Context:
In an effort to galvanize States/UTs to work towards ensuring safe food for citizens, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare released Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)’s 4th State Food Safety Index (SFSI) to measure the performance of States across five parameters of food safety.
Relevance:
GS-II: Social Justice (Issues related to Health, Government Policies and Interventions)
Dimensions of the Article:
- About the State Food Safety Index (SFSI)
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- Highlights of the SFSI
About the State Food Safety Index (SFSI)
- The index is developed by FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) to measure the performance of states on five significant parameters of Food Safety.
- The parameters include Human Resources and Institutional Data, Compliance, Food Testing – Infrastructure and Surveillance, Training & Capacity Building and Consumer Empowerment.
- The Index is a dynamic quantitative and qualitative benchmarking model that provides an objective framework for evaluating food safety across all States/UTs.
- The first State Food Safety Index for the year 2018-19 was announced on the first-ever World Food Safety Day on 7th June 2019.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- FSSAI is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
- The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which is a consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India.
- Hence, FSSAI is a Statutory Body.
- FSSAI is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.
- The main aim of FSSAI is to
- Lay down science-based standards for articles of food
- To regulate manufacture, storage, distribution, import and sale of food
- To facilitate safety of food
- Standards framed by FSSAI are prescribed under:
- Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011,
- Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulation, 2011
- Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins, and Residues) Regulations, 2011.
Highlights of the SFSI
- Tamil Nadu topped the State Food Safety Index (SFSI) this year, followed by Gujarat and Maharashtra.
- Among the smaller States, Goa stood first, followed by Manipur and Sikkim.
- Among the Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Chandigarh secured the first, second and third ranks.
-Source: The Hindu, PIB
