The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has expanded its legal team by bringing on board four prominent law firms to bolster its food safety enforcement efforts across the nation. The firms joining this initiative are SS Rana & Co, Singh & Associates, Suri & Company, and GP Law Chambers. These additions augment FSSAI’s existing legal panel, which already includes Chaudhary & Chaudhary, Sasttra Legal, Meharia & Company, and Legacy Law, bringing the total number of partnered law firms to eight.
Comprehensive Legal Mandate
The scope of work for these law firms encompasses a wide range of legal services, including litigation, consumer dispute resolution, legal advisory, drafting of opinions, as well as handling intellectual property and corporate matters. Currently, FSSAI is managing over 800 legal cases throughout India, underscoring the importance of this expanded legal support.
Heightened Inspections and Enforcement Actions
This strategic empanelment of legal experts follows a series of intensified inspections by FSSAI and state-level food safety authorities targeting restaurants, hotels, cloud kitchens, warehouses, and food manufacturing units. These inspections have frequently led to the issuance of regulatory notices, seizure or destruction of non-compliant food items, and the suspension of operational licenses due to violations related to food safety, hygiene, storage, and labeling standards.
Recent Enforcement Actions
In a recent enforcement operation in Bengaluru, food safety officials scrutinized various establishments, including hotels, restaurants, government-operated Indira Canteens, and quick-commerce warehouses. This particular initiative resulted in the issuance of several compliance notices and the sealing of a warehouse found to be in violation of storage and food handling protocols.
Further actions have been taken in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, where FSSAI suspended the licenses of two food manufacturing facilities. Inspections revealed significant issues including pest infestations and inadequate hygiene and pest control measures.
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Litigation and Regulatory Challenges
FSSAI’s regulatory and labeling decisions have also been subject to legal scrutiny. In a notable case, the Delhi High Court issued a stay on an FSSAI order that prohibited Dabur India from marketing its food products with claims such as “100% Pure” and “100% Natural.” This legal challenge highlights the complex interplay between regulatory enforcement and commercial interests.
Overall, the addition of these four law firms is a strategic move by FSSAI to ensure robust legal backing in its mission to uphold food safety standards across India.
