FSSAI Recommends Life Imprisonment, Rs10 lakh Fine for Food Adulteration

FSSAI Recommends Life Imprisonment, Rs10 lakh Fine for Food Adulteration- Details. Purpose, About

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recommends stringent punishment for those who adulterating food products. Now, those adulterating food products could face life imprisonment and penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh.

This FSSAI recommended amendment came in the light of the Supreme Court order. and have been proposed in line with the provision of Singapore's Sale of Food Act.

Highlights of Amendments: Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006

The FSSAI has proposed a total of 100 amendments to the Act and has sought public comments by July 2, 2018.

The draft proposal recommends insertion of Section 59 in the Act that states the punishment for the food adulterers. It calls for punishment of 7 years, which could be extended up to life imprisonment besides a fine of Rs 10 lakh if individuals or businesses intentionally add adulterants to food products.

It recommends the creation of a 'Food Safety and Nutrition Fund' to support promotional and outreach activities among food businesses and consumers.

It proposed setting up of the state food safety authorities to enforce the law in letter and spirit.

It proposed the increase in the punishment for obstructing, impersonating, intimidating and threatening and assaulting a food safety officer. It recommended imprisonment of not less than 6 months and up to two years, besides penalty of up to Rs 5 lakh. At present, the imprisonment in such cases is up to 3 months and fine is up to Rs 1 lakh.

It proposed that a person convicted under this law will have to pay fees and other expenses incidental to the analysis of any food or food contact article and any other reasonable expenses incurred by the prosecution.

The other amendments include regulation of exported food products under the FSS Act. Presently, it covers the only sale of food items in the domestic market and also imported ones.