In a significant move to regulate food safety checks, the Delhi Food Safety Department has issued a strict order prohibiting its officers from conducting inspections at restaurants, eateries, or other food premises without prior written authorisation. This directive comes in response to persistent complaints from food business operators regarding alleged unauthorised and arbitrary inspections.
New Protocol for Food Safety Inspections
The official order, dated December 23, mandates that all inspections will now be conducted solely on a case-to-case basis. Food safety officers must obtain a need-based written order from the Food Safety Commissioner (FSC) before visiting any establishment. The department has explicitly stated that no deputy commissioner, designated officer, or food safety officer is permitted to visit food business premises without this formal inspection order. The order warns that any unauthorised visits will invite strict disciplinary action.
Addressing Misuse and Improving Accountability
The decision was taken following multiple representations from both food business operators and members of the public. According to officials, the move aims to achieve several key objectives:
- Curb the alleged misuse of powers by field officers.
- Address long-standing grievances about arbitrary and unpredictable inspections.
- Enhance accountability within the department's monitoring system.
- Allow the department to focus its resources on genuine and critical food safety concerns.
In a related organisational shift, food safety officers will no longer be attached to specific districts, further centralising the inspection process under the Commissioner's office.
Official Stance and FSSAI Compliance
Food Safety Commissioner JK Jain clarified that the order has been issued in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). An official explained that the new system is designed to bring more transparency and purpose to the inspection regime, ensuring that checks are conducted based on credible information or necessity rather than at the discretion of individual officers.
This reform is expected to bring relief to restaurant and food business owners in the national capital, who have often cited harassment and undue pressure from unscheduled inspections. The department believes that a more structured approach will foster better compliance and cooperation from food businesses while safeguarding consumer interests through more targeted enforcement.
