The Food Safety and Standards Act,2006 was passed by the Parliament with the objective of integrating all present food laws into one . The Food Safety & Standards Act, Rules & Regulations thereunder have come into operation throughout India with effect from 5th August, 2011 including in Odisha vide Health & Family Welfare Department Notification No.19346/H, dated.25.07.2012.

In Odisha the office of the Commissioner of Food Safety has been created vide Govt. Notification No 3873 Dt: 18.02.2014 for effective implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act and Rules/Regulations.

Highlights of the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006 Various central Acts like 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, Solvent Extracted Oil, De- Oiled Meal and Edible Flour (Control) Order, 1967, Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992 etc have been repealed after commencement of FSS Act, 2006.

The Act also aims to establish a single reference point for all matters relating to food safety and standards, by moving from multi- level, multi- departmental control to a single line of command. To this effect, the Act establishes an independent statutory Authority – the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India with head office at Delhi. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the State Food Safety Authorities shall enforce various provisions of the Act.

FSSAI has been mandated by the FSS Act, 2006 for performing the following functions:

• Standards and Compliances: Framing of regulations to lay down standards and guidelines with respect to articles of food and specifying an appropriate system of enforcing various standards thus notified

• FSMS[Food Safety and Management System]: Adoption of Good Manufacturing Practices, Good Hygienic Practices, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point and other such practices to be followed by Food Business Operators (FBOs) to ensure food safety

• Laboratories: Laying down procedures and guidelines for accreditation of laboratories and notification of accredited laboratories

• Policy and Advisory Functions: To provide scientific advise and technical support to Central and State Governments in matters of framing policy and rules in areas that have a direct or indirect bearing on food safety and nutrition

• Risk Management: Collect and collate data regarding food consumption, incidence and prevalence of biological risks, contaminants in food, residues of various contaminants in foods products, identification of emerging risks and introduction of a rapid alert system

• Information Dissemination: Creating an information network across the country so that the public, consumers, Panchayats etc. receive rapid, reliable and objective information about food safety and issues of concern

• Capacity Building: Provide training programmes to those involved in or intending to get involved in food businesses

• Collaborations and Partnerships: Contribute to the development of international technical standards for food, sanitary and phyto-sanitary standards

• Consumer Awareness: Promote general awareness about food safety and standards

FUNCTIONS OF STATE (COMMISSIONER FOOD SAFETY)

Prohibit in the interest of public health, the manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of any article of food, either in the whole of the State or any area or part thereof for such period, not exceeding one year, as may be specified in the order notified in this behalf in the Official Gazette; Carry out survey of the industrial units engaged in the manufacture or processing of food in the State to find out compliance by such units of the standards notified by the Food Authority for various articles of food; Conduct or organise training programmes for the personnel of the office of the Commissioner of Food Safety and, on a wider scale, for different segments of food chain for generating awareness on food safety; Ensure an efficient and uniform implementation of the standards and other requirements as specified and also ensure a high standard of objectivity, accountability, practicability, transparency and credibility; Sanction prosecution for offences punishable with imprisonment under this Act; Such other functions as the State Government may, in consultation with the Food Authority, prescribe.