Key Terms & Concepts — UPSC Mains
FSSAI
"Food Safety and Standards Authority of India — the apex regulatory body for food safety, standards, and labelling in India"
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, responsible for regulating and supervising food safety and standards in India. FSSAI sets science-based standards for food products, regulates manufacturing, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food, ensures food quality through licensing and inspection, and promotes consumer awareness through initiatives like Eat Right India. Key regulatory achievements include capping trans-fat content in oils at 2% (from January 2022), mandating fortification of edible oil with vitamins A and D, and working on front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FOPNL). FSSAI is headquartered in New Delhi and functions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
A high-frequency UPSC Prelims topic. UPSC tests which act established FSSAI, its parent ministry, key regulations (trans-fat cap, fortification mandates), and its role in food safety vs. nutrition policy. For GS-2 and GS-3 Mains, FSSAI connects to health governance, food processing industry regulation, and consumer protection.
- 1 Statutory body under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
- 2 Functions under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- 3 [object Object]
- 4 Mandatory fortification of edible oil (vitamins A and D) and rice (iron, folic acid, B12)
- 5 [object Object]
FSSAI capped trans-fat content in oils and fats at 2% from January 2022 — one of the strictest standards globally, ahead of the WHO target of eliminating industrially produced trans-fats by 2023.
