FSSAI's Stakeholder Consultation Approach

Abstract

This paper outlines the framework and mechanisms through which stakeholders participate in the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's (FSSAI) decision-making, policy formulation, and standard-setting processes. By transitioning toward a participatory model under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, the FSSAI has institutionalized transparency and inclusivity as primary regulatory pillars. The approach aligns with international benchmarks, including the Codex Alimentarius Commission, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) principles on regulatory policy. Through the integration of digital infrastructure via the National Stakeholder Consultation (NSC) Portal, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India ensures that food safety regulations are evidence-based, socially representative, and scientifically robust, thereby strengthening institutional trust and promoting shared responsibility across the food value chain.

1.0 Introduction

Stakeholders have played an important role in shaping the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's policies, standards, and scientific frameworks since its inception. Engagement with diverse stakeholders ensures that food safety regulation in India remains transparent, inclusive, and reflective of the needs and expectations of consumers, industry, academia, and civil society.

With the changing landscape of food systems and increasing complexity of public health challenges, the demand for greater transparency, participation, and accountability has grown significantly. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India recognises that meaningful stakeholder engagement enhances the quality of regulatory and scientific outcomes, strengthens trust, and promotes shared responsibility for ensuring safe and wholesome food for all. The collaborative governance approach for food safety has been illustrated in Fig 1.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's Stakeholder Engagement Approach outlines the framework and mechanisms through which stakeholders can participate in the Authority's decision-making, policy formulation, and standard-setting processes at national, regional, and sectoral levels, ensuring alignment with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Recommendation of the Council on Regulatory Policy and Governance.

2.0 Regulatory Provisions

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is mandated with laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import, to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

The process of standard setting is driven by the principle of risk assessment and transparency. The Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee (Risk assessor) are performing risk assessment based on available scientific evidence and propose a draft standard for approval of the Food Authority (Risk manager). Also, as mandated under Section 13(2) of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, the Scientific Panel shall invite the relevant industry and consumer representatives in its deliberations. Once approved by the Food Authority, the draft standard is notified for inviting comments from domestic stakeholders, and World Trade Organization (WTO) member countries, for a period of 60 days.

Section 3(1)(zq) of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 defines the "risk management", as a process, distinct from risk assessment, of evaluating policy alternatives, in consultation with all interested parties considering risk assessment and other factors relevant for the protection of health of consumers and for the promotion of fair trade practices, and, if needed, selecting appropriate prevention and control options.

As defined in Clause 3.23 of the International Standard ISO 22000 – Food Safety Management Systems: Requirements for Any Organization in the Food Chain – the terms "interested party" and "stakeholder" are used synonymously, as follows: Interested party (preferred term) / stakeholder (admitted term) means person or organization that can affect, be affected by, or perceive itself to be affected by a decision or activity.

Further, as per Section 18 (2) (d) of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, the Food Authority shall, while framing regulations or specifying standards under this Act, ensure that there is open and transparent public consultation, directly or through representative bodies including all levels of panchayats, during the preparation, evaluation and revision of regulations.

Furthermore, as per sub-regulation 10(2) relating to Approach to work and prioritisation of the Food Safety and Standards (Transaction of Business and Procedure for the Scientific Committee and Scientific Panel) Regulations, 2016, the Scientific Committee or Scientific Panel shall afford an opportunity of scientific presentations to the representatives of concerned industry and consumer groups in one of its initial meetings and take the scientific literature submitted by them on record for consultation in forming its opinion.

New Regulatory Alignment

• Pre-legislative Consultation Policy, 2014: In accordance with the 2014 policy issued by the Department of Legal Affairs, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India proactively places draft regulations in the public domain for a minimum period of 30 days to ensure the rationale and estimated impact are shared with stakeholders.
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Principles: The Authority follows the OECD Best Practice Principles for Regulatory Policy, incorporating stakeholder feedback early in the process to enhance regulatory quality.

3.0 Stakeholders

Stakeholders are individuals, organisations, or entities that are directly or indirectly affected by, or have a legitimate interest in, the Authority's functions and activities. The major stakeholder groups include:

• Consumers and Consumer Organisations
• Industry Associations and Food Business Operators (Large, Medium, Small Enterprises)
• E-commerce platforms and Food Aggregators
• Farmers and Primary Producers (including Farmer Producer Organizations)
• Academia and Research Institutions
• Scientific Experts
• Government ministries and regulatory bodies
• Professional and Practitioner Associations (nutritionists, dieticians, food technologists, medical professionals)
• Civil Delivery, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Advocacy Groups
• Media and Communication Partners
• International Bodies (World Trade Organization – Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures / Technical Barriers to Trade and Codex committees)

4.0 Objective

• To expand stakeholder access to scientific information and decision-making processes.
• To promote meaningful dialogue with diverse actors across the food value chain.
• To collect views, data, and insights from stakeholders early in the policy and standard development process.
• To build trust, awareness, and ownership of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's actions and initiatives.
• To enhance collaboration for implementation, compliance, and innovation in food safety.
• To build institutional trust and promote global harmonization of Indian food standards.

5.0 Core Principles and Challenges

Stakeholder engagement at the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is guided by a set of core principles designed to ensure regulatory robustness and public trust. The framework emphasizes transparency through open access to processes, data, and the rationale behind the Authority's decisions, while inclusivity ensures representation from all segments of the food system, accounting for regional and gender diversity. Accountability is maintained through clear communication on how stakeholder inputs are weighed, supported by evidence-based dialogue that is strictly informed by scientific data and regulatory principles. Furthermore, the Authority fosters mutual respect and collaboration to achieve shared food safety goals, ensures accessibility through multilingual and digital platforms to engage stakeholders nationwide, and adheres to proportionality by aligning with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Better Regulation agenda to ensure regulatory requirements are commensurate with identified food safety risks.

6.0 Engagement Approach

6.1 National Level Consultations

National stakeholder consultations will be organised through a structured and a pre-released annual calendar on identified food safety issues/themes. These consultations aim to engage diverse group of participants, including line ministries such as Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Food Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Commerce etc., Government departments such as Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), research institutions like National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) and National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), State authorities, Independent research and advocacy organizations, FSSAI-recognized testing laboratories, Representatives from consumer organizations, farmers, and food business operators alongside industry associations, which represent various sectors of the food industry contribute to policy discussions.

6.2 Regional and State Level Consultations

• Regional Consultative Meetings: Stakeholder engagement across different regions, in co-ordination with each Regional Office to capture local perspectives and implementation challenges.
• State-level Interactions: Engagement with State Food Safety Departments, food business operators, and local consumers to ensure ground-level inclusion.

6.3 Sectoral and Thematic Consultations

In addition to geographic consultations, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is organising sector-specific or thematic consultations, focusing on particular domains such as Ayurveda Aahar, Nutraceuticals, Organic foods, etc.

7.0 Digital Outreach

To facilitate structured and continuous engagement, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has developed a dedicated digital platform – the National Stakeholder Consultation (NSC) Portal (https://nsc.fssai.gov.in/). This portal serves as a one-stop interface for registration, dialogue, and feedback from stakeholders across India, enabling evidence-based consultation and co-creation of food safety policies. The portal features user-friendly registration for stakeholder profiling, real-time notifications for upcoming consultations and calls for comments, secure submission of feedback and scientific evidence, and easy access to consultation summaries, reports, and outcomes. It allows:

• Registration and profiling of stakeholders across categories, with secure verification to ensure authenticity.
• Notifications of upcoming consultations, meetings, and calls for comments, delivered via email, Short Message Service (SMS), and in-app alerts for timely engagement.
• Submission of feedback, suggestions, and scientific evidence through intuitive forms and upload tools, supporting diverse file formats for comprehensive input.
• Access to summaries, reports, and outcomes of past consultations, including archived documents and interactive dashboards for tracking policy evolution.

This platform promotes transparency, traceability, and two-way communication, enabling both physical and virtual participation. Key enhancements via the National Stakeholder Consultation Portal include Artificial Intelligence assisted binning approach for feedback processing, collaborative workspaces for real-time co-editing of draft standards, and integration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's mobile app for on-the-go access, fostering deeper involvement in evidence-based policymaking.

8.0 Implementation

The stakeholder engagement framework rolls out as follows:

• The National Stakeholder Consultation Calendar will be released annually, while Regional and Sectoral Consultations will be announced from time to time.
• Registration and on-boarding of stakeholders through the National Stakeholder Consultation Portal.
• Dissemination of information, theme/agenda of the consultation through the National Stakeholder Consultation portal.
• Integration of stakeholder feedback into the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's scientific and policy processes, with periodic reporting on outcomes.
• The Stakeholder Consultation Secretariat at the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India will oversee implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of engagement activities.

9.0 Monitoring Framework

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India will monitor and evaluate its stakeholder engagement activities to ensure that they remain effective, inclusive, and responsive to evolving needs. Key indicators are indicated in Table 1.

Table 1: Key Indicators for Monitoring Framework

Area	Indicators	Source
Inclusivity	Number and diversity of registered stakeholders	National Stakeholder Consultation Portal
Transparency	Publication of consultation outcomes and responses	National Stakeholder Consultation Portal
Policy Impact	Policy or standards influenced by stakeholder inputs	Internal records
Collaboration	Number of sectoral partnerships and working groups formed	Consultation reports
Satisfaction	Stakeholder feedback and query resolution scores	National Stakeholder Consultation Portal

10.0 Expected Outcomes

The implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's Stakeholder Engagement Approach is expected to deliver multiple benefits at the institutional, scientific, and societal levels. Improved policy and standard setting will result from broader stakeholder participation, leading to more evidence-based, practical, and harmonised food standards and regulations. Furthermore, open consultations and timely communication will enhance transparency and trust, strengthening stakeholder confidence and promoting a predictable regulatory environment. The engagement at national, regional, and sectoral levels ensures inclusive and representative decision-making, where diverse voices – especially from small enterprises, farmers, and consumers – are heard. Shared understanding and collaboration facilitate better implementation and compliance, encouraging voluntary adherence and greater ownership of food safety initiatives. Moreover, regular interactions between the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, experts, and institutions strengthen scientific collaboration, promoting knowledge exchange and responsiveness to emerging risks. The National Stakeholder Consultation portal ensures efficient feedback and communication through continuous, traceable, and transparent interaction between the Authority and stakeholders. Finally, long-term engagement fosters sustained partnerships and capacity building, supporting technical cooperation and development across all sectors of the food system.

Consolidated Institutional Impact: The framework facilitates the development of scientifically robust food standards that are technically feasible and reflective of ground-level realities. This collaborative culture enhances voluntary compliance among Food Business Operators and fosters industry buy-in for safety initiatives, while aligning with international benchmarks such as Codex and the World Trade Organization promotes a predictable regulatory environment that reduces trade barriers. Ultimately, these outcomes position India as a global leader in collaborative food governance, striking a balance between innovation and rigorous public health protection.

References

Author Biography