G Sreedathan
The food we eat is the cause of about 90 per cent of our
diseases and health problems. With increase in affluence and pressures of
modern life, we started punishing our bodies, knowingly or unknowingly.
Besides, those who produce and sell food items and other dietary products, in
the lure of money, often indulge in food adulteration. Even permissible
ingredients in food items sometimes cause serious health problems.
Although there are sufficient legislations to prevent, they
have failed to curb the menace. The aim of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act
is to ensure that consumers get pure and wholesome and also prevent fraud or
deception. The initial legislation had loopholes and hence the Act has been
amended three times in 1964, 1976 and in 1986. The punishments have been made
more stringent and Consumers and Voluntary Organizations have been empowered to
play a more effective role in its implementation. The PFA Act is in the list of
the constitution but it is enforced by the State/U.T Governments. The major
role of Central Government is as an advisory in its implementation.
The first law to regulate the quality of food was made in
the country 1899. Up till 1954 the states made their own food laws and there
were substantial differences in the rules and specifications of the food. This
hindered inter-provincial trade. The Central Government is empowered by the
Constitution of India for making legislations on Food and Drugs Adulteration. A
legislation called Prevention of Food adulteration Act (PFA) was endorsed in
the year 1954 for making uniformity in food laws all over India . It came
into effect from 15 June, 1955.
Prevention of Food Adulteration Programme: The under PFA
Rules have been amended several times and quality standards for about 250 food
articles which are commonly consumed in India have been fixed. Implementation
of food standards in corporation/municipal area rests with the local bodies.
These bodies employ their own food inspectors for examination and maintenance
of standards. They are responsible for licensing of food
industries/establishments as well.
The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSSA) was passed by
Parliament in August 2006. After this
legislation came into effect the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954
stands revoked. However the standards, safety requirements and other provisions
of the Act and the rules and regulations made under Prevention of Food
Adulteration Act are still followed by this act until new standards are
specified under this Act or rules and regulations made.
Provided that anything done or any action taken under the
enactment and Orders under repeal shall be deemed to have been done or taken
under the corresponding provisions of this Act and shall continue in force
accordingly unless and until superseded by anything done or by any action taken
under this Act. Owing to trade in food commodities globally, food safety is no
longer considered as a domestic issue. The WTO has specified that development
of modern food control and safety programs by national Governments are needed.
Food quality refers not only to end product parameters but also to process
control. The Central Government has started a Project for Food Safety and
Quality Control of Drugs with aid from World Bank.
Over 68 per cent of milk sold in the country does not
conform to the standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of
India (FSSAI), the Centre had told the Supreme Court on a plea for checking
sale of synthetic and adulterated milk and various dairy products.
The submission has been made by the Centre in its affidavit
which referred to a survey conducted by the FSSAI, which had found that over 68
per cent of the "non-conforming" milk was found in urban areas, 66
per cent of which was loose milk.
We often find that food we used to traditionally eat was the
most appropriate for our health. There are efforts going on in the country to
promote traditional food items. Annam
being held in Kochi
is one such endeavour.
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