UPSC: PIB Summary and Analysis Feb 02, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

Distribution of nutritional and Hygienic food to people

For safe and healthy food, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has developed science-based standards for various categories of food products under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 in order to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food in the country.
FSSAI has also operationalized draft regulations on fortification of food articles that include standards for fortification of food staples – oil, milk, double fortified salt, wheat flour and rice, and also introduced +F Logo for fortified foods.
To ensure that the most vulnerable sections of the society receive appropriate and timely nutrition, the use of fortified wheat flour, oil and double fortified salt have been mandated under Mid-Day-Meal and Integrated Child Development Schemes.
To promote awareness among consumers on Nutrition, mandatory labeling requirements for pre-packaged foods, including list of ingredients, nutritional information, energy value in Kilo calorie etc. is prescribed.
FSSAI has also undertaken ‘Safe and Nutritious Food (SNF)’ initiative to promote awareness towards consumption of safe and nutritious food.

FSSAI

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
FSSAI is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.
The FSSAI has its headquarters at New Delhi. The authority also has 6 regional offices located in Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai, Kolkata, Cochin and Chennai.

Steps taken to prevent damage to foodgrains in FCI godowns

All godowns are constructed on scientific lines to make them rodent proof by having proper height and damp proof by providing pucca floor plinth.
Fumigation covers, nylon ropes, nets and insecticides for control of stored grain insect pests are provided in all the godowns.
Prophylactic (spraying of insecticides) and curative treatments (fumigation) are carried out regularly and timely in godowns for the control of stored grain insect pests.
The principle of “First in First Out” (FIFO) is followed to the extent possible so as to avoid longer storage of foodgrains in godowns.
Only covered rail wagons are used for movement of foodgrains so as to avoid damage during transit.

CSL and USC, have signed a MoU to collaborate and engage in Design, Development and Execution of contemporary, State-of-Art vessels for Inland and Coastal Waterways.
CSL and USC will collaborate for development of High-Speed Vessels, River-Sea Cargo Vessels, Passenger Vessels, Dredgers, and other watercrafts for inland waterways and coastal shipping.
The MoU will give a push to the Government’s Make-in-India programme, as also its plans to develop eco-friendly and economic transportation along India’s inland waterways and coastal shipping routes under SAGARMALA.

The prime objective of the Sagarmala project is to promote port-led direct and indirect development and to provide infrastructure to transport goods to and from ports quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively.

The total area sown under Rabi crops as on 2^nd February 2018 stands at 632.34 lakh hectares as compared to 641.72 lakh hectare this time in 2017.
Wheat has been sown/transplanted in 300.70 lakh hectares, rice in 28.61 lakh hectares, pulses in 166.47 lakh hectares, coarse cereals in 56.27 lakh hectares and area sown under oilseeds is 80.29 lakh hectares.

Every year, February 2 is celebrated as World Wetlands Day, to mark the date of adoption of Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
The Convention on Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
The Convention was adopted in 1971 at the Iranian City of Ramsar. India is a party to the Convention since 1982.
The 2018 theme ‘Wetlands for a sustainable urban future’.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in collaboration with Department of Forests, Assam government is organising the national-level celebration of World Wetlands Day (WWD), 2018 at Deepor Beel, a Ramsar Site in Guwahati.

It is a US $ 375 million loan agreement with the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance for JMVP.
The JMVP, which is expected to be completed by March, 2023, is being implemented with the financial and technical support of the World Bank.
The project will enable commercial navigation of vessels with the capacity of 1500-2,000 tons on NW-I.

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