Instances of sale/supply of sub-standard and adulterated food stuffs including edible oil have come to the notice of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).  To prevent food adulteration regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of food products, including edible oil, are being carried out by Food Safety Officers of States/UT and action has been initiated against as per the provisions of FSS Act, 2006 against the defaulting Food Business Operators.

In order to ensure the availability of good quality foodstuffs to the consumers and for keeping a check on problem of food adulteration, the state food safety authorities have been advised from time to time to keep a strict vigil by regularly drawing food samples from all sources viz. Manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers and to take strict action against the offenders under the provisions of FSS Act, 2006. To check sale of adulterated edible oil, FSSAI has notified regulations which provide for sale of edible oils in packaged form only except for sale of loose oil in specific circumstances as permitted by State Government. 

FSSAI has strengthened the food testing ecosystem by notifying 263 primary food testing labs across the country; and state food testing labs under a Central Sector Scheme “Strengthening of Food Testing System in the Country including provision of Mobile Food Testing Labs (SoFTeL)”.

FSSAI has released a booklet called ‘Detect Adulteration with Rapid Test (DART)’ which covers more than 50 common quick tests for detection of food adulterants at household by the citizens themselves so as to induce awareness among the consumers about food safety. DART book is available on website of FSSAI. FSSAI has also  introduced a policy for adoption of Rapid Analytical Food Testing (RAFT) Kit/Equipment/Method  for regulatory purpose.

Enforcement of the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations made thereunder primarily rests with States/UTs. As per the reports received from States/UTs, the details of action taken against offenders during the last three years are given below:

Statement regarding number of prosecution launched and action taken during the last three years 

Year	No. of Civil/ Criminal cases  Launched	Convictions	No. of cases in which Penalties imposed	Amount raised
2016-17	13,080	1,605	4,757	Rs.17,01,93,266
2017-18	15,121	5,198	7,627	Rs.26,35,41,067
2018-19	21,363	701	12,734	Rs.32,57,78,087

 

The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), ShAshwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.

 

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MV/LK

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