The Government has undertaken a range of measures to strengthen food safety enforcement across the country through enhanced testing infrastructure, capacity building, regulatory oversight and consumer awareness initiatives. These efforts aim to ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food for consumers and strengthen compliance with food safety standards.

To achieve these objectives, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is mandated to lay down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. The implementation and enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006 is a shared responsibility between the Central and State Governments.

To strengthen food safety enforcement, FSSAI regularly reviews the performance and vacancies of Food Safety Officers of all States/UTs through various forums like Central Advisory Committee (CAC) meetings, Inter-State Zonal Council Meetings.

For the safety of the food and food products through testing, FSSAI has notified a network of 259 NABL-accredited food testing laboratories comprising laboratories of State/UT Governments, Government institutions, and NABL-accredited private laboratories for the analysis of food samples. FSSAI has also notified 24 Referral Food Laboratories for the analysis of appeal samples. There are also 305 Mobile Food Testing Laboratories (Food Safety on Wheels) deployed across the country to conduct on-the-spot testing, distribute rapid kits, and drive public awareness in remote areas.

SoFTeL scheme (Strengthening of Food Testing System in the Country including provision of Mobile Food Testing Labs) is an initiative implemented by the FSSAI to upgrade state food labs, set up microbiology facilities, and deploys mobile food testing vans. Under this scheme, 47 State Food Testing Laboratories have been structurally upgraded with advanced analytical equipment.

Around 98% of the Food Business Operators (FBOs) fall within the jurisdiction of the State/UT Food Safety Authorities. Accordingly, the enforcement and implementation of the provisions of the FSS Act, 2006 primarily rests with the State/UT Food Safety Authorities within their respective jurisdictions. To ensure compliance with the standards, limits, and other statutory requirements prescribed under the FSS Act, 2006, and the regulations made thereunder, the State Food Safety Authorities undertake regular surveillance, monitoring, targeted enforcement drives, inspections, and sampling activities across the food sector. Court cases whenever filed are responded mentioning the provisions of FSS Act, 2006 and regulations made thereunder from time to time.

FSSAI has launched various campaigns, such as “#NoToAdulteration” & “How to Check for Adulteration” video on its official YouTube channel campaign to raise consumer awareness about food adulteration and how to identify adulterated products; "#HarLabelKuchKahtaHai" (Every Label Speaks) campaign to empower citizens with label literacy for healthier eating and informed choices. This initiative educates consumers on key elements like nutritional information (calories, fats, sugars, protein), ingredient lists, allergen warnings, and date markings. These initiatives include advertisements, educational materials, and online platforms to spread awareness.

In addition to this, FSSAI has introduced DART (Detect Adulteration with Rapid Test) book which covers 44 tests that can be performed easily at households with the help of water and simple solutions like tincture of iodine for food products such as Milk & Milk Products, Oils, Sugar & Confectionary, Food Grains & its products, Spices & Condiments. These tests also include sensory evaluation tests for establishing authentication of food products. DART book depicts differences between pure and adulterated food products through pictorial representation. The same is available on FSSAI Website.

Also, Food Safety Magic Box is a compact and user-friendly kit containing simple, rapid test methods to detect common food adulterants in seven types of food commodities. This kit is used and distributed in schools as part of food safety awareness initiative. It aims to engage students through hands-on learning, enabling them to identify adulteration in everyday food items such as milk, spices, oils, and grains.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today

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HFW/Steps taken to strengthen food safety enforcement/07August2026/4

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