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Food-safety regulation: Maharashtra's plea puts the Centre–State divide in focus
ಸುದ್ದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಏಕೆ?
Who frames food standards and who raids the shop? The FSS Act 2006 split Prelims tests
Maharashtra's plea highlights the Centre–State split in food-safety regulation.
Why it matters: asked in UPSC 2018; factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 ನಿಮಿಷ
A plea by Maharashtra has drawn attention to how food safety is regulated in India and where the Centre and the States divide the work.
The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 consolidated earlier food laws and created the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, which frames standards, while State food-safety officers handle licensing and enforcement.
ಮೂಲಗಳು: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
ಮುಖ್ಯ ಅಂಶಗಳು
Remember these
- The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 consolidated earlier food laws into a single framework.
- It created the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), a statutory body that frames food standards.
- The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 was among the older laws the 2006 Act replaced.
- State food-safety officers handle licensing and enforcement on the ground.
- Food safety and adulteration fall in the Concurrent List, which is why Centre and States share the work.
ಪ್ರಿಲಿಮ್ಸ್ · ಮೇನ್ಸ್
How the exam will ask it
ಪ್ರಿಲಿಮ್ಸ್
- The FSSAI is a statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, not under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
- The FSS Act, 2006 consolidated several earlier food-related laws, including the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.
- The FSSAI frames food standards, while licensing and enforcement are largely carried out by State food-safety officers.
ಮೇನ್ಸ್
GS2 (Federalism) and GS3 (Food safety): the issue is overlapping Centre and State roles in food regulation. The FSS Act, 2006 gives the Centre standard-setting through the FSSAI and leaves licensing and enforcement to State officers, so uneven State capacity can weaken outcomes and invite disputes. The way forward lies in cooperative federalism: clear role demarcation, better State laboratories and staffing, and a consultative standard-setting process.
PYQ connection
A question UPSC has already asked on this
Consider the following statements
- The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is under the charge of Director General of Health Services in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
ಉತ್ತರ ನೋಡಿ
ಉತ್ತರ: A
Why this matters: today's issue is directly connected to a concept UPSC has already tested. Read the story with this question in mind.
Practise this PYQ →Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
ಭಾರತೀಯ ಆಹಾರ ಸುರಕ್ಷತೆ ಮತ್ತು ಗುಣಮಟ್ಟ ಪ್ರಾಧಿಕಾರವು ಯಾವ ಕಾಯ್ದೆಯಡಿ ಸ್ಥಾಪಿತವಾದ ಶಾಸನಬದ್ಧ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆ?
- ಆಹಾರ ಕಲಬೆರಕೆ ತಡೆ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ, 1954
- ಆಹಾರ ಸುರಕ್ಷತೆ ಮತ್ತು ಗುಣಮಟ್ಟ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ, 2006
- ಗ್ರಾಹಕ ರಕ್ಷಣಾ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ, 2019
- ಕಾನೂನುಬದ್ಧ ತೂಕ-ಅಳತೆ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ, 2009
ಉತ್ತರ ನೋಡಿ
ಉತ್ತರ: B — ಸರಿಯಾದ ಉತ್ತರ: ಆಹಾರ ಸುರಕ್ಷತೆ ಮತ್ತು ಗುಣಮಟ್ಟ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ, 2006 — ಈ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ ಪ್ರಾಧಿಕಾರವನ್ನು ರಚಿಸಿ ಹಳೆಯ ಆಹಾರ ಕಾನೂನುಗಳನ್ನು ಒಗ್ಗೂಡಿಸಿತು.
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