Consider the following statements:

The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is under the charge of Director General of Health Services in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (UPSC Prelims 2018)

Question

The correct answer is [A] 1 only. The Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006 was enacted to consolidate multiple laws and establish a single regulatory body for food safety in India.

Repeal of Older Acts (Statement 1 – Correct): The FSSA, 2006, aimed to move from multi-level, multi-departmental control to a single line of command. It successfully replaced and repealed eight older central acts, including the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, the Fruit Products Order, 1955, and the Meat Food Products Order, 1973.
Administrative Structure (Statement 2 – Incorrect): While the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is indeed under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, it is not under the charge of the Director General of Health Services (DGHS). FSSAI is led by a Chairperson (appointed by the Central Government) and a Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The Chairperson holds a rank not below that of Secretary to the Government of India.

Key Mandates of FSSAI:

Standard Setting: Laying down science-based standards for articles of food.
Regulating Manufacture: To regulate the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
Decentralization: While FSSAI is the central body, the enforcement of the Act is primarily carried out by the State Food Safety Authorities through Food Safety Officers.

Historically, the shift from the \"Prevention of Adulteration\" mindset to a broader \"Food Safety\" framework was intended to align Indian standards with international benchmarks like the Codex Alimentarius.

GKToday Admin · Accepted Answer

1 only The correct answer is [A] 1 only. The Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006 was enacted to consolidate multiple laws and establish a single regulatory body for food safety in India.

Repeal of Older Acts (Statement 1 – Correct): The FSSA, 2006, aimed to move from multi-level, multi-departmental control to a single line of command. It successfully replaced and repealed eight older central acts, including the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, the Fruit Products Order, 1955, and the Meat Food Products Order, 1973.
Administrative Structure (Statement 2 – Incorrect): While the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is indeed under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, it is not under the charge of the Director General of Health Services (DGHS). FSSAI is led by a Chairperson (appointed by the Central Government) and a Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The Chairperson holds a rank not below that of Secretary to the Government of India.

Key Mandates of FSSAI:

Standard Setting: Laying down science-based standards for articles of food.
Regulating Manufacture: To regulate the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
Decentralization: While FSSAI is the central body, the enforcement of the Act is primarily carried out by the State Food Safety Authorities through Food Safety Officers.

Historically, the shift from the \"Prevention of Adulteration\" mindset to a broader \"Food Safety\" framework was intended to align Indian standards with international benchmarks like the Codex Alimentarius.

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