FSSAI’s 3rd State Food Safety Index

Context:

In the third State Food Safety Index (SFSI) released in 2021, by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Gujarat topped the ranking among the large states.

Relevance:

GS-II: Social Justice (Issues related to Health, Government Policies and Interventions)

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
2. About the State Food Safety Index (SFSI)
3. Highlights of the SFSI 2021

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

• FSSAI is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
• The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which is a consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India.
• Hence, FSSAI is a Statutory Body
• FSSAI is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.
• The main aim of FSSAI is to
  1. Lay down science-based standards for articles of food
  2. To regulate manufacture, storage, distribution, import and sale of food
  3. To facilitate safety of food
• Standards framed by FSSAI are prescribed under:
  • Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011,
  • Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulation, 2011
  • Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins, and Residues) Regulations, 2011.

About the State Food Safety Index (SFSI)

• The index is developed by FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) to measure the performance of states on five significant parameters of Food Safety.
• The parameters include Human Resources and Institutional Data, Compliance, Food Testing – Infrastructure and Surveillance, Training & Capacity Building and Consumer Empowerment.
• The Index is a dynamic quantitative and qualitative benchmarking model that provides an objective framework for evaluating food safety across all States/UTs.
• The first State Food Safety Index for the year 2018-19 was announced on the first-ever World Food Safety Day on 7th June 2019.

Highlights of the SFSI 2021

• Among the larger states, Gujarat was the top ranking state, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• Among the smaller states, Goa stood first followed by Meghalaya and Manipur.
• Among UTs, Jammu & Kashmir, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and New Delhi secured top ranks.

-Source: PIB