Vidhi Codex

THE FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS ACT, 2006

The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006

Health2006101 sections11 chapters

The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, coordinates food safety across India by regulating the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food products. It establishes the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India as a central regulator to set scientific standards and oversee licensing. The law applies to all commercial food business operators, from large manufacturers and importers to local restaurants and grocery stores, while explicitly exempting farmers. This legislation matters because it protects public health by preventing the distribution of unsafe, misbranded, or contaminated food, helping consumers trust what they eat and make informed and healthier food choices.

Start reading →Read full ActSections

Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

  1. 1Short title, extent and commencement
  2. 2Declaration as to expediency of control by the Union
  3. 3Definitions

Chapter II FOOD SAFETYAND STANDARDS AUTHORITY OF INDIA →

  1. 4Establishment of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
  2. 5Composition of Food Authority and qualifications for appointment of its Chairperson and other Members
  3. 6Selection Committee for selection of Chairperson and Members of Food Authority
  4. 7Term of office, salary, allowances and other conditions of service of Chairperson and Members of Food Authority
  5. 8Removal of Chairperson and Members of Food Authority
  6. 9Officers and other employees of Food Authority
  7. 10Functions of the Chief Executive Officer
  8. 11Central Advisory Committee
  9. 12Functions of Central Advisory Committee
  10. 13Scientific Panels
  11. 14Scientific Committee
  12. 15Procedure for Scientific Committee and Scientific Panel
  13. 16Duties and functions of Food Authority
  14. 17Proceedings of Food Authority

Chapter III GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF FOOD SAFETY →

  1. 18General principles to be followed in administration of Act

Chapter IV GENERAL POVISIONS AS TO ARTICLES OF FOOD →

  1. 19Use of food additive or processing aid.
  2. 20Contaminants, naturally occurring toxic substances, heavy metals, etc.
  3. 21Pesticides, veterinary drugs residues, antibiotic residues and microbiological counts.
  4. 22Genetically modified foods, organic foods, functional foods, proprietary foods, etc.
  5. 23Packaging and labelling of foods.
  6. 24Restrictions of advertisement and prohibition as to unfair trade practices.

Chapter VI SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AS TO FOOD SAFETY →

  1. 26Responsibilities of the Food business operator
  2. 27Liability of manufacturers, packers, wholesalers, distributors and sellers
  3. 28Food recall procedures

Chapter VII ENFORCEMENT OF THE ACT →

  1. 29Authorities responsible for enforcement of Act
  2. 30Commissioner of Food Safety of the State
  3. 31Licensing and registration of food business
  4. 32Improvement notices.
  5. 33Prohibition orders.
  6. 34Emergency prohibition notices and orders.
  7. 35Notification of food poisoning.
  8. 36Designated Officer.
  9. 37Food Safety Officer
  10. 38Powers of Food Safety Officer
  11. 39Liability of Food Safety Officer in certain cases
  12. 40Purchaser may have food analysed
  13. 41Power of search, seizure, investigation, prosecution and procedure thereof
  14. 42Procedure for launching prosecution

Chapter VIII ANALYSIS OF FOOD →

  1. 43Recognition and accreditation of laboratories, research institutions and referral food laboratory
  2. 44Recognition of organisation or agency for food safety audit
  3. 45Food Analysts
  4. 46Functions of Food Analyst
  5. 47Sampling and analysis

Chapter IX OFFENCES AND PENALTIES →

  1. 48General provisions relating to offences
  2. 49General provisions relating to penalty
  3. 50Penalty for selling food not of the nature or substance or quality demanded
  4. 51Penalty for sub-standard food
  5. 52Penalty for misbranded food
  6. 53Penalty for misleading advertisement
  7. 54Penalty for food containing extraneous matter
  8. 55Penalty for failure to comply with the directions of Food Safety Officer
  9. 56Penalty for unhygienic or unsanitary processing or manufacturing of food
  10. 57Penalty for possessing adulterant
  11. 58Penalty for contraventions for which no specific penalty is provided
  12. 59Punishment for unsafe food
  13. 60Punishment for interfering with seized items
  14. 61Penalty for false information
  15. 62Punishment for obstructing or impersonating a Food Safety Officer
  16. 63Penalty for carrying out a business without licence
  17. 64Punishment for subsequent offences
  18. 65Compensation in case injury of death of consumer
  19. 66Offences by companies
  20. 67Penalty for contravention of provisions of this Act in case of import of articles of food to be in addition to penalties provided under any other Act

Chapter X ADJUDICATION AND FOOD SAFETY APPELLATE TRIBUNAL →

  1. 68Adjudication
  2. 69Power to compound offences
  3. 70Establishment of Food Safety Appellate Tribunal
  4. 71Procedure and powers of Tribunal
  5. 72Civil court not to have jurisdiction
  6. 73Power of court to try cases summarily
  7. 74Special courts and Public Prosecutor
  8. 75Power to transfer cases to regular courts
  9. 76Appeal
  10. 77Time limit for prosecutions
  11. 78Power of court to implead manufacturer, etc
  12. 79Magistrate’s power to impose enhanced punishment
  13. 80Defences which may or may not be allowed in prosecution under this Act

Chapter XI FINANCE, ACCOUNTS, AUDIT AND REPORTS →

  1. 81Budget of Food Authority
  2. 82Finances of the Food Authority
  3. 83Accounts and audit of Food Authority
  4. 84Annual report of Food Authority

Chapter XII MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 85Power of Central Government to issue directions to Food Authority and obtain reports and returns
  2. 86Power of Central Government to give directions to State Governments
  3. 87Members, officers of Food Authority and Commissioner of Food Safety to be public servants
  4. 88Protection of action taken in good faith
  5. 89Overriding effect of this Act over all other food related laws
  6. 90Transfer of existing employees of Central Government Agencies governing various foods related Acts or Orders to Food Authority
  7. 91Power of Central Government to make rules
  8. 92Power of Food Authority to make regulations
  9. 93Laying of rules and regulations before Parliament
  10. 94Power of State Government to make rules
  11. 95Reward by State Government
  12. 96Recovery of penalty
  13. 97Repeal and savings
  14. 98Transitory provisions for food standards
  15. 99Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992 shall be deemed to be regulations made under this Act
  16. 100Amendments to the Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 1992
  17. 101Power to remove difficulties

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