Question

Direction : The passage given below is followed by a set of question. Choose the most appropriate answer to each question.

In India the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the apex food regulator. It is empowered by and functions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The FSSAI implements and enforces food regulations as prescribed in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act). The FSS Act is an Act of Parliament, popularly known as the Food Act. Previous to the FSS Act there were a number of food legislations. All these have been consolidated into a homogenous whole in the FSS Act. The regulations of the FSS Act became effective in 2011 with FSSAI as its regulatory body. Though the Act continues to evolve it needs to be further harmonized with standards of international agencies for global parity.

New Draft Regulations have been formulated by FSSAI. Of special interest is Section 22 of the FSS Act, which deals with "Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, Novel Foods and Health Supplements." For the first time regulations have been proposed for this category of foods. If these products propound nutritional or medicinal benefits they need to have sound scientific evidence. The products must not contain either steroids or psychotropic drugs. Ingredients like vitamins and minerals must conform to the recommended dietary allowances for Indians, as proposed by the Indian Council of Medical Research.

Organic and Traditional foods also do not require product approval as they are being consumed for centuries in India. The ingredients and preparation methods are well known and this guarantees their safety. If, however, traditional and organic foods use any new ingredients or food additive or new technologies in preparation, they need product approval.

Foods Imported into India have to follow the FSS Act, Rules & Regulations If the food articles are standardized, the importer only needs an FSSAI license to import them. The importer also needs to comply with FSSAI regulations for sale and distribution of the food products.

The existing process of product approval for the food articles governed under Section 22 of the FSS Act has been discontinued as updated on August 26, 2015 by FSSAI in response to the ruling by Honorable Supreme Court of India. The regulations on such food products are expected soon and the product approval may be reintroduced through a regulation.

These are exciting times for food safety regulations in India. The recent proposals mentioned in the new Draft Regulations will soon be finalized to become the new Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2015. They will provide new directives in areas such as nutraceuticals and health supplements, which is the need of the hour as these are becoming popular food categories. Standardization for thousands of foods is on the anvil. Food business operators are certainly anticipating some positive changes in food regulations, which could ease product approval process and food operations.

A harmonization of Indian food standards with global standards is a step in the right direction.

Which one of the following is the most important implication of the above passage?

Options

• The new regulations in food safety standard in India hold a lot of promise for the Indian food operators

• The current product approval process and food operations norms in India have led to a loss in revenue for the Indian food operators

• The Indian food operators are eagerly waiting for the new food regulations to become effective as it would make them bypass unnecessary and strict regulations

• The new regulations in food safety standards in India will lead to an increase in revenue for the Indian business class.

Answer 1

The new regulations in food safety standards in India will lead to an increase in revenue for the Indian business class

Explanation:

The author in the paragraph strikes an optimistic tone with relation to the proposed regulations. 
So, the new regulations in food safety standard in India hold a lot of promise for the Indian food operators is the correct answer. 
The current product approval process and food operations norms in India have led to a loss in revenue for the Indian food operators focuses on loss of revenue, which is not part of the passage. 
The new regulations in food safety standards in India will lead to an increase in revenue for the Indian business class is wrong for similar reasons. 
The Indian food operators are eagerly waiting for the new food regulations to become effective as it would make them bypass unnecessary and strict regulations calls the regulations 'unnecessary' which can't be supported by the paragraph.