Jun 9, 2012

City traders protest against amendments

Sporting black badges the traders of steel city under the banner of Jamshedpur Chamber of Commerce on Friday staged protest against the amendments in Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The traders gathered at Golmuri market to show their solidarity.
President of the Jamshedpur Chamber of Commerce, Mohanlal Agarwal said, “The amendments brought in the Act are against the interest of small businessmen.” According to the amendment, every producer and retailer dealing in eatables and grocery would have to avail a licence from the food and drugs control department.
Agarwal went on to say that the amendments in the Act have created confusion among traders across the country. The Union Cabinet had recently approved the amendments which seeks to provide subdised foodgrains to over half of the country’s 1.2 billion population.
Krishi Bazaar Samiti has asked the Union and State Government to take wise steps. The trader’s body chief Deepak Bhalotia said that the amendments brought in the Act are against the interest of small businessmen. According to the amendment, every producer or retailer has to take licence from the food and drugs department.
He said that businessmen around the country are protesting against this Act. Protest against Food Security Act 2006 had greater impact in the city, especially in market. Agrawal said the Bill is “full of inaccuracies and confusion and that the Centre should not encroach into State domain.”
Meanwhile, the district health department has started taking initiatives for enforcing necessary provisions under the Act. The Additional Chief Medical Officer (ACMO) of East Singhbhum, Swarn Singh held a meeting with a few trade outfits earlier this week.
“We are concerned over the situation. We have held talks with a few trade bodies. They have been informed about the legal provisions in the Act. The trade bodies have been asked to spread the message,” said Singh. He said that the health department would soon start mapping of food joints and restaurants and ensure that the provisions of the Act is followed. The Act also envisages that those food units with an annual turnover of less than Rs 12 lakhs will have to be registered, while those having turnover of more than
Rs 12 lakhs per annum will require a licence.

No comments:

Post a Comment