Chapter II - Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
Section 5
Section 5: Composition of Food Authority and qualifications for appointment of its Chairperson and other Members
Section 5 sets the Food Authority’s composition, representation, Chairperson qualification and appointment route.
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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) The Food Authority shall consist of a Chairperson and the following twenty-two members out of which one-third shall be women, namely:– (a) seven Members, not below the rank of a Joint Secretary to the Government of India, to be appointed by the Central Government, to respectively represent the Ministries or Departments of the Central Government dealing with– (i) Agriculture, (ii) Commerce, (iii) Consumer Affairs, (iv) Food Processing, (v) Health, (vi) Legislative Affairs, (vii) Small Scale Industries, (viii) who shall be Members ex officio; (b) two representatives from food industry of which one shall be from small scale industries; (c) two representatives from consumer organisations; (d) three eminent food technologists or scientists; (e) five members to be appointed by rotation every three years, one each in seriatim from the Zones as specified in the First Schedule to represent the States and the Union territories; (f) two persons to represent farmers’ organisations; (g) one person to represent retailers’ organisations.
(2) The Chairperson and other Members of the Food Authority shall be appointed in such a manner so as to secure the highest standards of competence, broad range of relevant expertise, and shall represent, the broadest possible geographic distribution within the country.
(3) The Chairperson shall be appointed by the Central Government from amongst the persons of eminence in the field of food science or from amongst the persons from the administration who have been associated with the subject and is either holding or has held the position of not below the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.
(4) The Chairperson and the Members including part-time Members other than the ex officio Members of the Food Authority may be appointed by the Central Government on the recommendations of the Selection Committee.
(5) The Chairperson of the Food Authority shall not hold any other office.
Introduction
The statute specifies a Chairperson and 22 members, with one-third of the members to be women. The membership draws from central ministries, industry, consumers, science, States and Union territories, farmers and retailers.
Five State and Union territory places rotate every three years by the zones in the First Schedule. The Chairperson must meet the food-science or senior administrative criteria in subsection (3); the 2008 amendment supplies the current wording of subsections (4) and (5).
Key takeaways
Specified membership
The Act fixes the representative categories and the women-member requirement.
Zonal rotation
Five places rotate by the First Schedule zones every three years.
Appointment route
The amended subsection (4) refers non ex officio appointments to the Selection Committee recommendation process.
Review the roster
Count the Chairperson and statutory member categories, identify ex officio members and check the First Schedule zone and rotation date for State and Union territory representatives.
Review an appointment
Check the Chairperson’s qualification, the Selection Committee recommendation for a covered appointment, and the amended rule that the Chairperson must not hold another office.
Official sources
Read the consolidated Act with the enacted and commenced amendments applicable to this section.
Practical checklist
Do
- Use the current 2008-amended subsections (4) and (5).
- Document category, zone and appointment basis for each member.
Avoid
- Do not treat the First Schedule’s zones as additional numbered Act sections.
Frequently asked questions
Does every member follow the Selection Committee route?
Section 5(4) excludes ex officio members from that recommendation route.
Need help applying this provision to your situation?
Contact BizeneedLast updated 10 October 2026