A delegation of Vidarbha Taxpayers' Association (VTA), led by Shrawankumar Malu, its vice-president, met Prakash Javadekar, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, and national spokesperson, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Hansraj Ahir, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, BJP, to submit a detailed memorandum appealing to raise the issue of the unreasonable Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006 and its unbalanced Rules and Regulations, 2011, in the respective Houses.
The delegation said that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had prepared the FSSA and its Rules and Regulations in such a haste that it failed to consider the socio-economic conditions of the country.
Further, Schedule IV in Regulation 2.1.2 of Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, had many ambiguities, which would raise differences of opinion resulting in unnecessary litigations. Even some of the requirements of Schedule IV were impossible to be implemented, the delegation said.
Similarly, the requirements and parameters mentioned in Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, were such that drinking water needed to be tested on 51 counts. Likewise, there were stringent requirements are for vegetables, fruits, milk, etc. The delegation asked, "How would a Food Business Operator be responsible for any banned chemical used by agriculturists?".
The penalty clauses (Sections 51 to 58) of the FSSA, 2006 had no clarity. Similarly some unprecedented powers had been authorised to the food safety officer (FSO), which were likely to promote Inspector Raj.
Javadekar and Ahir agreed with the grievances of the FBOs over the vagueness in the Act and assured the delegation that they would study the matter and initiate appropriate measures.
Also present in the delegation were Tejinder Singh Renu, secretary; Hemant Trivedi, joint secretary; Amarjeet Singh Chawla and Saqib Parekh, executive members, and Advocate Ajay Somani.
Javadekar appreciated the formation of associations like the VTA. He said that such associations were very strong overseas and more such associations needed to be formed, as taxpayers had the right to know where their money was utilised.
The delegation said that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had prepared the FSSA and its Rules and Regulations in such a haste that it failed to consider the socio-economic conditions of the country.
Further, Schedule IV in Regulation 2.1.2 of Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, had many ambiguities, which would raise differences of opinion resulting in unnecessary litigations. Even some of the requirements of Schedule IV were impossible to be implemented, the delegation said.
Similarly, the requirements and parameters mentioned in Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, were such that drinking water needed to be tested on 51 counts. Likewise, there were stringent requirements are for vegetables, fruits, milk, etc. The delegation asked, "How would a Food Business Operator be responsible for any banned chemical used by agriculturists?".
The penalty clauses (Sections 51 to 58) of the FSSA, 2006 had no clarity. Similarly some unprecedented powers had been authorised to the food safety officer (FSO), which were likely to promote Inspector Raj.
Javadekar and Ahir agreed with the grievances of the FBOs over the vagueness in the Act and assured the delegation that they would study the matter and initiate appropriate measures.
Also present in the delegation were Tejinder Singh Renu, secretary; Hemant Trivedi, joint secretary; Amarjeet Singh Chawla and Saqib Parekh, executive members, and Advocate Ajay Somani.
Javadekar appreciated the formation of associations like the VTA. He said that such associations were very strong overseas and more such associations needed to be formed, as taxpayers had the right to know where their money was utilised.
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