it is a defence if it is proved that the person caused the food to which the o — THE FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS ACT, 2006

, it is a defence if it is proved that the person caused the food to which the o

section 56, it is a defence if it is proved that the person caused the food to which the offence relates to be destroyed or otherwise disposed of immediately after the food was handled in the manner that was likely to render it unsafe Defences of significance of the nature, substance o quality of food It shall be no defence in a prosecution for an offence pertaining to the sale of any unsafe O misbranded article of food to allege merely that the food business operator was ignorant of the nature, substance or quality of the food sold by him O that the purchaser having purchased any article for analysis was not prejudiced by the sale. CHAPTER XI FINANCE, ACCOUNTS, AUDIT AND REPORTS 81. Budget of Food Authority: 1) The Food Authority shall prepare, in such form and at such time in each financial year as may be prescribed by the Central Government; its budget for the next financial year, showing the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Food Authority and forward the same to the Central Government: (2) The Food Authority with the prior approval of the Central Government, shall adopt financial regulation which specifies in particular, the procedure for drawing up and implementing the Authority $ budget. 82. Finances of the Food Authority. (1) The Central Government may, after due appropriation, make to the Food Authority grants of such sums of money as the Central Government may think fit: (2) The Food Authority o the recommendation of the Central Advisory Committee shall specify a graded fee from licensed food business operators, accredited laboratories Or food safety auditors to be charged by the commissioner of Food Safety. 38 83. Accounts and audit of Food Authority. (1) The Food Authority shall maintain proper accounts and relevant records and prepare an annual statement of accounts in such form as may be prescribed by the Central Government in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India: (2) The Comptroller and Auditor-General and any person appointed by him in connection with the audit of the accounts of the Food Authority under this Act shall have the same rights and privileges and authority in connection with such audit as the Comptroller and Auditor-General generally has in connection with the audit of Government accounts and, in particular, shall have the right to demand the production of books, accounts, connected vouchers and other documents and papers and to inspect any of the offices of the Food Authority. (3) The accounts of the Food Authority, as certified by the Comptroller and Auditor- General o any other person appointed by him in this behalf, together with the audit report thereon shall be forwarded annually to the Central Government by the Food Authority and the Central Government shall cause the audit report to be laid, as soon as may be after it is received, before each House of Parliament. 84. Annual report of Food Authority. The Food Authority shall prepare once every year, in such form and at such time as may be prescribed by the Central Government, an annual report giving a summary of its activities during the previous year and copies of the report shall be forwarded to the Central Government and State Governments. (2) A copy of the report received under sub-section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is received, before each House of Parliament: CHAPTER XII MISCELLANEOUS 85. Power of Central Government to issue directions to Food Authority and obtain reports and returns: (1) Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this Act; the Food Authority shall, in exercise of its powers and in performance f its functions under this Act; be bound by such directions on questions of policy, other than those relating to technical and administrative matters, as the Central Government may give in writing to it from time to time: Provided that the Food Authority shall, as far as practicable, be given an opportunity to express its views before any direction is given under this sub-section: (2) If any dispute arises between the Central Government and the Food Authority as to whether a question is O is not a question of policy, the decision of the Central Government thereon shall be final. (3) The Food Authority shall furnish to the Central Government such returns Or other information with respect to its activities as the Central Government may, from time to time, require. 86. Power of Central Government to give directions to State Governments. The Central Government may give such directions, as it may deem necessary, to a State Government for carrying out all or any of the provisions of this Act and the State Government shall comply with such directions. 87. Members, officers of Food Authority and Commissioner of Food Safety to be public servants. The Members, officers of the Food Authority and the Commissioners of Food Safety and their officers shall be deemed, when acting O purporting to act in pursuance of any of the provisions of this Act; to be public servants within the meaning

Section Section 56