Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) serves as the primary regulatory body in India for enforcing food safety and standards. It plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and safety of food products, with significant implications for the dairy industry.

Important Events

FSSAI has introduced critical regulations targeting the dairy industry to enhance product integrity and consumer safety. One of the key measures includes mandating that products resembling cheese must be clearly labeled as cheese analogues. This initiative aims to prevent the misrepresentation of such products as authentic paneer. Following findings that 83% of paneer samples failed safety tests, the Noida Food Safety Department seized and destroyed 550 kg of adulterated paneer. This underscores the pressing issue of adulteration in the dairy sector.

Additionally, FSSAI imposed a fine on Heritage Foods Limited for a product quality compliance issue, reinforcing its commitment to upholding high-quality standards. The authority focuses on product integrity, accurate labeling, and process compliance. In a notable legal development, the Delhi High Court ruled that FSSAI's attempt to regulate animal feed was outside its purview, restricting the authority to human-centric regulations.

FSSAI has issued notices to companies like Param Dairy Limited and Bikanervala regarding hygiene and compliance issues, mandating immediate corrective measures to ensure strict compliance with labeling norms, approved claims, and hygiene standards.

Company Plans

FSSAI is dedicated to enforcing stringent regulations to ensure consumer safety and uphold the integrity of food products in the market. It is actively updating guidelines and standards to address emerging food safety challenges. A nationwide campaign against dairy fraud has been launched, deploying 'Food Safety on Wheels'—mobile testing laboratories—across various markets in India. These units conduct rapid tests and promote the use of rapid testing kits.

The authority has instructed state food safety commissioners to take strict legal action against violators, aligning the campaign with concerns about the impact of dairy adulteration on public health and India's international trade reputation. FSSAI mandates that independent milk producers and vendors must register, requiring them to obtain a registration or a food business license before operating. This initiative aims to enhance traceability in India's milk supply chain.

In the East Godavari district, FSSAI has implemented a mandatory licensing requirement for stakeholders involved in the dairy sector following an adulteration incident. Furthermore, it has initiated legal action against social media influencers spreading misinformation about milk quality. These actions are part of its broader effort to combat digital misinformation regarding food safety.

FSSAI is moving towards a 'Risk-Based Inspection' system to streamline inspections for compliant processors while tightening regulations on independent vendors. A significant operation was conducted to intercept unbranded and unrefrigerated tankers transporting suspected adulterated milk. A task force led by Viswanath V.R., Assistant Commissioner of FSSAI’s Bengaluru South Division, set up inspection zones at key border points including Hoskote, Attibele, and Hosur. FSSAI teams collected samples from the seized tankers for laboratory analysis to check for chemical and microbiological irregularities.

Authorities, including the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), have discovered extensive criminal networks manufacturing counterfeit milk. The FSSAI has been involved in uncovering networks producing counterfeit milk with hazardous substances. The organization's large-scale dairy audit from 2023 remains unpublished, highlighting enforcement gaps.

Modified: 2026/06/27