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

## Policy Analysis Report: FSSAI Notification - Central Food Safety Officers Appointment (Amendment) **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on September 27, 2021. This notification constitutes an amendment to a previous notification (dated September 2, 2021) regarding the appointment of Central Food Safety Officers (CFSOs). The amendment adds three new CFSOs to the list, specifying their place of posting and area of jurisdiction. The core purpose of this amendment is to expand the coverage and enforcement capabilities of the FSSAI by increasing the number of officers responsible for food safety within designated regions. **2. Introduction:** The purpose of this report is to provide an informative analysis of the FSSAI notification dated September 27, 2021, concerning the appointment of Central Food Safety Officers. The report will focus on understanding the changes introduced by this amendment based solely on the provided text. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Original Policy Being Amended:** The notification amends the principal notification published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4 on September 2, 2021. * **Core Objective(s):** The core objective of the amended policy (as inferred from the text) is to strengthen the enforcement and regulatory oversight of food safety standards across India by appointing and deploying qualified Central Food Safety Officers. **4. Background and Rationale:** This notification is an *amendment*. The likely reason for this specific amendment is to enhance the operational capacity of the FSSAI by increasing the number of Central Food Safety Officers. The text directly provides for the addition of new CFSOs to expand FSSAI's reach. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This notification *amends* the original policy by introducing the following specific changes: * **Specific Part of Original Policy Being Changed:** The amendment modifies the table of appointed CFSOs. * **New Rule/Provision:** Three new CFSOs are added to the existing list: * Mr. Jakkani Saiteja - Eastern Region, States/UTs under Eastern Region. * Mr. Bibindas K S - (*Area of Jurisdiction Missing in Provided Text*) * Mr. Arvind Suryakant Bhandare - (*Area of Jurisdiction Missing in Provided Text*) * **Difference/Effect of the Change:** This change directly increases the number of CFSOs, potentially leading to: * Enhanced monitoring and enforcement of food safety standards in the Eastern Region. * Increased capacity for inspections, investigations, and compliance activities. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The target audience and stakeholders directly affected by this amendment include: * The newly appointed Central Food Safety Officers (Mr. Jakkani Saiteja, Mr. Bibindas K S, and Mr. Arvind Suryakant Bhandare). * Food businesses and operators within the Eastern Region, as they will be subject to the oversight of Mr. Jakkani Saiteja * Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the responsible agency. * **Timelines/Procedures:** The amendment takes effect from the date of its publication in the Gazette of India (September 27, 2021). No other timelines or specific procedures are mentioned in the provided text. The responsibilities of the CFSOs would be governed by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. * **Implementation Aspects Related to the Changes:** The implementation of the amendment involves the operational integration of the newly appointed CFSOs into the existing FSSAI structure, allocation of necessary resources, and communication of their roles and responsibilities to relevant stakeholders. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcome of these specific changes introduced by the amendment is to: * Strengthen food safety enforcement and compliance in the Eastern Region. * Potentially improve the efficiency and effectiveness of FSSAI's regulatory activities. * Provide greater assurance to consumers regarding the safety and quality of food products in the designated regions. **9. Conclusion:** The FSSAI notification dated September 27, 2021, constitutes an important amendment aimed at strengthening food safety enforcement in India. By appointing additional Central Food Safety Officers, particularly focusing on the Eastern Region, the FSSAI seeks to enhance its regulatory capacity and ensure better compliance with food safety standards. This amendment demonstrates FSSAI's proactive approach to safeguarding public health and promoting a safe and reliable food supply chain. The effective implementation of these changes will be crucial in realizing the intended outcomes of improved food safety and enhanced consumer protection. The omission of the Area of Jurisdiction for two of the CFSO is a notable limitation based on the provided text.

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