G Kamala Vardhana Rao has taken over as CEO of the food regulator FSSAI. Rao, an IAS officer, took over as CEO of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Thursday, according to a statement.
On 26 December, the Personnel Ministry issued an order. Rao was appointed CEO of FSSAI. The FSSAl is a legal entity that reports to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Rao previously held the position of Managing Director of Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), a Miniratna PSU under the Ministry of Tourism.
G Kamala Vardhana Rao is a Kerala cadre IAS officer from the 1990 batch. He previously served as Principal Secretary, Public Works Department, and Principal Secretary, Finance and Expenditure, Kerala Government.
He has also worked as the Secretary of Kerala Tourism and the Director of Culture for the Government of India.
Earlier, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) suspended 13 food laboratories for six months for failing to upload regulatory food samples tested at those facilities to https://infolnet.fssai.gov.in. INFoLNET is an abbreviation for Indian Food Laboratory Network.
On 14 July, the FSSAI directed food laboratories to upload all food samples tested on the INFoLNET website. On 29 August, 10 September, 20 October and 11 November, reminders were sent. All laboratories were warned that they would face severe consequences, including suspension or de-notification.
According to media reports, thirteen food laboratories failed to comply with the directive and FSSAI may lift the suspension if it is satisfied that the failing laboratories have become compliant.
