In exercise of the powers conferred under Sub Section 5 of Section 10 read with Section 37 of the Food Safety and Standards Act

## Report on Amendment to Food Safety Officer Designations **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on February 28, 2022, which amends a previous notification regarding the designation of Food Safety Officers. The core purpose of the amendment is to expand the list of designated officers and their respective areas of jurisdiction to include personnel responsible for specific points of entry (airport and seaport). The key finding is the addition of two new Food Safety Officers with clearly defined jurisdictions, likely aimed at strengthening food safety oversight at these crucial entry points. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an overview and analysis of a notification published by the FSSAI concerning amendments to the designation of Food Safety Officers. The analysis is based solely on the text of the provided notification. **3. Policy Overview:** * This notification is an amendment to the principal notification published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4 dated the 15th June 2021 (F. No. 11002015CLPortAirportEnfFSSAI). * The core objective of the original policy (as inferred from the amendment) is to designate officers within the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, as Food Safety Officers with specific areas of jurisdiction, presumably to ensure compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The amendment expands on this existing structure. **4. Background and Rationale:** This amendment appears designed to address the need for dedicated Food Safety Officers at key points of entry into India, specifically airports and seaports. The addition of officers responsible for Bhubneshwar Airport and Paradip Seaport suggests a focused effort to strengthen food safety and standards compliance at these locations, potentially in response to identified needs or gaps in the existing oversight system. This is inferred from the fact that ports and airports were mentioned in the F. No. of the original notification. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This notification amends the principal notification by: * **Omitting Column 3:** Removing the 'designation' column. This implies that only the name, and area of jurisdiction is necessary. * **Adding New Entries:** Inserting two new entries into the table of designated Food Safety Officers: * S.No. 17: Dr. Bijnapad Sahoo, with jurisdiction over Bhubneshwar Airport. * S.No. 18: Dr. R. N. Panigarhi, with jurisdiction over Paradip Seaport. The effect of these changes is to *explicitly assign* responsibility for food safety oversight at Bhubneshwar Airport and Paradip Seaport to specific individuals, presumably improving accountability and potentially streamlining processes. The removal of the 'designation' column is not explained, but it would appear to suggest that only the name and jurisdiction is important to the FSSAI. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The primary target audience and stakeholders directly affected by these changes include: * **Dr. Bijnapad Sahoo and Dr. R. N. Panigarhi:** The newly designated Food Safety Officers, who now have explicit responsibilities for food safety at their respective locations. * **Businesses operating within Bhubneshwar Airport and Paradip Seaport:** These businesses are now subject to the oversight of the designated Food Safety Officers. * **Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare:** The parent organization of the designated officers. * **FSSAI:** as the responsible agency for regulating food safety. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The FSSAI is the responsible agency for issuing and implementing this amendment. The Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, is the employing body of the designated officers. * **Timelines/Procedures:** The amendment takes effect from the date of publication of the notification (March 2, 2022). No specific procedures are outlined in the text, but it can be assumed that the designated officers will now begin exercising their responsibilities within their respective jurisdictions. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcomes of these changes include: * **Enhanced Food Safety Oversight:** Increased scrutiny and enforcement of food safety standards at Bhubneshwar Airport and Paradip Seaport. * **Improved Compliance:** Greater adherence to food safety regulations by businesses operating within these locations. * **Clearer Accountability:** Defined responsibility for food safety at these key points of entry. **9. Conclusion:** The FSSAI's notification amending the designation of Food Safety Officers represents a targeted effort to strengthen food safety oversight at Bhubneshwar Airport and Paradip Seaport. By explicitly assigning responsibility to designated officers, the amendment aims to enhance compliance, improve accountability, and ultimately safeguard food safety at these important entry points. The changes underscore the FSSAI's commitment to proactive and responsive food safety regulation.

Key Entities Referenced