(a) whether the Bureau of Indian Standards has issued any guidelines with regard to quality of
food products;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the guidelines are being strictly followed in the market; and
(d) if not, the number of cases of violation of the said guidelines reported alongwith the
persons prosecuted therefor during the last two years, State-wise and year-wise?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI TASLIMUDDIN)
(a) & (b): BIS has formulated 587 standards for various food products out of which 11
standards have been brought under mandatory certification by Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare under Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act keeping in view the health and safety
of common consumers. The remaining standards are voluntary in nature.
(c) : The manufacturer has to take licence from BIS for the standards on food items
which have been made mandatory by Ministry of Health. In such cases if the manufacturer does
not obtain licence, Ministry of Health takes action against them under PFA Act. In case of
voluntary food items, the manufacturer may or may not obtain licence under the relevant Indian
standard.
(d) : In case of mandatory food items, if the manufacturer does not obtain BIS licence, the action is taken by the Regulatory Body i.e. Ministry of Health under the PFA Act.