The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India significantly intensified its food safety surveillance and enforcement activities during FY 2025-26, conducting 3,97,009 inspections across food establishments nationwide. According to official sources, the regulator, working closely with state authorities, analysed 1,65,747 food samples up to the third quarter of the fiscal year, with 17.16 per cent of the samples found to be non-conforming to prescribed standards, leading to immediate regulatory action.
Enforcement efforts also gained considerable momentum during the year. Authorities decided 23,580 adjudication cases and secured 1,756 criminal convictions, reinforcing accountability across the food business ecosystem. Financial penalties amounting to Rs 154.87 crore were imposed on violators, underscoring the regulator’s stricter approach towards food safety compliance and deterrence against malpractice.
Consumer protection measures were also strengthened, with 945 food recalls initiated during the fiscal year to prevent unsafe products from reaching consumers. Officials highlighted that while the FSSAI continues to frame standards and regulatory guidelines, the primary responsibility for licensing, inspections, and enforcement lies with state authorities. Nearly 98 per cent of Food Business Operators (FBOs) fall under state licensing regimes, making food safety implementation largely state-driven.
A major development during FY 2025-26 was the integration of the informal food sector into the formal regulatory framework. More than 10 lakh street food vendors were brought under regulatory oversight, aimed at improving hygiene standards and reducing food safety risks at the grassroots level. Simultaneously, licensing norms were streamlined and rationalised according to business turnover thresholds to improve ease of compliance.
The regulator also expanded India’s food testing infrastructure by notifying 18 laboratories, including advanced facilities in Singtam, Sikkim, and Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh. These laboratories have been equipped with enhanced microbiological testing systems for faster and more accurate contaminant detection. Officials noted that implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, continues to rely heavily on state-level execution through designated officers, food safety inspectors, and adjudicating authorities at the district level, reflecting a more mature and coordinated food safety enforcement ecosystem across the country.
