- Why in news
- On 10 February 2026, the Minister of State for Health told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply how FSSAI is tackling food adulteration. It gave figures on notified labs, mobile testing vans and sample checks.
- What it is
- The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 merged earlier food laws into one law and set up the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). FSSAI lays down science-based standards for food and regulates its manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import. Enforcement in the field is mainly done by State Food Safety Authorities.
- Role of FSSAI
- FSSAI sets science-based food standards and regulates manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import of food.
- Shared responsibility
- The Centre and States share implementation and enforcement of the FSS Act, 2006.
- Field enforcement
- FSSAI coordinates and sets standards, while State Food Safety Authorities are mainly responsible for field-level enforcement.
- Testing network
- FSSAI has notified 246 NABL-accredited labs for primary analysis and 24 Referral Food Laboratories for appellate samples.
- Food Safety on Wheels
- 305 mobile labs operate across 35 States/UTs, doing basic tests for common adulterants and also spreading awareness and training.
- Parent ministry
- FSSAI is a statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, with headquarters in New Delhi.
Don’t confuse with NABL labs vs Referral Food Labs: NABL-accredited notified labs do primary analysis of samples. Referral Food Laboratories analyse appellate samples.
Don’t confuse with FSSAI vs State Food Safety Authorities: FSSAI sets standards and coordinates. States enforce in the field.
Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.
Why it matters
- Food safety is a public health matter. A single national law and regulator gives uniform standards across States.
Problems
- Enforcement depends on State authorities, whose testing capacity and staffing differ widely. Non-conforming sample rates vary sharply across States.
Way forward
- Build more accredited labs and mobile units in remote areas, and strengthen State enforcement capacity.
- Increase surveillance and consumer awareness through regular drives.
Put in your answer
Mobile labs: Food Safety on Wheels covers remote areas lacking testing infrastructure.
- 2018Prelims Q23Does FSS Act 2006 replace PFA 1954, and is FSSAI under DGHS?
- 2021Mains GS4 · Q11Ethics case: food firm's export approval and domestic launch requiring competent authority approval
- 2010Prelims Q48Which body WTO collaborates with for international food safety standards in dispute settlement
- 2016Prelims Q34Mandatory main-label information on pre-packaged food under FSS Labelling Regulations 2011
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Statutory body with a lasting syllabus topic. Statutory bodies drew only 7 Prelims questions, so no practice question.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.