⦿ Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an autonomous statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act).

⦿ Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India is the administrative Ministry of FSSAI.

⦿ FSS Act, 2006 consolidates various acts & orders that had earlier handled food related issues in various

■ Ministries and Departments, such as–
■ Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954
■ Fruit Products Order, 1955
■ Meat Food Products Order, 1973
■ Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order, 1947
■ Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation) Order 1988
■ Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992

⦿ FSSAI was consequently established in 2008 but work within the Food Authority effectively began in 2011 after its Rules and key Regulations were notified.

⦿ FSSAI is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.

⦿ It lays down standards and guidelines in relation to articles of food, and provides for licensing, registration, and accreditation for food business operators.

⦿ Anyone selling or importing food in India needs a food licence issued by FSSAI.

⦿ FSSAI also directly monitors compliance of food regulations, especially in the area of food imports to India.

⦿FSSAI officers carry out food import controls and ensure that the contain no harmful ingredients. To do this, they send selected test products from the import to accredited laboratories for inspection.

⦿ The FSSAI is also responsible for the accreditation of food testing laboratories throughout India.

⦿ The FSSAI is responsible for the Food Certification in India.

⦿It is mandated to specify systems for enforcing its standards, for accreditation of certification systems, and for certification of food safety management systems for food businesses.