The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a statutory body and the apex regulatory authority for food safety in India. It functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
The FSSAI was established on September 5, 2008, under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The Act, which received Presidential assent on August 23, 2006, was enacted to solve the problem of a fragmented regulatory system. It consolidated at least seven older laws, including the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, the Fruit Products Order, 1955, and the Meat Food Products Order, 1973, into a single, comprehensive framework. This unified approach ensures the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
The FSSAI's core mechanism is to lay down science-based standards for food articles and regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import. Key provisions include the mandatory licensing and registration of all Food Business Operators (FBOs) under Section 31 of the Act. The Authority enforces compliance through regulations like the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, and imposes graded penalties for violations, such as those outlined in Section 55 for non-compliance with a Food Safety Officer's directions.
The FSSAI connects to state-level Food Safety Authorities for enforcement and has recently integrated with the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. Significant recent changes include the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026, which came into force on March 11, 2026. These amendments broadened the definition of "Petty Food Business Operator" and replaced the previous renewal system, making licenses valid until suspended, cancelled, or surrendered. New product standards, effective from February 1, 2026, were also introduced to strengthen rules for categories like edible oils and meat sausages.