Context:
India has transitioned toward a science-driven food safety system, yet significant challenges persist in areas such as indigenous research, public risk awareness, and outdated regulations.
Evolution of Food Safety Regulations in India
- Initial Framework: India’s food safety efforts began with the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, supported by multiple commodity-specific regulations.
- Consolidation: The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 replaced earlier laws, creating the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) as the central body.
- Recent Reforms: Post-2015, following major food controversies, India aimed to align its regulations with global benchmarks like Codex Alimentarius, enhance transparency, and reinforce enforcement mechanisms.
Major Challenges
- Prevalence of Adulteration:
- Widespread use of harmful substances such as urea, synthetic dyes, and detergents in milk, oils, and sweets.
- FSSAI’s 2012 study revealed that 68% of milk samples were tainted with unsafe elements like detergent and urea.
- Regulatory Oversight Gaps:
- Numerous food businesses operate without licenses.
- Inspections are irregular, with audit lapses frequently flagged in CAG reports.
- Industry Malpractices:
- Incidents of false labelling, omission of ingredients, and use of banned additives have eroded consumer confidence.
- Complex Compliance Structure:
- Fragmented and overlapping guidelines make compliance difficult for MSMEs and street food vendors.
- Only 377 food items are covered under Indian norms, compared to over 10,000 products under international food safety standards.
- Limited Transparency:
- Public disclosure of food testing results is poor, despite frequent raids—weakening public trust and deterrence.
Key Government Initiatives
- Eat Right India Movement:
- Spearheaded by FSSAI, it promotes healthy, hygienic, and sustainable food choices; aligned with the National Health Policy 2017.
- RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil):
- Encourages recycling of used edible oil into biodiesel.
- Over 250 collection centers have been set up with collaboration from Oil Marketing Companies.
- State Food Safety Index (SFSI):
- Annual ranking of states based on performance across five food safety parameters.
- Food Safety Mitra (FSM) Scheme:
- Trains professionals to support food businesses with compliance and hygiene practices.
- Over 1,000 FSMs have been certified since inception.
- Eat Right Station Certification:
- Recognizes railway stations that meet food safety and hygiene benchmarks.
- By 2023, over 100 stations had earned this certification.
Way Forward
- Improve Infrastructure:
- Only 68 laboratories have NABL accreditation as FSSAI-notified labs (as of 2023).
- There’s a need for better funding, mobile testing facilities, and trained personnel.
- Regulatory Simplification:
- Move toward a unified framework—“One Nation, One Regulator”—by streamlining standards and eliminating overlaps like BIS and AGMARK dual certification.
- Stricter Enforcement:
- Impose robust penalties for violations, exemplified by the Maggi ban due to excess lead and MSG levels.
- Awareness Campaigns:
- Educate the public on interpreting food labels, dangers of reused oils, and safe pesticide application.
- Promote Safe Agricultural Practices:
- Discourage excessive pesticide use and the artificial ripening of fruits using harmful substances (e.g., calcium carbide).
- Encourage adoption of organic and sustainable farming methods.