FSSAI closes offices in Chandigarh & Lucknow

Central food safety regulator FSSAI has shut down its sub-regional offices at Chandigarh and Lucknow saying they were not contributing much as the licensing work is now being done online.
"These (sub-regional offices) were aberration. Most of the licensing work is done online. On careful analysis, it was found that these two sub-regional offices were not contributing much," Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) CEO Pawan Agarwal told PTI.
The orders for the closure of these two sub-regional offices have been issued. However, the five regional offices -- Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Cochin and Guwahati will continue to function, he said. The head office is in Delhi.

Criticising the decision to shut the two offices, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said the decision is reported to be linked with several reasons such as the authority's plans of moving towards a regime of self- regulation and declaration and avoiding nuisance to businesses.
"In a country like India with 29 States and seven Union Territories, closing down two offices out of eight (in all) gives a perception that the central regulator is backing-down. This is not good for food safety regulations in the country," CSE deputy director general Chandra Bhushan said in a statement.
Meanwhile, as part of Digital India programme, FSSAI is focusing on providing quick, transparent and efficient services through online platform.

Recently, the regulator had launched a mobile app through which consumers can raise their concerns related to quality of packaged food and the food served in ready-to-eat outlets.
Since most of the times the form of food consumed is either packed or serviced, the mobile app provides food safety tips and food safety laws as prescribed by the regulator through its regulations.
FSSAI was established under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, for laying down science based standards for articles of food. The authority was also assigned to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.