Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

In one line: FSSAI is the statutory regulator that sets science-based standards for food in India, under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

How it was set up

The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 created FSSAI, which was established on 5 September 2008. Its administrative ministry is the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Under Section 5 of the Act it has a Chairperson and 22 members, one-third of whom must be women. The Act replaced older laws such as the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 and orders like the Fruit Products Order, 1955.

How it makes rules

Section 92 of the Act lets the Food Authority make regulations "with the previous approval of the Central Government" and "after previous publication". This is why FSSAI first publishes a draft and invites objections, as it did for the infant food amendment on 16 October 2026.

Why it is in the news

The infant food draft is FSSAI using this power to tighten standards for the most vulnerable consumers.

Where to go next

• The Foods for Infant Nutrition Regulations, 2020
• Added sugars and childhood obesity