- People closely following the developments in the country would have noticed how the state Food and Drug Administrations (FDAs) in Maharashtra and Karnataka have hit the headlines consistently in recent times. For the uninitiated, the FDAs grant and renew manufacturing and sales licenses for local pharmacies, drug stores, cosmetics makers, and certain food businesses. Collect product samples from the market and manufacturing units to test them in state laboratories for purity, quality, and standards compliance. Further, inspect manufacturing plants, storage facilities, and retail outlets to prevent adulteration, misbranding, or the sale of expired and spurious drugs. It also enforces laws and takes legal or punitive action against violators.
PC: NDTV
- On the other hand, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the apex government body regulating and supervising food safety and quality across the country. It operates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI. FSSAI sets standards, creating science-based guidelines for food manufacturing, ingredients, additives, and contaminants. Also, it requires all food business operators to get an FSSAI licence or registration number. It conducts inspections, audits, and laboratory testing to ensure food products are safe, unadulterated, and properly labelled, while also running public health campaigns. Prima facie, the roles and responsibilities of the FDAs and FSSAI are linked, inter alia, but have distinct responsibilities.
PC: Free Press Journal
- Of late, the two state FDAs have been actively conducting raids and inspections across eateries, including hospitals, star hotels, clubs, and restaurants, primarily looking at hygiene, cleanliness, and proper expiry/labeling of food items. In India, we are aware of how lackadaisical, casual, and utterly disdainful our general outlook is on matters concerning hygiene/cleanliness. The scant disregard for these essentials is so glaring that we tend to completely overlook it rather than demand utmost adherence from some of the renowned eateries. Most alarmingly, the spurious food items, adulterated food products, and the source of procurement are always considered dodgy at best of times, despite agencies meant to administer them being available to monitor.
PC: Moneycontrol.com
- The moot point to ponder over here is why an extremely critical aspect like the health, safety, and well-being of our citizens is being ignored nonchalantly when the issue unequivocally demands utmost attention. Simply because of our casual attitude towards the matter and the widespread cynicism prevalent all around us, knowing full well how the system functions with the rot of adjustments, corruption, under-the-table handling, and blatant disregard for upholding the virtues of governance at all levels. An upright officer or two representing the FDAs can cause a stir now and then. So long as compelling deterrence is not implemented by the authorities with intent, the anti-social elements in cahoots with the amiable bureaucracy/powers-that-will have a field day. Not impossible, but it demands utmost sincerity from all stakeholders without exception.
