Significnt Update

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has directed States to intensify surveillance and inspections to strengthen food safety enforcement across the country. State food safety departments carried out nearly 3.97 lakh inspections in FY26 across various food categories as part of ongoing enforcement drives. Between April and December, officials analysed around 1,65,747 food samples. Of these, 17.16% did not meet safety and quality standards.

To strengthen infrastructure, FSSAI has notified 18 food testing laboratories, including new facilities in Sikkim and Andhra Pradesh equipped with advanced microbiology capabilities. The government has reduced compliance burden by removing dual registration requirements. Street food vendors registered with Municipal Corporations or Town Vending Committees will now be deemed registered under FSSAI, benefiting over 10 lakh vendors.

Source: Businessline