In an offer to check on adulteration, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has asked food safety authorities of States and Union Territories to boost the surveillance of milk and milk products, especially during the festival season, and maintain strict attention on milk chilling units among other measures.
In a written response in the Lok Sabha, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare declared, “To examine the problem of milk adulteration in the country, the FSSAI has advised the food safety authorities in States/ UTs to maintain a strict vigilance on milk chilling units, augment surveillance during festive seasons, follow a policy of periodic transfers in respect of Food Safety Officers (FSOs) and generating local intelligence regarding the malpractices and fortifying testing and enforcement infrastructure.”
Global standards
Affirming that FSSAI has set “internationally-benchmarked” standards and practices for milk and milk products, the Ministry added that the implementation and enforcement of these standards stay with the State and UT government.
It stated, “Regular surveillance, inspection, monitoring, and sampling of food products from all source manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, retail markets, transporters, etc. are carried out by FSOs of States/UTs and in cases of non-compliance, penal action is taken against the defaulting Food Business Operators (FBOs) as per the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 Rules and Regulations”.
Financial Support
The ministry said FSSAI has also signed MoUs with states and UTs to extend technical and financial support in order to address any breaks in the food ecosystem and to ensure the pooling of technical knowledge. It added in its reply, “FSSAI has expanded financial support to States/UTs under a Central Sector Scheme for strengthening of food testing infrastructure. FSSAI has regularly urged States/UTs to carry out aimed enforcement and surveillance operations to check adulteration in food products. For on-the-spot examination of adulterants in milk and milk products particularly in remote areas, mobile food testing laboratories equipped with rapid milk analyzers have been provided to the States/UTs”.
Also, the food safety authority has set up the Food Safety Training & Certification (FoSTaC) ecosystem for widespread and effective delivery of food safety training to food businesses including dairy businesses across the value chain.
