The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, enacted by the Indian Government, aims to uphold food safety across the country and establish uniform standards for food products. It mandates that individuals engaged in food-related businesses in India must obtain an FSSAI license. This ensures that only registered individuals, duly verified by the relevant authorities, are allowed to manufacture, store, distribute, or sell food products within the country.
To enforce
compliance with FSSAI guidelines, the Act includes various penal provisions to
address violations. It outlines specific penalties for offences such as food
adulteration, selling substandard food, and other related violations.
Understanding these penalties and how to avoid them is crucial for ensuring compliance
with the FSSAI Act.
Minor offenses
Fines of up to 1 lakh rupees may be imposed for problems such as food
containing foreign substances, unhygienic processing practices, or deceptive
advertising.
Grievous injury or death
Non-compliance that leads to serious injury or death can result in
imprisonment of up to 6 years and a fine of up to ₹5 lakh.
Let’s explore about it in detail.
Key offences and penalties under FSSAI act
Penalty for Substandard Food
(Section 51)
If any food product does not meet the prescribed standards but is not unsafe, a
penalty of up to ₹5 lakh may be imposed on the food business operator. The fine
may extend to ₹25,000, for petty manufacturers.
Penalty for Misbranded Food (Section
52)
If a food product is falsely branded or misleading in its labelling or
advertising, the offender can face a penalty of up to ₹3 lakh.
Penalty for Misleading
Advertisements (Section 53)
Any person engaged in false or deceptive advertisements related to the quality,
nature, or substance of the food product may be fined up to ₹10 lakh.
Penalty for Unsafe Food
(Section 54)
Selling or manufacturing food that is unsafe for human consumption can result
in hefty penalties:
- For injury not resulting in death: Penalty up to ₹5 lakh.
- For grievous injury: Penalty up to ₹10 lakh.
·
In the
event of a death, the penalty includes imprisonment for at least 7 years, which
may extend to life imprisonment, as well as a fine of no less than ₹10 lakh.
Penalty
for Food Adulteration (Section 57)
For cases involving food adulteration that threatens consumer health,
penalties may include imprisonment for up to 6 months or a fine of up to ₹1
lakh, depending on the extent of the adulteration.
Penalty for Failure to Comply
with Food Safety Officer’s Directions (Section 55)
Any individual or business that fails to comply with the directions issued by a
Food Safety Officer may face a fine up to ₹2 lakh.
Penalty
for Unhygienic or Unsanitary Processing (Section 56):
A food
business operator found processing or handling food in unhygienic or unsanitary
conditions may face a fine of up to ₹1 lakh.
Penalty for Non-Compliance
with Licensing Requirements
Operating a food business without an FSSAI license or registration is
considered a serious violation. Offenders may face penalties that range from
fines of up to ₹5 lakh, depending on the nature of the violation.
Penalty for Obstructing or
Impersonating a Food Safety Officer (Section 61)
If any individual obstructs, impersonates, or prevents a food safety officer
from performing their duty, they may face imprisonment of up to 3 months and a
fine up to ₹1 lakh.
Penalty for Sale of Food
Prohibited Under the Act (Section 58)
If a person sells, imports, or stores any food item that has been prohibited
under the FSSAI Act or declared unsafe, they may be penalized with imprisonment
of up to (26 weeks)6 months and a fine up to ₹5 lakh.
How does FSSAI penalties impact food business?
The FSSAI Act
enforces strict penalties for anyone committing the offences mentioned above.
Since food directly affects a person's health, it is vital for food business
operators to remain vigilant when delivering food products to consumers.
Customers have the right to file FSSAI complaints if the food quality does not
meet the required standards. The stringent penalties in place ensure that food
business operators exercise proper care and avoid any negligence that could harm
their customers' health.
How
to avoid FSSAI offences and non-compliance?
Avoiding
FSSAI offences and the consequences of non-compliance is not a difficult task.
By following the necessary regulations, obtaining the appropriate FSSAI registration and approvals, and consistently providing quality food products,
one can easily steer clear of legal action under the FSSAI Act. Ensuring
hygiene, exercising caution, and maintaining high food quality standards not
only help avoid legal repercussions but also build customer trust. For more
details contact, Solubilis.
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