Major
Food Safety Laws in India
India
has covered a long distance from a starving nation of 1947 to one of the
biggest producers of food. The nation is aspiring to be the food
factory of the world. On the other hand, there are number of laws and
regulations containing harsh, redundant & obsolete provisions formulated
to make sure the safety and standards of food for the consumers. Some
of the significant food safety and standard laws in operating in India are as
under:
1. The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 (Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare)
This
is the main act governing the food sector in India, which lays down provision
for the protection from adulteration/contamination of food. This act
regulates the use of chemicals, flavours, pesticides and other additives in
food. Implementing agencies for the enforcement of the provisions of
this Act and the Rules made thereunder is
the respective State Government/U.T. Administration.
2. Agriculture Produce (Grading & Marketing)
Act, 1937 (Ministry of Agriculture)
Commonly
known as AGMARK this act lays down specifications for various
agricultural commodities. Currently, it covers quality guidelines for 222
different commodities. It provides a confirmation mark for agricultural items
which guarantees that they conform to a set of standards affirmed by the
Directorate of Marketing and Inspection.
3. Laws being operated by Bureau of
Indian Standards (BIS) (Ministry of Food & Consumer Affairs)
BIS
is the largest body which lays down standards for various food items. Though
these standards are voluntary, but in some cases, it has been
made mandatory. For example, cattle feed manufactured and sold in
the State of Punjab has to mandatory meet the quality
standards laid down by the BIS under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities
Act, 1955.
4. The Essential Commodities Act,
1955
This
act ensures the delivery of commodities, the supply of which if hoarded or
black marketed would affect the normal life of the people.
The
Government of India uses it to regulate the production, supply and distribution
of essential commodities. Moreover, to make them available to the consumers at
fair prices, the government can also fix the maximum retail price
(MRP).
Many
quality control orders have also been issued under the act. Some of them are as
follows:
a) Fruit Products Order, 1995 (Ministry of Food Processing
Industries)- The order
lays down provisions regulating sanitary and hygienic conditions in the
manufacturing of fruit, vegetable products. It mandates to obtain a
license for all manufacturers of fruit, vegetable products. It also lays down
the maximum limit of preservatives, additives and contaminant in
fruit and vegetable products.
b) Meat Food Products Order, 1973 (Ministry of Food Processing Industries)- The order lays down the provisions
for sanitary and hygienic conditions for the production
of wholesome meat food products. All manufacturers of meat food
products are licensed, but it excludes manufacturers who prepare products
for consumption on the spot like a restaurant.
c) Milk & Milk Products Order,1992 (MMPO)- This order ensures the quality and
increased supply of liquid milk to the consumers. It regulates
the production, supply and distribution of milk and milk products
in the whole country. The order also ensures sanitary requirements
for dairies, machinery and premises.
d) The Vegetable Oil Products (Regulation) Order, 1998 (Ministry of Food
and Consumer Affairs)- The Vegetable Oil Products (Regulation) Order, 1998 replaces the earlier
orders, i.e. the Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order, 1947 and the Vegetable
Oil Products (Standards of quality) Order, 1975. This order has reduced the
overlapping of earlier orders, i.e. the Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order,
1947 and the Vegetable Oil Products (Standards of quality) Order, 1975. Now The
Directorate of Vanaspati, Vegetable Oils and Fats is the prime authority
for the implementation of standards vegetable oil product mainly at
the manufacturing stage.
e) The Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation) Order, 1998 (Ministry of Food and
Consumer Affairs)-
This order was promulgated after dropsy incident which took approx 60
lives illness of more than 3000 due to consumption of adulterated mustard oil.
Now packers of edible oil have to be registered under this
order.
The
order ensures the sale of edible oil to the standards of quality as provided in
the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954. Selling of edible oil without
packaging and the labelling requirements on the pack is prohibited. It
also provides provisions for quality testing facilities and the sanitary and
hygiene requirements for the premises.
In
addition to above orders central and respective state governments has
issued several other orders under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act,
1955.