UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC questions food safety regulator over delay in warning label roll-out

Q1. With reference to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. FSSAI derives its powers from an Act of Parliament rather than from an executive resolution of the government.
  2. The Act that created FSSAI brought several earlier food laws together, giving the country a single reference point for food standards.
  3. FSSAI's standards serve as advisory benchmarks, which food businesses may adopt or ignore unless a State separately legislates them.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. With reference to nutrition labelling on packaged food, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Moving a grams-per-100 g nutrient table from the back of a pack to its front turns it into an interpretive label.
  2. A back-of-pack nutrient table is non-interpretive, since the shopper must judge whether a listed quantity is high or low.
  3. A 'HIGH IN SALT' symbol is interpretive, since the judgement against a threshold has already been made for the shopper.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q3. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. The Supreme Court is pressing FSSAI, rather than individual State governments, to frame front-of-pack labelling norms for packaged food.
  2. Field-level enforcement of food safety standards under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 rests primarily with State food safety authorities.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q4. With reference to the regulations framed by FSSAI, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. They are a form of delegated legislation, valid only so far as they remain within the powers conferred by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
  2. A draft regulation becomes binding only after final notification, so the period for public objections imposes no compliance obligation on food businesses.
  3. Notified regulations can later be amended by the Food Authority through the same rule-making route, without a fresh Act of Parliament.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q5. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. A labelling regulation that has been finally notified in the Gazette may still not be enforceable against food businesses on the date of notification.
  2. Regulators often specify a transition period after notification, and compliance becomes mandatory only once that period ends.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct