Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
Also called: FSSAI · Topic: Statutory, Regulatory and Quasi-judicial Bodies · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a statutory body set up under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. It works under the Health Ministry. It sets science-based food standards, meaning rules on what food must contain and how safe it must be, based on scientific evidence. It also licenses food businesses. It reflects the government's role as a regulator that, in the words of Class 7 NCERT, "takes initiatives to ensure food safety".
Example
A business that wants to make, store or sell packaged food in India must get a licence under the FSS Act 2006. It must also meet the standards the FSSAI sets.
Don't confuse with
- Central Consumer Protection Authority: it acts against unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements in general. The FSSAI deals with the safety and standards of food itself.
Related concepts
- Central Consumer Protection Authority
- Central Pollution Control Board
- National Medical Commission
- University Grants Commission
- Bar Council of India
- National Disaster Management Authority