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The Minister of Food Processing Industries, Shri Subodh Kant Sahai, introduced the Food Safety and Standards Bill, 2005 in the Lok Sabha today. The Bill seeks to consolidate the laws relating to food and establish the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. It would facilitate scientific standards for food articles and regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
Shri Sahai said the Bill was long awaited. For eight years the processed food industry and all chambers of commerce across the country had been demanding a uniform law to be administered by one single authority. Presently, eight ministries are administering food laws in diverse ways. This is not conducive to the growth of the food processing sector. Once enacted, the legislation would be administered by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries and would have provisions of stringent punishment for offenders who adulterate food, causing serious health hazards to the people. There will be a single window system and a uniform law to govern the food processing industry. Shri Sahai said the Bill will now go to the Standing Committee before being passed by Parliament in its winter session. This was a mandate of the UPA Government to his Ministry. The Prime Minister had entrusted the brief to the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, said Shri Sahai.
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