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Health ministry to spend Rs 1,750 cr on FSSAI, state regulatory system
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Monday, 08 December, 2014, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
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fiogf49gjkf0d The health and family welfare ministry recently issued a notice inviting suggestions on two schemes under the Food Safety Standards Regulations (FSSR), 2011, to strengthen food safety regulatory system of the country. They are the Central scheme for strengthening of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), for which Rs 850 crore was set, and the Central scheme for the strengthening of state regulatory system, for which the outlay was Rs 900 crore.
The ministry stated that it was being done to ensure the effective enforcement of the FSSR. Further, the enforcement structure (both manpower and equipment) at the Centre and in the states and Union Territories (UT), need to be strengthened and upgraded.
“The Central scheme for the strengthening of FSSAI with allocation of Rs 850 crore, and the scheme for the strengthening of the state food regulatory system, with an estimated cost of Rs 900 crore (excluding the states’ share), under the Centrally-sponsored scheme of the National Health Mission (NHM) of the health and family welfare ministry are proposed to be implemented during the residual period of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan,” said the ministry.
But sources added that it was partly because of the various litigations which were filed with the various courts over the years with respect to adulteration in food items and other regulatory issues, and partly because there wasn’t much information amongst the masses about the food safety and regulatory system in the country. Moreover, people’s participation has been poor.
With the Rs 850-crore scheme, the ministry aims to strengthen the FSSAI at the headquarters and in its regional or field offices, e-governance and food safety surveillance. It also plans to strengthen the central-level laboratories and establish the National Food Science and Risk Assessment Centre (NFSRAC).
Under the Central scheme for states, the ministry wants to strengthen the food safety infrastructure at the state level, like the state laboratories, besides creating awareness, imparting training, capacity building and educational programmes under both the schemes.
FSSAI would be the implementing agency for these schemes, while funds to the states would be released after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is signed between the respective state government and FSSAI regarding the objectives, the timelines for completion of the activities, etc.
“The schemes also aim at strengthening the food testing laboratories, building manpower capacity of the states, organising training camps, creating awareness for the public and food business operators (FBO) and setting up a robust surveillance system, considered essential to effectively meet the aims of reducing food adulteration, and making available wholesome food to the consumers,” the ministry said.
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