Science-based standards for food: what the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is mandated to do

Background

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is mandated to lay down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import, to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
It works under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Implementation and enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006 is a shared responsibility between the Central and State Governments.
Around 98% of Food Business Operators fall within the jurisdiction of the State and Union Territory Food Safety Authorities.
FSSAI regularly reviews the performance and vacancies of Food Safety Officers of all States and Union Territories through forums such as Central Advisory Committee (CAC) meetings and Inter-State Zonal Council Meetings.
It has notified 259 NABL-accredited food testing laboratories and 24 Referral Food Laboratories, and has deployed 305 Mobile Food Testing Laboratories known as Food Safety on Wheels.
Its DART (Detect Adulteration with Rapid Test) book covers 44 tests that can be done at home with water and simple solutions, and the Food Safety Magic Box is a school kit of rapid tests.