A number of existing food standards in India are based on the international codex alimentarius, with relevant modifications and additions wherever necessary. The most important of these are:

* Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA)

* `Agmark' Standards (JAGMark)

* Fruit Products Order (FPO)

* Specifications of Indian Standards Institution (ISI)

Quality standards are descriptions of commodities in terms of net weight, accurate size, dimensions, content and other characteristics. The following gives an idea of the kind of specific requirements laid down as quality standards:

* Establish the minimum and also maximum content of one or more components of food, e.g. cooking chocolate contains not less than 50% and more than 58% by weight of cocoa fat.

* Establish the ingredient content of food e.g. jams made of mixtures composed of 45 parts by weight of fruit constitutent and 55 part by weight of sugar.

* Establish the minimum quality of one or more ingredients of food, e.g. margarine contains no less than 80% fat.

* Describe processing requirement e.g., sealed in a container and so processed by heat to prevent spoiling.

* Identify the species of plant that may have been utilized.

* Define packing media of any foods such as water, syrup, juices and oils.

* Prescribe essentials in production e.g., bread is prepared by baking a kneaded yeast
leavened dough made by moistoring flour with water or other specified liquid.

* Require label statement of the use of any food additives with explanation of use.

1. The PFA Standards

These precribe the minimum standards for all types and categories of food. The PFA rules were fjist introduced in 1955 and have been subsequently amended in 1968, 1973 and 1978 and this has been reinforced since June 1st 1945. The standards are formulated and revised when required, by an expert body called the central committee for food standards (CCFS). Only food does not conform to the minimum standards laid down by the PFA rales, is said to be adulterated, irrespective of whether anything has been added to or removed from the original food.

The regulation consist of many articles direction towards the protection of food adulteration. Some of these are discussed below :

1. Section II : This section gives some common definitions like definition of adulteration, definition of food false labels.

(a) Definition of Food Adulteration : This has been discussed in chapter 13 already.

(b) Definition of Food Stuff: All the liquid and solid products that are ingested (except water and medicine are termed as food stuffs.

(c) False Label : The following conditions define any product with false label :

(i) If the label is deceptive or not true,

(ii) If the product is sold by some another name.

(iii) If the product is the copy of some other product and the name of the product is not mentioned on the label.

(iv) If the container is such that is deceives about the amount it contains.

(v) If the lable does not mention the name of the manufacture and the products used and their standard.

(vi) The lable cannot be read easily.

(vii) If the artificial colors and chemical preservatives used are not mentioned,

(viii) If the standard of the food product is not mentioned.

2. Section (V) : This Section mentions the food products whose sale is prohibited in India (i) adulterated food stuff: (ii) Food products with false lable; (iii) Import of licenced food stuffs; (iv) any other food product which is not in this law.

3. Section (X) : This Section mentions the rights and duties of food inspectors (i) Food Inspectors can take the sample of any food product to sent it for testing and keeping the public health in mind, he can prohibit the sale of any food product with the prior permission of food officer (ii) Food Inspector can take the sample from any place of inspection (a) where the food stuff is produced; where it is stored and (c) where it has been kept for sale. (iii) When the food adulteration has been certified, food Inspector can assess the seller. He (iv) can take possession of the adulterated food stuff and send the, same for testing.

4. Articie (XI) : According to this article, when the food inspector takes samples for testing, then (i) then he will give notice to the seller, then the sample has been sent for testing : (ii) The sample will be sealed in three different parts : one for seller, one for testing and one for himself.

5. Article (XII) : According to it, any food stuff suspected for adulteration by the consumer, can be sent by him for testing, and so proved, the testing cost is reimbursed to the consumer and the seller is taken by the law.

According to PFA act, a person keeping, selling or transporting the adulterated food stuff may be jailer from three to six months and fined for a sum from Rs. 500 to Rs. 2000. If the same person is caught again, his name and offence is published in the local newspaper and the expenses are borne by the same person. If a consumer dies after consuming adulterated food stuff, then he offencer may he given life imprisonment.

2. Fruit Product Order (F.P.O.)

The Fruit Products Order was promulgated by the Government of India in 1946, under the Defence India Rules. In 1955, the order was revised and section III of the Essential commodities Act, which was enacted that year. This order stipulates minimum fruit and vegetable products manufactured in India. Under this act, every manufacturer for fruit and vegetable products must obtain a licence before starting production and the products should confirm to the standards prescribed under the order. The latest amendment was made in 1975.

The Central Fruit Products Advisory Committee constituted under the order is expert body
which advises the Central Government on Standards and policy matters relating to the vegetable and fruit industry. Any product which deviates from the minimum prescribed standards under the order is decalred sub-standard and in case the office is repeated, the producer is liable to punishment under the provision of law. The Main objective of the F.P.O. is to ensure minimum standards for various fruit and vegetable product. The order specifies standards and sanitation and hygiene to be followed in the factories besides giving directions regarding packing, marking and labelling of containers. The inspectors attached to the Deptt. of Agricultural Marketing are empowered to collect samples and inspect the factory and send the samples to the control testing laboratory located at Central Food Research Institute, Mysore. The order has further laid down limits for the presence of poisonous elements, permitted food colors, preservatives and other food additives.

The following are the products of fruit and vegetables marked with FPO :

(i) Preserved fruit (in cans and bottles)

(ii) Preserved vegetables (in cans and bottles)

(ili) Fruit juice and fruit pulp (in cans, bottles)

(iv) Fruit drinks like Rasika, Mangola etc.

(v) Jam, Jelly and Marmalade.

(vi) Squash, Syrup and Cordial.

(vii) Pickles, Chutneys and Preservers.

(viii) Dried fruit and vegetables.

(ix) Candid and Glazed Fruits

(x) Freezed Fruit, vegetables, fruit, juice and fruit pulp.

(xi) Sherbet and carbonated drinks like Cola