Food Adulteration –Rules and Regulations

Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 
In India the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India(FSSAI) is the apex food regulator. It is empowered by and functions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The FSSAI implements and enforces food regulations as prescribed in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act).
The act brought into force in place of the PFA is the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (hereinafter referred to as “FSSA“) that overrides all other food related laws. It specifically repealed eight laws which were in operation prior to the enforcement of FSSA:

• The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954
• The Fruit Products Order, 1955
• The Meat Food Products Order, 1973
• The Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order, 1947
• The Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation) Order, 1998
• The Solvent Extracted Oil, De oiled Meal, and Edible Flour (Control) Order, 1967
• The Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992
• Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (in relation to food)

Some of the key functions of the FSSAI include:

• framing of regulations to lay down food safety standards;
• laying down guidelines for accreditation of laboratories for food testing,
• providing scientific advice and technical support to the Central Government,
• contributing to the development of international technical standards in food;
• collecting and collating data regarding food consumption, contamination, emerging risks etc
• disseminating information and promoting awareness about food safety in India

 
Standards
Standardization is a method by which quality control can be maintained. This is done to maintain the minimum standard necessary for foodstuffs. Standard is something that is set up and established by authority for ensuring quantity, weight, extent, value of quality.
In India, we have mostly two types of standards, which govern the sale of foods including milk and milk products. These are: Legal standards and Quality standards.
Legal Standards
Legal standard means the specifications or the requirements which pertain to the law of the Govt. and are set up by the Govt. to meet certain minimum requirements in terms of chemical quality (i.e. composition), bacteriological quality (i.e. hygienic quality), and labeling and packaging requirements.
Quality standards means those specifications which are laid down by the Govt or some expert body constituted by the Govt. for the purpose of producing high quality products.
While legal standards are compulsory, the quality standards are not compulsory. They are on voluntary basis.
Foods Standards in India :
In our country, we have two types of quality standards

• ISI standards
• Agmark standards

 
I.S.I. Standards
Indian Standard Institution was established in 1947. The ISI is the national standards organisation for India, responsible for laying down standards in consultation with, and with the active participation of experts drawn from manufacturing units, research and technical institutions and laboratories, purchase organisations and other parties involved. Following are the objectives of Indian standards Institution:

1. To formulate standards for commodities, products, materials and processes.
2. To encourage their adoption at National and International level.
3. Certification of Industrial Products.
4. Help in production of Standard Products.
5. Distribution of information regarding standardisation.

The Indian Standards are available for vegetable and fruit products, spices, condiments, animal products and various processed foods.
List of I.S.I. Certified Food Products

1. Edible common salt
2. Arrowroot
3. Custard Powder
4. Biscuits
5. Baking powder
6. Cocoa powder
7. Milk powder
8. Condensed Milk
9. Baker’s yeast
10. Infant Milk Food
11. Vermicelli, Macroni and Sphagetti
12. Besan
13. Cheese
14. Coffee Powder
15. Ice Cream
16. Egg Powder
17. Saccharin
18. Drinking chocolate
19. Rum, Beer, Gin, Whisky, Brandy

List of some domestic Electrical equipments with I.S.I. Mark

1. Electric Iron
2. Electric Fan and Regulator

3. Electric Kettle and Jug

4. Electric Hot Plate
5. Domestic Food Mixers
6. Switches
7. Pressure Cookers (Non Electric)
8. Gas Stove

The AGMARK Standard
The AGMARK standard was set up by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection of the Government of India by introducing an Agricultural produce Act in 1937. The word ‘AGMARK’ seal ensures quality and purity. A sample AGMARK seal is as below
AGMARK BESAN
SL.NO. B-162002
GRADE-STANDARD
PLACE OF PACKAGING…….
DATE OF PACKAGING……
NET WEIGHT……..
The quality of a product is determined with reference to the size, variety, weight, colour, moisture, fat content and other factors are taken into account. The grades incorporated are grades 1,2,3 and 4 or special, good, fair and ordinary.
List of Ag Mark certified Food Products :

1. Ghee
2. Butter
3. Edible Oil
4. Honey
5. Pulses
6. Ground spices
7. Wheat Flour
8. Besan