Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has amended its eligibility criteria for the post of Food Safety Officer under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Through a notification dated March 28, 2025, and with Central Government approval, FSSAI has expanded the list of recognized qualifications. In addition to previously approved disciplines, the new eligibility criteria now include degrees in Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), and various traditional medicine degrees such as Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS), Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS), Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery (BUMS), Bachelor of Siddha Medicine and Surgery (BSMS), and Bachelor of Sowa Rigpa Medicine and Surgery (BSRMS). This amendment modifies the earlier notification issued on September 21, 2023, and aims to broaden the pool of qualified professionals in food safety. The notification was issued by FSSAI Chief Executive Officer G. Kamala Vardhana Rao.
FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS AUTHORITY OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 28th March, 2025
F. No. QA-11023/25/2023-QA-FSSAI-Part(1).—In pursuance of the powers conferred under clause (ii) of sub-rule (1) of rule 2.1.3 of the Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India with the approval of the Central Government hereby makes the following courses recognized for the post of Food Safety Officer under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (34 of 2006) and the rules made thereunder, and for that purpose amends the notification number F.No. P. 15014/8/2023-FR dated the 21st September 2023 published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4 dated the 21st September 2023, namely:-
In the said Notification, after paragraph 2, the following paragraph shall be inserted, namely: –
“3 The other disciplines recognised for the post of Food Safety Officer, shall include the following, namely: –
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery or Bachelor of Dental Surgery or Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery or Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery or Bachelor of Siddha Medicine and Surgery or Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery or Bachelor of Sowa Rigpa Medicine and Surgery.”
G. KAMALA VARDHANA RAO, Chief Executive Officer
[ADVT.-III/4/Exty./1123/2024-25]
Note: The principal notification was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4 vide F. No. P. 15014/8/2023-FR, dated the 21st September, 2023.
