Question : FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY

(a) the steps taken/proposed by the Government to spread awareness about the food safety, quality and hygiene practice in food industry;

(b) the details of the workshops and conference/summit organised/assisted by the Government in this regard;

(c) the issues discussed therein along with the outcome of such workshops/ conference/summit;

(d) whether the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has formulated/proposed any scheme to give rewards to the persons providing information about food adulteration; and

(e) if so, the details thereof ?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI SUDIP BANDYOPADHYAY)

(a) : The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India(FSSAI), has conducted several orientation/training programmes for Food Safety and Standards Commissioner(FSC), Adjudicating Officers(AO), Designated Officers(DO), and Food Safety Officers(FSO). Advertisements in newspapers, advertorials, radio jingles, outdoor hoardings targeting the various stakeholders to spread awareness have also been released by FSSAI.

(b): The FSSAI has organized various conferences/workshops/seminars on food safety issues details of which are annexed.

(c) : The major issues discussed in these workshops were enforcement of regulatory provisions of Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, Licensing & Registration, Quality Management System etc. These workshops/ trainings will help to make existing food safety regulators well acquainted with the wide spectrum of regulatory provisions and new concepts developed in regulatory mechanisms under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

(d) & (e): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has drawn up a reward scheme for public for exposing food adulteration and food firms issuing misleading advertisements and making false nutritional claims. This scheme envisages a reward of Rs. 500/- to the informants. The details of the Reward Scheme have already been uploaded on the website of FSSAI on 10th July, 2012, to ensure its wide publicity.