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FSSAI amends FSSR 2011 to enable Ayush graduates apply for food safety officer post
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Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
April 08 , 2025
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The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has amended the Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011 to enable Ayush graduates under the NCISM 2022 to apply for food safety officers (FSOs).
The amended order was notified in the Government Gazette on March 28, 2025 by the Union government.
With this amendment, graduates in Ayurveda (BAMS), Siddha (BSMS), Dental Surgery (BDS), Homoeopathy (BHMS), Unani (BUMS) and BSRMS have become eligible candidates to apply for the post of FSO along with graduates in allopathic medical science (MBBS).
The FFSAI has made the Ayush courses recognized for the post of FSO under the provisions of the FSS Act 2006, and the rules made thereunder. The authority has amended the notification dated 21 September 2023, which permitted only MBBS holders to apply for FSO post.
The initiative to force the FSSAI to amend the notification was taken by the Union Ayush secretary Dr. Rajesh Kotecha following multiple requests by the general secretary of the Ayurveda Medicine Manufacturers Organisation of India (AMMOI), Dr D Ramanathan in Kerala. AMMOI has expressed its gratitude to the Ayush secretary for his follow-up activities to remove the bottleneck for Ayush practitioners to apply for FSO post.
In 2022, following letters and RTI enquiries by AMMOI and other stakeholders in the Ayush sector, the FSSAI issued one circular clarifying that the qualification for the FSO was ‘degree in medicines’ and it was MBBS. Against this notification, the AMMOI secretary sent a memorandum to the prime minister, Ayush minister, Ayush secretary and the director of the FSSAI. Considering the legality of the demand, the Ayush secretary Dr. Rajesh Kotecha sincerely intervened in the matter and took it up with the concerned departments. Finally, he succeeded in his attempt to make the Ayush degree an eligible qualification for the post of FSO.
Sharing information with Pharmabiz, Dr D Ramanathan said this amendment will increase the job opportunities of the Ayush graduates and will boost the Ayush Ahar Project.
Dr Ramanathan pointed out that in the clarification circular issued on October 12, 2022, FSSAI had specified that the term, "degree in medicines" given in the qualification clause in the FSSAI Act meant only medical degrees approved and recognised under the Indian Medical Council Act 1956. Further, it was clarified that any other degree in medicines made under other enactments was not recognised for FSO post.
Against this clarification, AMMOI sent a letter to the FSSAI demanding that all the Ayush graduates under the NCISM 2022 should be made eligible to become food safety officers on the lines of eligibility given for medical degree holders under the National Medical Commission. The association appealed to the FSSAI to remove the bottlenecks for the Ayush graduates to apply for the post.
Talking to Pharmabiz, AMMOI secretary said the FSSAI was impelled to fix MBBS as the only medical qualification for FSO was due to a judgment by the Allahabad High Court in 2015. Quoting it, the FSSAI said 'degree in medicine ' did not include any other system of medicine and it would not be proper to include or read any other degree, awarded by councils under other acts, into degree of medicine.
In the letter sent to the FSSAI director, Dr D Ramanathan said inclusion of mere MBBS qualification was a kind of partisan attitude of the FSSAI and it would take away the chances of Ayurveda graduates in the country. He wanted the director to look into the matter and allow all Ayush graduates to apply for the post. Further he quoted examples of joint work done by the Ministry of Ayush and the FSSAI for the promotion of healthy nutritious food under the category of Ayush Aahar.
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