Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) or any other agency is conducting regular checks and raids on the manufacturers of branded protein powder across the country to ascertain/check the sale of expired/uncertified/unlicensed products which also violate the established manufacturing and safety protocols;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is aware of the diseases and deaths due to use/consumption of these protein powders/anabolic steroids; and
(d) if so, the details thereof during the last five years along with the number of cases filed/solved/penalty imposed and the other corrective steps taken/being taken in this regard?
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ANSWER
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THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 54 FOR 9TH DECEMBER, 2022.
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(a) to (d): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is mandated to lay down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. Section 31(1) of Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006 provides that no person shall commence or carry on any Food Business except under a license. Surveillance of Food Business Operators including manufacturers of health supplements like protein powders is conducted regularly through intensive surveillance drives by the States/UTs. The responsibility for implementation and enforcement of FSS Act 2006, Rules and Regulations made thereunder primarily lies with State/UT Governments. Penal action is initiated against the defaulting Food Business Operators (FBOs) by the Food Safety Officers of States/UTs as per the provisions of FSS Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations.
FSSAI has notified FSS (Food or Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Foods Special Dietary Use, Foods for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Foods and Novel Foods) Regulations, 2016, which specify provisions for regulation of these products in the country.
The articles of food covered under these regulations are required to comply with the general labelling requirements under the FSS (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011. Further, since these products are intended for specific physiological conditions or general maintenance of health and are required to be taken as per the regulated usage levels by the specific targeted group, labelling provisions for specific food product categories have also been specified under the said regulations. These regulations state that the label on such articles of food shall specify the purpose, the target consumer group and the physiological or disease conditions which they address and recommended duration of use. The label, accompanying leaflet or other labelling and advertisement of each type of article of food shall also provide sufficient information on the nature and purpose of the article of food and detailed instructions and precautions for its use, and the format of information given shall be appropriate for the intended consumer.
Based on information made available by the States/UTs, details of food samples analyzed, found adulterated/sub-standard/misbranded and action taken thereon during the last three years i.e. 2019-2020, 2020-2021and 2021-22 is Annexed.
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