend outreach for on-the-spot food testing and dissemination of food safety information in remote areas, FSSAI has introduced Mobile Food Testing Laboratories (MFTLs) to all the States and UTs. The three key activities of the MFTLs are:

1. On-spot testing of food commodities;
2. Training for food business operators
3. Food safety awareness among food business operators, street food vendors, the general public, schools, institutes, organizations, etc. FSSAI has deployed 305 MFTLs to 35 States/UTs across India to date.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.