Chapter I - Preliminary
Section 1
Section 1: Short title, extent and commencement
Section 1 names the Act, extends it across India and lets the Central Government bring different provisions into force on different notified dates.
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Need advice on Section 1?
This article is for general information. Refer to the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 official text for the official provisions. If you need professional advice for your situation, contact Bizeneed.
Statutory text
Bare law
(1) This Act may be called the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act and any reference in any such provision to the commencement of this Act shall be construed as a reference to the coming into force of that provision.
Introduction
The assent date is not a single commencement date for every duty. For an event in the past, identify the provision involved and the Gazette notification that had commenced it by then.
Subsection (3) also tells readers how to understand a reference to “commencement of this Act” inside a provision brought into force later: it refers to that provision’s own start date.
Key takeaways
Territorial reach
The Act extends to the whole of India.
Staggered start
Different provisions may start on different Gazette-notified dates.
Check the provision and date
Record the conduct date and section number, then trace the Central Government commencement notification for that section. This matters when older inspections or proceedings are evaluated.
Read internal commencement references
If a provision measures a period from commencement, apply the construction rule in section 1(3) rather than automatically using the Act’s 2006 assent date.
Official sources
Read the consolidated Act with the enacted and commenced amendments applicable to this section.
Practical checklist
Do
- Identify the exact section and its notified effective date in historical matters.
Avoid
- Do not treat 23 August 2006 as the commencement date of every section.
Frequently asked questions
Did the entire Act start on one day?
No. Section 1(3) permits different notified commencement dates for different provisions.
Need help applying this provision to your situation?
Contact BizeneedLast updated 10 October 2026