(1) The Central Government shall, as soon as may be after the commencement of this Act, constitute a Committee called the Central Committee for Food Standards to advise the Central Government and the State Governments on matters arising out of the administration of this Act and to carry out the other functions assigned to it under this Act.
(2) The Committee shall consist of the following members, namely :—
- (a) the Director-General, Health Services, ex-officio, who shall be the Chairman;
- (b) the Director of the Central Food Laboratory or, in a case where more than one Central Food Laboratory is established, the Directors of such Laboratories, ex-officio ;
- (c) two experts nominated by the Central Government;
- (d) one representative each of the Departments of Food and Agriculture in the Central Ministry of Food and Agriculture and one representative each of the Central Ministries of Commerce, Defence, Industry and Supply and Railways, nominated by the Central Government;
- (e) one representative each nominated by the Government of each State;
- (f) two representatives nominated by the Central Government to represent the Union territories;
- (g) one representative each, nominated by the Central Government, to represent the agricultural, commercial and industrial interests;
- (gg) five representatives nominated by the Central Government to represent the consumers, interests, one of whom shall be from the hotel industry;
- (h) one representative of the medical profession nominated by the Indian Council of Medical Research;
- (i) one representative nominated by the Indian Standards Institution referred to in clause (e) of section 2 of the Indian Standards Institution (Certification Marks) Act, 1952 (36 of 1952).
(3) The members of the Committee referred to in clauses (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (gg), (h), and (i) of sub-section (2) shall, unless their seats become vacant earlier by resignation, death or otherwise, be entitled to hold office for three years and shall be eligible for renomination.
(4) The functions of the Committee may be exercised notwithstanding any vacancy therein.
(5) The Committee may appoint such and so many sub-committees as it deems fit and may appoint to them persons who are not members of the Committee to exercise such powers and perform such duties as may, subject to such conditions, if any, as the Committee may impose, be delegated to them by the Committee.
(6) The Committee may, subject to the previous approval of the Central Government, make bye laws for the purpose of regulating its own procedure and the transaction of its business.
