What are food laws?
Food
law is the collection of laws and regulations that govern food production,
distribution and consumption. It aims to protect consumers and provide for the
efficient growth and use of food. Food attorneys focus their careers on helping
clients comply with food laws and regulations. They even work on behalf of
government agencies making or enforcing food laws and policies. Food laws are
related to the production, manufacturing and selling of a food product. It
begins from the very initial stage, i.e. the standards of production and
continues till the packaging or labeling of a product. Food laws are to ensure
the safety and health of an individual consuming any product.
Topics covered under Food Laws
Food
laws govern pesticide use, tariffs on agricultural imports and restaurant
cleanliness. It also covers other topics that some consumers may not have
considered. Food laws regulate what supplement producers can claim about the
effectiveness of their products. Food laws can even over constitutional law topics
like whether the federal government can lawfully regulate local farm
production.
Law governing food regulation in India
Food
safety and standard act of 2006 is governing the laws related to food products
in India in the present time, which was passed by the Parliament in 2006 and
regulated by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Previous laws which governed food laws in India
Before
the commencement of the act of 2006, there were some acts which used to govern
food products and they are:
·
Prevention of food adulteration act, 1954
·
Food products order, 1955
·
Meat food products order, 1973
·
Vegetable and oil (control) product order,
1947
·
Edible oil packaging (regulation) order,
1988
·
Milk and milk product order, 1992
The main authority under food safety and standard act, 2006
FSSAI
(Food Safety and Standard Authority of India) is the apex authority set up by
Food Standards and Safety Act, 2006 to regulate laws governing food in India.
Composition of Food Safety and Standard Authority of India
It
consists of a chairperson and 22 other members representing the Ministries of
Agriculture, Commerce, consumer affairs, food processing, health, legislative
affairs, small scale industries, two representatives from food industry, two representatives from consumer organization, three eminent food scientists, five
members to represent state and union territories, two person to represent
farmer organization and one person to represent retailer organization.
Functions of Food Safety and Standard Authority of India
- Framing of regulations to lay down
standard for regulation of different food commodities.
- Granting of certificates to institutions which
are party of the food management system.
- Procedures & Guidelines for accredition of laboratories for testing of products.
- To provide help to state and central
government in order to make policy regarding food safety and nutrition for the
country.
- Provide training program to people
involved or tend to get involved in the food business.
- Promote general awareness for food safety
and food standards.
Salient features of Food Safety & Standard Act, 2006
- Packaging & Labelling- The
act has encompassed vast detailed sections regarding the regulations and
prohibitions of packing and labelling a product.
- Signage and Customer Notice-
No person shall engage himself in any unfair trade practice for the purpose of
sale, supply, use or consumption of articles to adopt any practice of making
any statement which falsely represents the quality, quantity or standard of the
food or makes false or deceptive representation or gives any guarantee which is
not justified by them.
- Licensing registration and health and sanitary permits- It helps to ensure that all food operators are registered and are up to the standard of the act and so ensures safe product for consumption by the consumer.
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The
above article has been sourced from FAQ on food laws in India at https://www.ssrana.in/Intellectual%20Property/Food%20Law/FAQ-Food-Law-in-India.aspx
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