FOOD SAFETY COMMITTEE
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) advised States/UT Governments to constitute District Level Advisory Committee (DLAC) vide letter dated 20th November, 2018 to assist, aid and advise the Commissioner of Food Safety on food safety related issues. 496 DLACs have been constituted by States/ UTs.
Implementation and enforcement of provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 primarily lies with State/UT Governments. Commissioner of Food Safety of States/UTs regularly conducts surveillance, sampling and enforcement drives to curb adulteration of food products. Further, in order to ensure the availability of sale and supply of safe and wholesome food, FSSAI regularly interacts with the Commissioner of Food Safety of States/UTs to ensure that food safety officials regularly draw food samples and take strict action against the offenders under the provisions of FSS Act, 2006.As per reports received from States/UTs, the number of food samples analysed, found non-conforming and action taken thereon during the last two years i.e. 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 is in Annexure.
States/UTs have been advised by FSSAI to appoint the Food Safety Officers for proper enforcement of the provisions of FSS Act, 2006 and Rules and Regulations made thereunder. As per the information shared by the States/UTs, 2537 FSOs are available across the country.
Annexure
Details of Food Samples Analysed, Found Non-Conforming and Action Taken during
2019-20 and 2020-21
| Year | No. of Samples Analysed | No. of Samples found non-conforming | Civil Cases | Criminal Cases | ||||
| No. of Cases launched | No. of Cases decided | No. of Convictions | No. of Cases Launched | No. of Cases decided | No. of Convictions | |||
| 2019-20 | 118775 | 29589 | 27412 | 18192 | 17345 | 4681 | 828 | 780 |
| 2020-21 | 107829 | 28347 | 24195 | 15878 | 14817 | 3869 | 520 | 506 |
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.