Within the remaining time of the Twelfth Five – Year – Plan, the Health and Family Welfare Ministry has proposed to allocate Rs.850 crore under the Central Sector Scheme and a further Rs.900 crore under the centrally sponsored National Health Mission (NHM). These funds will be used in various schemes to strengthen the FSSAI and the state food regulatory system.
The Ministry has also issued a notice inviting suggestions on these two schemes under the Food Safety Standards Regulations (FSSR), 2011 so that valid suggestions can be used to strengthen food regulations in the country. According to some sources however, this move by the Ministry is being undertaken in the wake of the litigations filed in various courts for food adulteration and other regulatory issues. However, the Ministry considers this to be a positive move to spread information among the consumers about the food safety and regulatory systems in the country.
Under the Central Sector Scheme, the Ministry hopes to strengthen FSSAI at headquarter level as well as at the regional level. Field offices, e-governance and food safety surveillance are other areas that the Ministry feels the FSSAI needs to strengthen. The Ministry also intends to set up a National Food Science and Risk Assessment Centre (NFSRAC) and intends to further develop Central laboratories. Spreading awareness, imparting training, instituting new educational programmes and carrying out capacity building are other areas that the Ministry would lay emphasis on.
The same schemes would be available to the states through the sponsored Central scheme. The amount of Rs.900 crore allocated does not include the share of the states. FSSAI would be the implementing agency, while funds would be released to the states after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is signed between the respective state governments and the FSSAI once the objectives and timelines for the completion of schemes are clarified.
With these schemes the Ministry hopes to ensure the effective enforcement of the FSS Act, Rules & Regulations. The funds would also be utilized to improve the infrastructure of food testing laboratories and to create awareness among the general public as well as the food business operators. The Ministry also hopes to reduce adulteration in foods by setting up a good surveillance system and increasing manpower as well as the enforcement structure. If the food and safety standards are better managed the consumer will benefit as wholesome and unadulterated food will be available in the entire country.
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