Food Safety Bill to be tabled in winter session
Proposed legislation aims at bringing down excess sugar content in food products
image for illustrative purpose
Healthy Dose
♦ Bill intends to put a limit on sugar usage in any food item
♦ It has provisions of penalties for violators
New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards (Amendment) Bill, which intends to amend the Food Safety and Standards Act-2006, is almost ready. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is working hard to get it tabled in the upcoming Parliament session, official sources told Bizz Buzz.
The proposed legislation is aimed at bringing down the excess sugar content in food items. Since high sugar levels are harmful, especially for the persons suffering from diabetes, the Bill intends to put a limit within which sugar shall be contained in any food item. It has provisions of penalties for those who breach the approved sugar level.
In the Preamble of the proposed law, after the words ‘consolidate the laws relating to food’ the words ‘and feed’ have been added. Also, in the Preamble, after the words ‘human consumption’, the words ‘and animal feed’ have been added. Further, in the Preamble, the word ‘export’ is added after the word sale and before import. This, the sources said, will expand the scope of regulation of food product and animal feed exports by the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The amendment Bill introduces a new definition of food contact material, meaning any material in contact with food or intended or reasonably expected to come into contact with food. This is likely to include packaging and cooking utensils.
The new legislation proposes to augment the role of private food laboratories. So, changes are made in Section 3 (1) (p). Currently, a food laboratory means any food laboratory or institute established by the Central or a State government or any other agency and accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories or an equivalent accreditation agency and recognized by the FSSAI.
In Section 3(1) (p) of the amended Bill, the words established by the central or a State government or any other agency have been omitted, the sources said.
