Question : Deregulation of FSSAI

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government/Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) proposes to move towards deregulation and self compliance from its regulatory working, licensing, enforcement and monitoring of Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the FSSAI has wounded up its offices in Chandigarh and Lucknow recently; and

(d) if so, the extent by which its five regional offices are able to regulate the growing food industry in the country?

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)
(a) & (b): The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 marks a shift from a mere regulatory regime to a regime of self-compliance through Food Safety Management System. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has, in the recent past, taken various steps to impart training to Food Business Operators (FBOs) including street food vendors, launched information awareness campaigns, and implemented Food Safety Management System to empower the FBOs to become self-compliant with the regulatory requirements. Further, measures taken for facilitating faster clearance of imports include, implementation of Single Window Clearance at all six ports manned by FSSAI; increasing the number of notified labs entrusted with task of testing of food samples; designing web based food import clearance process; notification of customs officers as Authorised Officers at 125 locations to maintain parity of testing and import clearance; implementation of risk based inspection of imported food consignments on pilot basis for pulses and oils; and implementation of Pre-Arrival Document Scrutiny (PADS) scheme w.e.f. 02.02.2016.
(c) & (d): The Sub-Regional Offices of FSSAI in Lucknow and Chandigarh were primarily responsible for Central Licensing in the States of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The FSSAI has, with effect from 01.08.2014, made the Central Licensing online, dispersed pre-inspection of premises for granting central licenses w.e.f. 12.02.2015 and introduced the system of post inspection which needs to be carried out within six months of the issuance of license. This has resulted in considerable reduction in the volume of work in the sub- regional Offices. Keeping this in view, a decision has been taken to close the sub-regional offices at Lucknow and Chandigarh.