Govt to notify Food Safety & Standard Act Soon: Azad

"Ministry has already finalised the rules and regulations for the implementation of the food safety and standards act (FSSA), 2006 and the draft will be notified by December for the public consultation," Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad told PTI.

This will pave the way for repeal of Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act, which has been demanded by the domestic food industry, Azad said. He said a unified food law for the whole country had been demanded by the food industry for a long time and the implementation of FSSA act would be a step in this direction.

Once the rules are notified, the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, will come into force. The Act was brought into consolidate all existing food laws in the country.

Under the FSSA Act 2006, Food Safety and Standards Authority has been created under Health Ministry to lay down standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food.

The Act also provides for a penalty on manufacturers of adulterated food items, including fine of Rs 1 lakh- Rs 10 lakh to be adjudicated by an officer of the rank of Sub-Divisional Magistrate. The rules framed under FSSA also have the provision for training and orientation of food safety officers, which will be carried out by the authority itself.