Executive Summary:
This document summarizes a parliamentary response regarding food safety standards in India. It details the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's (FSSAI) role in regulating food businesses, conducting inspections, and taking action against violations. It also outlines initiatives like FoSTaC and Eat Right India aimed at improving food safety and hygiene through training, certification, and awareness campaigns.
Key Points / Main Content:
Regulatory Framework:
* FSSAI sets science-based standards for food articles and regulates their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import.
* All Food Business Operators (FBOs) must have a license or registration and comply with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
* FBOs must adhere to sanitary and hygienic requirements as per the Food Safety and Standards Licensing and Registration Regulations, 2011, Schedule 4.
* Registered Petty Food Manufacturers are subject to annual food safety inspections.
Enforcement and Monitoring:
* FSSAI, through State/UTs and regional offices, conducts regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection, and random sampling of food products.
* Penal action is initiated against FBOs found violating safety standards.
* Annexure I provides state-wise details of inspections conducted for the last three fiscal years (FY2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25).
Training and Awareness Initiatives:
* The Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) program, launched in 2017, trains individuals in food safety and standards, including a specialized course for street food vendors (over 3 lakh trained).
* The Eat Right India movement aims to ensure food safety and hygiene for all citizens and awards Eat Right certificates to establishments meeting standards.
* The Eat Right Street Food Hub certification program educates food vendors on maintaining food safety standards.
* Mobile Food Testing Laboratories (MFTLs) are deployed to states/UTs for on-the-spot food testing, FBO training, and public awareness. 305 MFTLs deployed to 35 States/UTs to date.
Impact Analysis:
Food Business Operators (FBOs):
* Impact: Must comply with FSSAI regulations, maintain hygiene standards, and undergo inspections.
* Action Required: Obtain necessary licenses/registrations, adhere to Schedule 4 requirements, participate in FoSTaC training, and cooperate with inspections.
Street Food Vendors:
* Impact: Subject to FSSAI regulations, eligible for FoSTaC training and Eat Right Street Food Hub certification.
* Action Required: Participate in training programs, maintain hygiene standards, and seek Eat Right certification.
Consumers:
* Impact: Benefit from improved food safety standards and access to safer, more hygienic food options.
* Action Required: Be aware of Eat Right initiatives, choose certified vendors, and report any violations.
State/UT Governments and Regional FSSAI Offices:
* Impact: Responsible for conducting inspections, monitoring food safety, and enforcing regulations.
* Action Required: Conduct regular inspections, initiate penal action against violators, implement FoSTaC and Eat Right programs, and deploy MFTLs.
Key Entities Referenced
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI): The authority mandated to lay down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import to ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006: The Act that provides the framework for food safety regulations and standards in India.
Food Safety and Standards Licensing and Registration Regulations, 2011: Regulations that outline the licensing and registration requirements for Food Business Operators (FBOs).
Food Business Operators (FBOs): Entities involved in the manufacture, storage, distribution, or sale of food.
Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC): A program launched by FSSAI in 2017 to provide training in food safety and standards for individuals engaged in the food business.
Eat Right India: A nationwide initiative by FSSAI to ensure food safety and hygiene for all citizens and transform the food ecosystem of the country.
Eat Right Street Food Hub: A certification program designed to educate people about food safety and hygiene at Food Streets.
Mobile Food Testing Laboratories (MFTLs): Mobile units deployed by FSSAI to states and union territories for on-the-spot food testing and dissemination of food safety information.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3429
TO BE ANSWERED ON8THAUGUST, 2025
SURVEYOFSTREET FOODVENDORS
3429.SHRIAVIMANYUSETHI:
Will the Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government has conducted any recent nationwide or State-level survey to
assess the food safety standards of street food vendors and local restaurants and if so, the
detailsthereof;
(b) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
(FSSAI) to ensure regular inspection, testing and certification of food sold by street vendors
andsmall eateries;
(c) whether any action has been taken against establishments found violating safety and
hygiene norms during the last three years, and if so, the details thereof, year-wise and
State/UTwise;
(d) whether the Government proposes to launch awareness campaigns or training
programmes for street food vendors to improve hygiene and quality standards under schemes
like EatRight India andif so, the detailsthereof; and
(e) the measures beingconsidered to promote affordable, hygienic andnutritionally safe food
inurbanandrural areasalike?
ANSWER
THE MINISTEROFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (c): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (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.Section 31 (1) and31 (2) of FoodSafety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006 provide that
no person shall commence or carry on anyFood Business except under a license/registration,
whichever isapplicable. Therefore, all Food Business Operators (FBOs) have tocomply with
prescribed standards and the provisions of Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and
Registration) Regulations, 2011. Every FBO has to follow the Schedule 4 sanitary and
hygienic requirementsand otherrequirementsasprescribed underabovementionedregulation
based on the type and scale of the food business. The sub-regulation 2.1.1. (6) of above
mentioned Regulation mandates food safety inspection of Registered Petty Food
Manufacturers once a year by the Registering Authority or any officer or agency specifically
authorizedfor the purpose.
The details of the inspections conducted for the last three years is given below, and
State-Wise detailsisat Annexure-1.
Further, FSSAIthrough State/UTs anditsregionaloffices conductregularsurveillance,
monitoring, inspection and random sampling of food products to check compliance of the
standards laid down under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations made
thereunder. In case where the food samples are found to be non-conforming, penal action is
initiated against the defaulting Food Business Operators as per provisions of FSS Act, Rules
andRegulationsmade thereunder.
(d) & (e): To enhance awareness and promote safe food practices among food handlers
including street food vendors, FSSAI launched the Food Safety Training and Certification
(FoSTaC) programme in 2017. This initiative offers training in food safety and standards for
individuals engagedinfood business—whether asfood business operatorsor employees.Under
FoSTaC, a specialized awareness course titled “StreetFood Vending” hasbeen developed.Till
now, more than 3 lakh street food vendors across the country have been trained through this
programme.
FSSAI is carrying out a nation-wide initiative “Eat Right India movement” to
ensure food safety and hygiene for all citizens. It is a collective effort to transform the food
ecosystem of the country. Under this initiative, Eat Right certificates are awarded to ensure
food safety andhygiene inplaces where food ispreparedor served.
FSSAI has designed Eat Right Street Food Hub certification programme to educate
people about food safety and hygiene at Food Streets. It is a cluster based initiative, where
food vendors are educated to maintain the food safety standards. Information, Education and
Communication (IEC) materials are provided to display, enhancing visibility, building
consumer trust, and encouragingone andall toeatsafe and hygienic.There are 405 EatRight
StreetFoodHub certified underEatRight India.
Further, to extend outreach for on-the-spot food testing & dissemination of food
safety information in remote areas, FSSAI had introduced Mobile Food Testing Laboratories
(MFTLs)toallthe States andUTs.The three keyactivities of the MFTLsare:-i. On-spot testing of food commodities;
ii. Training toFoodbusiness operators&
iii. Foodsafety awareness among Foodbusiness operators, StreetFood vendors, General
Public, School, institutes, organizations etc. FSSAI has deployed 305 MFTLs to 35
States/UTs across India till date.
********Annexure-I
TotalInspectionsconductedState/UTandyearwise
State FY2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
AndamanAndNicobarIslands 1454 796 515
AndhraPradesh 534 611 443
ArunachalPradesh 7 2 4
Assam 4 255 28
Bihar 1 14 0
Chandigarh 14 0 0
Chhattisgarh 350 545 963
DadraandNagarHaveli&Daman& 214 51 19
Diu
Delhi 24 41 30
Goa 1204 1273 1462
Gujarat 643 852 1535
Haryana 470 341 33
HimachalPradesh 587 173 155
Jammu&Kashmir 5396 3023 2703
Jharkhand 46 49 201
Karnataka 1602 3591 6367
Kerala 4802 10229 12105
Ladakh 119 72 219
Lakshadweep 0 3 16
MadhyaPradesh 1534 2711 3941
Maharashtra 1841 1436 1071
Manipur 113 70 84
Meghalaya 4 54 199
Mizoram 0 0 35
Nagaland 18 18 18
Orissa 1212 1460 968
Puducherry 0 0 0
Punjab 262 159 148
Rajasthan 107 1023 2259
Sikkim 142 110 0
TamilNadu 5409 3742 3053
Telangana 329 227 54
Tripura 1 70 68
Uttarakhand 559 294 373
UttarPradesh 9605 8483 12909
WestBengal 725 998 716