KirKS, I did a search (
http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/psearch/qsearch15.aspx) on the questions asked by Varun and he seems to be a smart person asking smart (non-political, that is) questions. Here is one:
[quote]GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO 1390 ANSWERED ON 05.03.2010 STANDARDS OF PACKAGED FOOD AND BEVERAGE ITEMS 1390 .
Shri NEERAJ SHEKHAR
ANAND PRAKASH PARANJPE
FEROZE VARUN GANDHI
RUDRAMADHAB RAY
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:-
(a) the reasons for not yet notifying the Rules and Regulations of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the time by which these are likely to be notified;
(b) whether processed and packaged food and beverage items like energy drinks,probiotic products etc. are being sold in the country without being governed by any food standards;
(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(d) whether the Government proposes to bring in higher safety and quality control for these food and beverage items and to introduce quality stamp for probiotic and organic products; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE(SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI)
(a) The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) established in September,2008 has circulated draft rules and regulations in December, 2009 to all stakeholders including industry and State Governments for consultation before final notification following the laid down procedures.
(b) & (c) Food items like energy drinks and probiotic dairy products fall in the category of proprietary food (non-standardized) defined in Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955 and have to comply with the requirements laid down in the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 and Rules, 1955.
(d) & (e) Setting standards for new food items, like probiotics and organic products, and review of existing standards under Adulteration Rules 1955 is a continuous and ongoing process.[/quote]I browsed few of his other questions on the use of scientific mapping of the availability of sites for putting up steel plants. Another was "whether the Government also proposes to use satellite phones and global positioning system (GPS) to ensure that safety standards for tourists in India are at par with the international Standards", one of the subjects of interest to me (safety), beyond just tourism.
Seriously, this dude should stop putting tilak on his forehead and uttering of political nonsense, instead, portray who he really is, a modern youth who cares about India's future. :)