Chapter VIII ANALYSIS OF FOOD

(1) The Food Authority may notify food laboratories and research institutions accredited by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories or any other accreditation agency for the purposes of carrying out analysis of samples by the Food Analysts under this Act. (2) The Food Authority shall, establish or recognise by notification, one or more referral food laboratory or laboratories to carry out the functions entrusted to the referral food laboratory by this Act or any rules and regulations made thereunder. (3) The Food Authority may frame regulations specifying– (a) the functions of food laboratory and referral food laboratory and the local area or areas within which such functions may be carried out; (b) the procedure for submission to the said laboratory of samples of articles of food for analysis or tests, the forms of the laboratory’s reports thereon and the fees payable in respect of such reports; and (c) such other matters as may be necessary or expedient to enable the said laboratory to carry out its functions effectively.

The Food Authority may recognise any organisation or agency for the purposes of food safety audit and checking compliance with food safety management systems required under this Act or the rules and regulations made thereunder.

The Commissioner of Food Safety may, by notification, appoint such persons as he thinks fit, having the qualifications prescribed by the Central Government, to be Food Analysts for such local areas as may be assigned to them by the Commissioner of Food Safety:

(1) On receipt of a package containing a sample for analysis from a Food Safety Officer or any other person, the Food Analyst shall compare the seal on the container and the outer cover with specimen impression received separately and shall note the conditions of the seal thereon: Provided that in case a sample container received by the Food Analyst is found to be in broken condition or unfit for analysis, he shall within a period of seven days from the date of receipt of such sample inform the Designated Officer about the same and send requisition to him for sending second part of the sample. (2) The Food Analyst shall cause to be analysed such samples of article of food as may be sent to him by Food Safety Officer or by any other person authorised under this Act. (3) The Food Analyst shall, within a period of fourteen days from the date of receipt of any sample for analysis, send— (i) where such sample is received under section 38 or section 47, to the Designated Officer, four copies of the report indicating the method of sampling and analysis; and (ii) where such sample is received under section 40, a copy of the report indicating the method of sampling and analysis to the person who had purchased such article of food with a copy to the Designated Officer: Provided that in case the sample cannot be analysed within fourteen days of its receipt, the Food Analyst shall inform the Designated Officer and the Commissioner of Food Safety giving reasons and specifying the time to be taken for analysis. (4) An appeal against the report of Food Analyst shall lie before the Designated Officer who shall, if he so decides, refer the matter to the referral food laboratory as notified by the Food Authority for opinion.

(1) When a Food Safety Officer takes a sample of food for analysis, he shall– (a) give notice in writing of his intention to have it so analysed to the person from whom he has taken the sample and to the person, if any, whose name, address and other particulars have been disclosed; (b) except in special cases as may be provided by rules made under this Act, divide the sample into four parts and mark and seal or fasten up each part in such a manner as its nature permits and take the signature or thumb impression of the person from whom the sample has been taken in such place and in such manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government: Provided that where such person refuses to sign or put his thumb impression, the Food Safety Officer shall call upon one or more witnesses and take his signature or thumb impression, in lieu of the signature or thumb impression of such person; (c) (i) send one of the parts for analysis to the Food Analyst under intimation to the Designated Officer; (ii) send two parts to the Designated Officer for keeping these in safe custody; and (iii) send the remaining part for analysis to an accredited laboratory, if so requested by the food business operator, under intimation to the Designated Officer: Provided that if the test reports received under sub-clauses (i) and (iii) are found to be at variance, then the Designated Officer shall send one part of the sample kept in his custody, to referral laboratory for analysis, whose decision thereon shall be final. (2) When a sample of any article of food or adulterant is taken, the Food Safety Officer shall, by the immediate succeeding working day, send the sample to the Food Analyst for the area concerned for analysis and report. (3) Where the part of the sample sent to the Food Analyst is lost or damaged, the Designated Officer shall, on a requisition made to him, by the Food Analyst or the Food Safety Officer, despatch one of the parts of the sample sent to him, to the Food Analyst for analysis. (4) An article of food or adulterant seized, unless destroyed, shall be produced before the Designated Officer as soon as possible and in any case not later than seven days after the receipt of the report of the Food Analyst: Provided that if an application is made to the Designated Officer in this behalf by the person from whom any article of food has been seized, the Designated Officer shall by order in writing direct the Food Safety Officer to produce such article before him within such time as may be specified in the order. (5) In case of imported articles of food, the authorised officer of the Food Authority shall take its sample and send to the Food Analyst of notified laboratory for analysis who shall send the report within a period of five days to the authorised officer. (6) The Designated Officer, the Food Safety Officer, the authorised officer and the Food Analyst shall follow such procedure as may be specified by regulations.