Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether raw meat like beef, buffalo meat, mutton, pork, chicken etc. is being sold to the consumers without any medical test;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to conduct test of raw meat at district level itself before selling it to consumers and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the total consumption of raw meat of various types in the country, State-wise?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)
(a) to (c): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has laid down the standards for meat and meat products under sub-regulation 2.5 of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standard and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. Further, in Part IV of Schedule IV of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration) Regulations, 2011, FSSAI has prescribed guidelines on specific hygienic and sanitary practices to be followed by Food Business Operators (FBOs) engaged in manufacture, processing, storing and selling meat and meat products. These standards and guidelines are required to be adhered to by FBOs dealing with meat and meat products. The implementation and enforcement of provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations thereunder as applicable to any food product, primarily rests with the State/UT Governments. A surveillance plan was shared with the States/UTs by the FSSAI, in August, 2014 wherein the samples of meat and meat products were to be drawn during the months of July to September. The States were given liberty to modify the surveillance plan as per availability of food items, geographical location, degree of risk, etc. Regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of food products, including meat and meat products, is undertaken by the officials of Food Safety Departments of the respective States/UTs to check compliance of the standards laid down under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and Rules and Regulations thereunder. In cases, where the food samples are found to be non-conforming to the prescribed standards, recourse is taken to penal provisions under Chapter IX of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Separate data in respect of meat and meat products, is not maintained centrally by the FSSAI.
(d): Data on consumption of raw meat is not maintained centrally.