A resolution to bring the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the Consumer Affairs Ministry was passed at the meeting between States’ and Union Territories’ Food Ministers and the Centre held here on Tuesday. But, it is unlikely that the agency will answer to a different boss anytime soon.

The FSSAI functions under the aegis of the Health Ministry.

Jharkhand Food Minister Saryu Rai recommended that it be brought under the Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry, an opinion echoed by representatives from Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka.

“It became a unanimous decision and we want the Centre to do this. There are lots of cases with regard to labelling and safety standards for the food industry and we feel that the Authority should be brought under Consumer Affairs,” said Rai.

Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, who chaired the meeting, said: “This was not on the agenda, but States came together to make this demand.”

Ministry officials, however, told BusinessLine that such a move was unlikely given that the FSSAI is a statutory body. Further, the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, derived from the global Codex Alimentarius, establishes a health paradigm.

“When the Food Safety and Standards Act was being promulgated, there was confusion about where the institution should be located, whether under health or some other department. Typically, since the basis of the Act was the Codex, which is mostly health-related, it was a well-advised decision to locate it under the Health Ministry,” said a senior official.

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