FSSAI Suspends Water Firm's Licence, Bans Dietary Supplement
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
FSSAI has taken two separate enforcement actions against food businesses for serious violations. The licence of a Tripura-based packaged drinking water manufacturer was suspended, and a Punjab-based dietary supplement was banned from sale. These actions highlight FSSAI's regulatory vigilance in ensuring food safety and compliance.
Background
FSSAI is the statutory body responsible for regulating food safety and standards in India under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. It conducts inspections and takes enforcement actions against entities violating food safety norms.
Key facts
FSSAI suspended the licence of M/S Matri Drinking Water, Gomati, Tripura, with immediate effect.
The suspension followed a complaint about foreign material in packaged drinking water.
Inspections found finished products stored outside and on the floor with non-food materials, unhygienic processing areas, rusted RO tanks, and inadequate pest control.
The facility lacked mandatory testing, maintenance, and training records, and no qualified technical supervisor was present.
FSSAI prohibited the manufacture, storage, distribution, and sale of Venolex Forte, marketed by M/S Noble Healthcare, Mohali.
Venolex Forte contained ingredients not permitted under the Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Food and Novel Food) Regulations, 2022.
The supplement contained pharmacologically active ingredients: calcium dobesilate, diosmin, and Euphorbia prostrata.
The product had 90 mg of vitamin C, exceeding the Recommended Dietary Allowance per ICMR-NIN Guidelines, 2020.
The labelling was misleading, implying regulatory approval, and the product was beyond the firm's FSSAI licence scope.
The prohibition order was issued under Section 36(3)(b) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Prelims pointers
- FSSAI: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, established under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
- Section 36(3)(b) of FSS Act, 2006: empowers FSSAI to prohibit sale of food articles.
- ICMR-NIN Guidelines, 2020: Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for nutrients.
- FSS (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Food and Novel Food) Regulations, 2022.
- Places: Gomati (Tripura), Mohali (Punjab).
Mains angles
- Discuss the role of FSSAI in ensuring food safety and the challenges in enforcement.
- Critically examine the adequacy of food safety regulations in India with reference to dietary supplements.
- Analyze the impact of regulatory actions on consumer protection and business compliance.