UPSC Prelims 2018 Q23: Indian Polity – Food Safety
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Explanation
Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006 & FSSAI
| Statement | Claim | Verdict | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FSSA 2006 replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 | TRUE | FSSA 2006 consolidated and replaced 8 older laws including: Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (1954), Fruit Products Order (1955), Meat Food Products Order (1973), Milk and Milk Products Order (1992), etc. |
| 2 | FSSAI is under the Director General of Health Services in the Union Health Ministry | FALSE | FSSAI is an autonomous statutory body established under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and headed by its own Chairperson and CEO. It reports to the Union Health Minister, NOT to the DGHS. |
Answer: (a) 1 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Only Statement 1 is right - FSSA 2006 replaced the 1954 PFA Act and seven others.
- (b) Incorrect. FSSAI is an autonomous statutory body with its own Chairperson and CEO - not under DGHS.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 2 misidentifies FSSAI's reporting structure.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 1 is factually correct.
Key point
FSSAI = statutory autonomous body under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, created by FSSA 2006 (operational from 2011). Replaced PFA 1954 and 7 other laws. Sets food standards, licensing, labelling and enforcement.
Remember
The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 consolidated and replaced eight older food laws including the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an autonomous statutory body under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, headed by its own Chairperson and CEO - not the Director General of Health Services.
Common mistakes
- Confusing FSSAI (food safety) with FDA (Food and Drug Administration - US) or CDSCO (Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation - India).
- Assuming FSSAI reports to DGHS - it has its own Chairperson-CEO structure directly under the Health Ministry.
- Missing that FSSA 2006 was a consolidation - not a small amendment - of 8 different food laws into one.
Exam tip
FSSAI regulates: Food standards, licensing (FSSAI licence numbers), labelling (front-of-pack), fortification (FRK etc.), imports. Enforcement is joint with states. Not a DGHS unit.
Sources
- Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (Sections 4-6 on FSSAI)
- FSSAI Annual Reports - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare