Rajit Punhani takes over as FSSAI chief with focus on new food norms

Rajit Punhani, a 1991-batch IAS officer, has taken charge as CEO of FSSAI as the regulator prepares to finalise new food labelling rules mandating display of key nutritional information

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Rajit Punhani took charge as chief executive officer (CEO) of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Monday.

 

Punhani, a 1991-batch IAS officer of the Bihar cadre, has over three decades of administrative experience across the Centre, states and international platforms.

 

Until recently, he served as secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Prior to that, he was secretary, Rajya Sabha, and CEO of Sansad TV. He has also served as principal secretary in the Government of Bihar. 

 

Punhani is an economics (honours) graduate from St Stephen’s College, Delhi, and holds an MBA in finance from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.

 

This leadership change comes amid the Supreme Court’s direction to the central government to finalise and implement updated food labelling regulations, mandating that packaged food products prominently display key nutritional information such as total sugar, salt and saturated fat content.

 

The FSSAI was initially required to complete this by July, but was granted an extension until October to submit the expert committee’s report.