Department of Food Safety
Q.1 WHAT ARE THE SALIENT FEATURES OF THE FSS ACT ?
Ans.The Act is a comprehensive and modern piece of legislation which intends to ensure movement from multi departmental control to integrated line of command.It lays down safety standards in respect of various kinds of articles of food. Act provides graded penalties depending upon gravity of offence which includes both civil penalties and imprisonment. Act also ushers in new concepts such as Food Safety Management Systems, Food Safety Audit etc.
Q.2 WHAT ARE THE FSS REGULATIONS FOR ?
Ans.FSS Act has six regulations which deal with important aspects like Licensing and Registration, Packaging and Labeling, Food Products standards and additives, Prohibitions and Restrictions on Sales, Contaminants, toxins and Residues, Laboratory and sample analysis.
Q.3 WHICH ACTS/ORDERS RELATED TO FOOD ARE REPEALED IN FSS ACT,2006?
Ans.The following Acts/Orders mentioned in second schedule of the Act have been repealed.
- Prevention of Food Adulteration Act,1954
- Fruit Products Order,1955
- Meat Food Products Order,1973
- Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order,1947
- Edible Oil Packaging (Regulation) Order,1998
- Solvent Extracted Oil, De oiled Meal, and Edible Flour(Control) Order, 1967
- Milk and milk Products Order,1992
- Any other order under Essential Commodities Act, 1955 relating to food
Q.4 HOW CONSUMERS ARE BENEFITTED THROUGH FSS ACT,2006?
Ans.The representative of the consumers organizations are members of the Food Authorities and Central Advisory Committee. The consumer can even draw the sample of food himself and get it analysed on Payment of fees as per provisions of section 40 of FSS Act. In case of injury or death of the consumer due to consumption of 'unsafe' food, there is a provision for compensation to the consumer.
Q.5 WHAT TYPE OF FOOD ANALYSIS FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF FOOD SAFETY?
Ans.Some Quick Tests of food samples are performed free of cost, for the consumers.
Q.5 (A) WHAT IS THE TEST FOR DETECTING SYNTHETIC COLOUR IN SELA RICE?
Ans.Rub a few grains in the palms of two hands, yellow colour would get reduced or disappear. Add a few drops of diluted Hydrochloric Acid to some rice grains mixed with little water. Presence of violet colour shows presence of synthetic colour.
Q.5 (B) HOW CAN WE DETECT PRESENCE OF STARCH IN KHOA, PANEER, MILK?
Ans.Boil the sample with some water, cool and add tincture of iodine. Indication of blue colour shows presence of starch.
Q.5 (C) HOW CAN WE DETECT PRESENCE OF ADDED COLOUR IN TEA LEAVES?
Ans.Tea leaves sprinkled on wet filter paper would immediately release added colour.
Q.5 (D) HOW CAN WE DETECT PRESENCE OF CHALK POWDER IN SUGAR?
Ans.Dissolve it in a glass of water, Chalk will settle down at the bottom.
Q.5 (E) HOW CAN WE DETECT PRESENCE OF MOLASSES SUGAR (SUGAR PLUS WATER) IN HONEY?
Ans.A cotton dipped in pure honey when lighted with a match stick burns. If adulterated, the presence of water will not allow the honey to burn. If it does, it will produce a crackling sound.
Q.6 WHAT IS THE FEE PRESICRIBED FOR ANALYSIS OF SMAPLES FOR CONSUMERS , REQUIRING COMPLETE ANALYSIS REPORT, AS PER FOOD SAFETY & STANDARDS ACT?
Ans.Rs.1000/- per sample.
Q.7 WHAT IS THE PRESCRIBED FEE FOR FOOD BUSINESS OPERATORS, FOR ANALYSIS OF SAMPLE?
Ans.Rs.5000/-per sample.
Q.8 WHY WE NEED A LICENSE/REGISTRATION UNDER FSS ACT.2006?
Ans.It is mandatory under FSS Act 2006 to have License/Registration to carry out any business of food like manufacturer, sale, storage or distribution etc.
Q.9 WHAT IS THE CRITERIA FOR THE LICENSE/REGISTRATION?
Ans.(a) An FBO having turnover of less than Rs. 12Lac/annum has to obtain Registration.
(b) And FBO having turnover of more than Rs. 12Lac/annum has to obtain License.
Q.10 PLACE FROM WHERE THIS CAN BE OBTAINED?
Ans.Both Registration / License can be applied online at -
https://foscos.fssai.gov.in
Q.11 FOR HOW MUCH PERIOD CAN IT BE APPLIED?
Ans.1 to 5 Years.
Q.12 WHAT IS THE FEES STRUCTURE?
Ans.a) For Registration, it is Rs. 100/-per annum
b) For License, it varies from Rs.2000 to 5000 per annum.
Q.13 WHAT IS THE ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT AGAINST THE FOOD BUSINESS OPERATORS WHO INDULGE IN THE MANUFACTURE / DISTRIBUTION / STORAGE AND/OR SALE OF FOOD ARTICLES WHICH ARE IN CONTRAVENTION OF FSS ACT/RULES/REGULATIONS I.E. UNSAFE, SUBSTANDARD, MISBRANDED ETC.?
Ans.The Food Safety Officers of the Department immediately take the samples of the food article and after analysis by the Food Analyst if the same is found in contravention of FSS Act/Rules/Regulations i.e. unsafe, substandard, misbranded etc., prosecution proceedings are instituted against the Food Business Operators in the Courts.
Q.14 IN WHICH COURT THE CASE IS INSTITUTED AGAINST THE FOOD BUSINESS OPERATOR?
Ans.For 'unsafe' food, the case is instituted against the Food Business Operator in the Designated FSS Act Court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate and for other category of food i.e. 'substandard'/'misbranded'/'containing' extraneous matter, the cases are instituted in the court of Adjudicating Officer of the respective District in which the offence has been committed by the Food Business Operator.
Q.15 WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES IMPOSED UPON THE FOOD BUSINESS OPERATORS FOR SELLING SUBSTANDARD/MISBRANDED/ UNSAFE FOOD ETC.?
Ans.The following are the penalties:-
(A) SUBSTANDARD:
Any person who whether by himself or by any other person on his behalf manufactures for sale or stores or sells or distributes or imports any article of food for human consumption which is sub-standard, shall be liable to a penalty which may extend to five lakh rupees.
(B) MISBRANDED:
Any person who whether by himself or by any other person on his behalf manufacturers for sale or stores or sells or distributes or imports any article of food for human consumption which is misbranded, shall be liable to a penalty which may extend to three lakh rupees.
(C) PENALTY FOR FOOD CONTAINING EXTRANEOUS MATTER:
Any person whether by himself or by any other person on his behalf manufactures for sale or stores or sells or distributes or imports any article of food for human consumption containing extraneous matter, shall be liable to a penalty which may extend to one lakh rupees.
(D) UNSAFE FOOD
Any person who, whether by himself or by any other person on his behalf, manufactures for sale or stores or sells or distributes or imports any article of food for human consumption which is unsafe, shall be punishable:
a. Where such failure or contravention does not result in injury, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months and also with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees;
b. Where such failure or contravention results in a non-grievous injury, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year and also with fine which may extend to three lakh rupees;
c. Where such failure or contravention results in a grievous injury, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six year and also with fine which may extend to five lakh rupees;
d. Where such failure or contravention results in death, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may extend to imprisonment for life and also with fine which shall not be less than ten lakh rupees.