The liberalization of the Indian economy in the 1990s opened the Indian market to foreign companies, allowing them to operate without many rules and regulations. The Indian economy was going through many ups and downs at that time, so the government of the day did not bother about free market access to foreign business entities as well as Indian business players. Till 2006, things had deteriorated to such an extent that the Indian government felt the need for a food safety and standards act to be passed to safeguard consumers from the processed foods available on the market.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a statutory body formed by the act of parliament in 2006 to ensure safe and wholesome food for the Indian population. Now, FSSAI has made it mandatory for companies to display nutritional information on food packages in large fonts. It includes salt, sugar, and saturated fat and must be written in bold letters.
FSSAI was formed for setting standards, regulations, and compliances, food safety surveillance, and product testing, but it has taken the first step of setting standards regarding food safety, like labelling and ingredients of food must be written in bold and large letters, after 17 years of inception, although late but effective.
A rail passenger named Santosh Singh (Train No. 19305) uploaded video and wrote on his X post that the water bottle was sold in train against the regulatory guidelines of Indian Railway. The only brand allowed to be sold on trains is RailNeer, but the pantry manager was hardly bothered about it, despite many complaints by the passengers. Therefore, the FSSAI should be an active body rather than a mere statutory body on paper.
India is a large country with 1.4 billion people, and the role of the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) is huge. Maintaining the supply chain management and public health of such a vast population requires robust management machinery to be looked after effectively. The government also appears to be tilting its head to give impetus to FSSAI's mission.
Chairperson of FSSAI, Apurva Chandra, said that the amendment is going to empower consumers to understand the product in a real sense in terms of nutritional value.
Key Functions of FSSAI:
Setting Standards: FSSAI creates and implements food safety regulations that address pollutants, ingredients, additives, and labelling.
Regulation and Compliance: It keeps an eye on food establishments and makes sure they follow standards for quality.
Licensing and Registration: To encourage legal compliance, the FSSAI grants licenses or registers food businesses.
Food Safety Surveillance: Consistent observation guarantees that food items adhere to safety regulations.
Product Testing and Analysis: To ensure compliance, food samples are tested by FSSAI.