**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 61 in Lok Sabha, answered on January 29th, 2026. It addresses concerns about the complex regulatory environment faced by the Food Processing Industry (FPI). It details the government's efforts to streamline compliance, including the constitution of a high-level committee and measures taken by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to harmonize standards across states.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Regulatory Oversight:**
* Food safety and standards are managed by FSSAI under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
* **High Level Committee:**
* A committee under NITI Aayog was formed on August 19, 2025, to review non-financial regulatory reforms related to Union Government regulations, certifications, licenses, and permissions.
* The aim is to develop a modern, flexible, people-friendly regulatory framework.
* The committee met with FSSAI/MoHFW and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) on September 6, 2025, to discuss regulatory challenges.
* **FSSAI Mandate:**
* FSSAI establishes science-based standards for food articles.
* It regulates manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import to ensure safe food availability nationwide.
* **State Food Safety Authorities:**
* They are primarily responsible for enforcement at the field level.
* FSSAI coordinates with them to ensure uniform implementation of food safety measures.
* **Harmonization Measures:**
* Regular training programs for Food Safety Officers and laboratory personnel.
* Use of online platforms like FoSCoS and INFOLNet for real-time data maintenance and monitoring.
* Regular engagement with State Food Safety Commissioners through Central Advisory Committee meetings.
* **Streamlining Efforts:**
* FSSAI streamlines its Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) for food licensing.
* Integration with the National Single Window System (NSWS) to enhance investor convenience.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Food Processing Industry (FPI) and SMEs**
* **Impact:** Benefits from streamlined compliance processes and a more modern and flexible regulatory framework. Aims to reduce the complexity and challenges faced in navigating regulations.
* **Action Required:** Engage with the new regulatory framework and leverage the streamlined systems like FoSCoS and NSWS for food licensing and compliance.
**Stakeholder: State Food Safety Authorities**
* **Impact:** Required to implement harmonized food safety enforcement mechanisms and coordinate with FSSAI.
* **Action Required:** Participate in regular training programs, utilize online platforms like FoSCoS and INFOLNet, and engage in Central Advisory Committee meetings for effective enforcement.
**Stakeholder: Consumers**
* **Impact:** Benefits from uniform standards and improved food safety enforcement across the country, ensuring safe and wholesome food availability.
* **Action Required:** No direct action required, but may see positive impacts in terms of food safety and quality.
Key Entities Referenced
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI): The primary regulatory body responsible for food safety standards, laying down science-based standards for articles of food, and regulating their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries: The central ministry responsible for the development and regulation of the food processing industry in India.
High Level Committee on Non-Financial Regulatory Reforms: A committee constituted to review non-financial sector regulations pertaining to the Union Government with the objective of developing a modern regulatory framework.
State Food Safety Authorities: Responsible for enforcement of food safety standards at the field level across all states, coordinating with FSSAI for uniformity.
Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS): A specialized online portal for food licensing under FSSAI, aimed at streamlining the compliance process.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 61
ANSWERED ON 29TH JANUARY, 2026
COMPLEX REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT FACED BY THE FPI
61. SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:
Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Ministry is aware of the complex regulatory environment faced by the
Food Processing Industry (FPI) and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to streamline compliance processes
for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs);
(c) whether any discussions are underway to introduce a single-window clearance system
for the food processing sector and if so, the expected timeline for its implementation;
and
(d) the challenges posed by multiple agencies such as the Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and State-level bodies along with the efforts
made by the Ministry to harmonize regulatory standards across States?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)
(a) to (d): The regulatory matters in respect of food safety and standards are handled by Food
Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the administrative control of M/o
Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
A High Level Committee on Non-Financial Regulatory Reforms under the
Chairmanship of Member, NITI Aayog has been constituted vide Cabinet Secretariat’s
Notification dated 19.08.2025. This Committee is mandated to review non-financial sector
regulations, certifications, licenses, and permissions, pertaining to the Union Government, with
the objective of developing a modern, flexible, people friendly, and trust based regulatory
framework appropriate for 21st Century, and unlocking productivity and employment. The
Committee had a meeting with FSSAI/MoHFW along with Ministry of Food Processing
Industries (MoFPI) on 6th September 2025 and deliberated on regulatory issues and challenges
faced by the Food Processing Industries.
FSSAI is mandated to lay down science based standards for articles of food and to
regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe
and wholesome food for human consumption and FSSAI standards are uniform across the
country.
While FSSAI, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is responsible for
laying down science-based standards and ensuring overall coordination, the State Food Safety
Authorities are primarily responsible for enforcement at the field level. In order to ensure
uniformity in the implementation of harmonized and effective food safety enforcement
mechanisms across all states, the FSSAI coordinates with the State Food Safety Authorities
and has following key measures in place:i. Regular training programs for Food Safety Officers (FSOs), Designated Officers
(DOs), and laboratory personnel ensures standardized practices across the states.
ii. One stop online platforms like the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) and the
Indian Food Laboratory Network (INFoLNet) are unanimously being used by all the
states/UTS, to facilitate real-time data maintenance & effective monitoring by the
enforcement authorities. These platforms ensure uniformity across the nation in respect
of enforcement action taken.
iii. Regular engagement with State Food Safety Commissioners through Central Advisory
Committee meetings (held quarterly) for reviewing the status of enforcement
machinery and proper implementation of food safety measures. The Central Advisory
Committee ensures close cooperation between the Food Authority and the enforcement
agencies and organisations operating in the field of food.
Further, FSSAI has also taken steps from time to time to streamline its Food Safety
Compliance System (FoSCoS) which is a specialized portal for food licensing. Steps have also
been taken to integrate with the National Single Window System (NSWS) platform, established
by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to enhance investor
convenience.
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