The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (Act No. 34 of 2006). It functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Authority was created to consolidate a fragmented food safety system, which previously consisted of multiple laws like the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, and the Fruit Products Order, 1955, scattered across various ministries. The FSS Act, 2006, which received Presidential assent on August 23, 2006, solved this problem by creating a single, science-based regulatory framework. The FSSAI was formally established on September 5, 2008.
The core mechanism of the FSSAI is to lay down science-based standards for food articles and regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import. The FSS Act, 2006, which contains 12 chapters, mandates that all Food Business Operators (FBOs) must obtain a license or registration. The Authority enforces compliance through inspections, sample analysis in approved laboratories, and provides for penalties for offences like substandard or misbranded food. The Act also connects to the judicial system by providing for a Food Safety Appellate Tribunal for adjudication.
Recently, the FSSAI introduced significant changes through the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026, published on March 10, 2026. This amendment updated the original 2011 rules. A key change is the expanded definition of 'Petty Food Business Operator' to formally include street food vendors and food truck operators. Furthermore, licenses and registrations are now permanently valid, removing the previous requirement for renewal every one to five years. The Authority's fundamental mandate of setting standards and regulating the food sector under the FSS Act, 2006, remains the same.