Maharashtra FDA Introduces Year-Round Food Safety Rules for Festivals From Eid to Diwali

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced a 12-month food safety enforcement framework covering major festivals throughout the year, from Eid and Holi to Ganesh Utsav, Navratri and Diwali.

FDA Commissioner Tukaram Munde described the initiative as a first-of-its-kind order in India, aimed at moving food safety enforcement beyond short-term festival drives and establishing a continuous monitoring system.

The new framework identifies festivals and food products that may face a higher risk of adulteration during particular periods. Officials will accordingly plan inspections, sampling and testing throughout the year.

Uniform rules for festivals across the year

Munde said the Maharashtra FDA had been working under the concept of “Safe Food and Safe Drug” and that increased demand during festivals can create additional risks to food quality.

Under the new order issued on September 3, food safety measures will apply throughout the year rather than being limited to individual festival periods.

The framework covers festivals celebrated by different communities and sets procedures for monitoring food items associated with each occasion.

For instance, officials will pay particular attention to jaggery during Makar Sankranti, while sweets and items such as malpua will receive greater scrutiny during festivals including Holi and Eid.

Three categories for festival monitoring

The Maharashtra FDA has divided festivals into three levels based on factors including the potential risk of food adulteration.

The department has also created different testing protocols depending on the type of food and the festival. Organisers and businesses will be required to provide information about food-related activities to the FDA.

The testing programme will cover a range of products and food services, including:

• Fasting-related food products
• Cooking and edible oils
• Dry fruits
• Bakery products
• Food ordered through online platforms
• Mahaprasad
• Bhandara food
• Langar

Organisers of community food services such as Bhandaras and Langars will also receive regular guidance and training on food safety practices.

Four levels of inspection

The new system provides for four levels of inspection and enforcement during festival periods.

The first level covers major state-level festivals, including Ganesh Utsav and Navratri, with enforcement plans lasting between 15 and 21 days.

The second level includes festivals such as Mahashivratri and Makar Sankranti, for which inspections will be planned over one to 14 days.

The third level focuses on local sweet shops and related food establishments, while the fourth level involves follow-up action approximately 30 days after a festival.

The approach is designed to extend monitoring beyond the festival itself and allow authorities to act on issues identified during inspections.

Tukaram Munde responds to 'God' remark

During the announcement, Munde was also asked about a previous remark associated with a Bombay High Court hearing, where the court had questioned whether he considered himself capable of doing everything.

Responding to the question, Munde said, “I know I'm not God.”

The FDA commissioner also said that since he took charge, the department's workload had increased significantly, claiming that its work had risen by around 300 per cent.

The new year-round framework is intended to create a more systematic food safety mechanism in Maharashtra, replacing periodic festival-focused drives with continuous monitoring and enforcement.