Monitoring of companies producing adulterated food items
Under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the enforcement of standards and norms under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Rules and Regulations primarily lies with State/UT Governments. Regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and sampling of food products are carried out by Food Safety Officers of States/UTs and penal action is taken against the defaulting Food Business Operators (FBOs) as per the provisions of FSS Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations made thereunder.
To ensure effective enforcement, FSSAI interacts with the Food Safety Commissioners of States/ UTs through quarterly meetings of the Central Advisory Committee, Video Conferencing and State visits of senior officers of FSSAI. FSSAI provides financial assistance to States/ UTs under a Central Sector Scheme for strengthening of food testing infrastructure, including strengthening of State Food Testing Labs and provision for mobile food testing labs, as also under Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) framework, for strengthening of food safety infrastructure, hiring of manpower, etc.
FSSAI has advised Commissioner of Food Safety of States/UTs to carry out targeted enforcement and surveillance drive to check adulteration in food products such as milk, honey, oil etc.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.