FSSAI and Food Safety

Food safety is a major public health concern. There are specific laws, mandates and regulations in India to maintain the quality of food and to ensure food safety.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), an autonomous body under the ministry of health & family welfare, works as a regulatory and supervising agency that regulates food businesses and their functions and operations in India. It also monitors and promotes public health. This is ensured by making all food business distributors, operators, storage houses and retailers acquire an FSSAI license mandatorily.

FSSAI has set globally benchmarked safe-food practices that include developing manuals for Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS) and setting up third-party audits and Indian certification for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and General Hygiene Practices (GHP) for food businesses. FSSAI has set Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011, for food products regulation.