Cabinet decides to withdraw Food Safety and Standards (Amendment) Bill, 2014

On 5^th November 2014,  Union Cabinet decided to withdraw the Food Safety and Standards (Amendment) Bill, 2014 which was introduced in the Rajya Sabha by the then UPA Government in February 2014.

Reason’s for withdrawal of Bill

• The NDA Government’s withdrawal decision comes in the wake of certain judgments of the Supreme Court and the Lucknow Benchof Allahabad High Court.
• The Government had also received several representations against the bill.
• The Government feels that, the Bill needs to be further amended after taking into account the judgments of the courts, representations and other recent developments.

Cabinet also notified that, this Bill will be introduces after fresh set of amendments and detailed examination of court judgments and several representations.
Fresh set of amendments will be finalised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Background of withdrawn Food Safety and Standards (Amendment) Bill, 2014

• The objective of the Bill was to establish the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) to regulate the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import of food items.
• The Bill had specified that the chairperson shall guide and oversee the FSSAI, preside over its meetings and exercise any other powers of the FSSAI as may be assigned to him.
• Under withdrawn Bill, the FSSAI consisted of a chairperson and twenty-two members.
• The Bill had proposed to add the Chief Executive Officer as a member of the FSSAI.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2014