Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954
The Act was promulgated by Parliament in 1954 to make provision for the prevention of adulteration of food, along with the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955 which was incorporated in 1955 as an extension to the Act. Broadly, the PFA Act covers food standards, general procedures for sampling, analysis of food, powers of authorized officers, nature of penalties and other parameters related to food. It deals with parameters relating to food additives, preservative, colouring matters, packing & labelling of foods, prohibition & regulations of sales etc. Like FPO, amendment in PFA rules are incorporated with the recommendation made by the Central Committee of Food Standards (CCFS) which has been setup by Central Government under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare comprising members from different regions of the country. The provisions of PFA Act and Rules are implemented by State Government and local bodies as provided in the rules.
Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 will be repealed from the date to be notified by the Central Government as per the Food Safety and Standards Act,2006. Till that date new standards are specified, the requirement and other provisions of the PFA Act, 1954 and Rules, 1955 shall continue to be in force as a transitory provision for food standards.
