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Eight food laws will be repealed but FSSAI may resort to "soft-pedalling"
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Wednesday, 03 August, 2011, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Irum Khan, Mumbai
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Around eight laws relating to the food industry will be repealed before August 5 and an official notification to this effect is likely to come about in a day or two.
According to the Schedule 2 of the new Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which is scheduled to come into force on August 5, different food related orders like the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 (37 of 1954); the Fruit Products Order, 1955; the Meat Food Products Order, 1973; the Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order, 1947; the Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation) Order, 1998; the Solvent Extracted Oil, De oiled Meal, and Edible Flour and (Control) Order, 1967; the Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992; and any other order issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (10 of 1955); will be repealed.
However, the industry has some concerns, which have already been taken to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). One, even after repealing the eight food laws, the scope for multiplicity of laws will remain.
"Only a person who understands law will know that several regulations like The Indian Penal Code, the Municipal Corporation Act and many such Acts will still continue to control the food industry. What has the Authority thought about these issues," questioned a source from an industry body.
Second, where licensing of the food establishment is concerned, there are many contradictions in the Food Safety and Standards Rules 2011 with respect to the Act. The Authority is yet to come clear on this.
Though the new Act would put the responsibility of food safety on the food business operators and reduce the scope for imprisonment in the case of an offence, the concern of the industry was that the penalty which would be charged in lieu was extremely high as compared to the gravity of the offence.
The All-India Food Processor's Association (AIFPA) has taken such concerns to the FSSAI, which has assured of "soft pedalling" into the new Act, implying leniency and said that an advisory will be issued by the Authority to the states in this regard.
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