FSSAI is a statutory body that regulates the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import of food articles in India, and sets the standards that food must meet.Wikipedia
It was created to replace a scattered set of older food laws and orders, so that consumers, traders, manufacturers and investors deal with one body rather than many.Wikipedia
Key facts
| Set up under | Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006Wikipedia |
|---|---|
| Administrative ministry | Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of IndiaWikipedia |
| Headquarters | New DelhiWikipedia |
| Regional offices | Four: Delhi (Northern), Mumbai (Western), Kolkata (Eastern), Chennai (Southern)Wikipedia |
| Governing structure | A chairperson and 22 members, headed by a non-executive chairperson appointed by the central governmentWikipedia |
| Notified labs | 22 referral labs, 72 State/UT labs and 112 NABL accredited private labsWikipedia |
| Dairy logo deadline | Mandatory from 1 July 2028Dainik Bhaskar |
Key features and how it works
- Framing regulations that lay down food safety standards for food products, additives, packaging and labelling, and contaminants.Wikipedia
- Laying down guidelines for accrediting food testing laboratories, and notifying referral, state and NABL accredited labs.Wikipedia
- Licensing and registration of food businesses: any business that manufactures, stores, transports or distributes food needs an FSSAI licence or registration, depending on its size and nature.Wikipedia
- Giving scientific advice and technical support to the Central Government, and collecting data on food consumption, contamination and emerging risks.Wikipedia
- Spreading awareness about food safety and nutrition, and contributing to international food standards.Wikipedia
- Enforcement at the ground level is done by Food Safety Officers, and FSSAI appoints food safety authorities at the state level.Wikipedia
Static GK
- Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006: the parent law; it brought together seven older orders and acts, including the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 and the Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992.Wikipedia
- Standards framed by FSSAI are prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011, and the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulation, 2011.Wikipedia
Achievements
- FSSAI has notified 22 referral labs, 72 State/UT labs and 112 NABL accredited private labs.Wikipedia
- In 2021, FSSAI decided to grant perpetual licences to restaurants and food manufacturers on condition that they file returns every year.Wikipedia
- The dairy logo rule gives consumers a single visual cue to separate genuine dairy from plant-based or analogue products at the point of sale.
Challenges
- Packaged foods that mix dairy with non-dairy ingredients, such as flavoured milk and milk chocolate, need clear rules, so that the logo does not confuse buyers about what the product contains.
- Small dairy makers may find packaging changes costly, so the period before the rule takes effect is important for compliance.
- FSSAI appoints food safety authorities at the state level, and Food Safety Officers enforce the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act within their designated areas.Wikipedia
Way forward
- Give small dairy businesses handholding and guidance on the logo's size rules, which depend on the front-panel size of each pack.
- Build convergence between FSSAI, the State food safety authorities and consumer awareness drives so that buyers learn to read the new logo.
Timeline
13 November 2026
FSSAI notified a final rule making a common dairy logo (white drop in a blue square) mandatory on dairy product packages to distinguish them from plant-based alternatives.
Read the storyFebruary 2025
FSSAI issues an initial draft of the common dairy logo rule and seeks views from dairy businesses, traders and the public.Dainik Bhaskar
2021
FSSAI decides to grant perpetual licences to restaurants and food manufacturers, subject to annual return filing.Wikipedia
5 September 2008
FSSAI is established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.Wikipedia
2006
Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 is enacted, consolidating older food laws into one framework.Wikipedia
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Frequently asked questions
Which law created FSSAI?
FSSAI was set up under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which brought together older food laws into one framework.Wikipedia
Under which ministry does FSSAI work?
FSSAI works under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.Wikipedia
From when is the dairy logo mandatory?
Q: From when is the dairy logo mandatory? A: The common dairy logo becomes mandatory on dairy packs from 1 July 2028.Dainik Bhaskar
GS paper mapping
- GS-2Governance: statutory bodies, regulatory institutions and their functions
- GS-2Health: food safety, public health and the role of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- GS-3Food processing and consumer protection: food standards, labelling and quality testing
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages.
