Oct 23, 2012

Spurious ghee seized from govt canteen

LUCKNOW: The food safety and drug administration department intercepted a consignment of 15,000 kg of spurious ghee from a government canteen in the Bulandshahr's district collectorate office. Delivery of the 'mild fat' product was being made to the canteen on Monday morning, when the food safety officials intercepted the consignment and found multiple violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act.

Speaking to TOI, Food Safety Officer, Bulandshahr, SK Pandey, said, "The FSS Act was being violated on various grounds. While one kg packs were certified by an agency not recognised under FSS Act, the name of the product was not mentioned on the two kg packs."

Pandey confirmed that the product was seized and samples sent to an undisclosed government laboratory for testing. He also said letter from the district magistrate will be dispatched to the food commissioner, apprising him of the violations. The spurious products were manufactured under the name of 'Tapan Mild Fat', a product that had been seized in raids conducted in Agra last year.

This time, Pandey said, the same products were being allegedly manufactured under the brand name of RK Food Industries, which was carrying out its operating from Moradabad's court premises.

Bilateral meeting between Health & Family Welfare Minister of India and New Zealand Minister of Conservation & Food Safety

A bilateral meeting between Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Ms Kate Wilkinson, New Zealand Minister of Conservation & Food Safety was held in New Delhi today.

In his welcome address, Shri Azad said India is a member of World Trade Organization and committed to comply with the Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary Standards (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreements. The representatives of the New Zealand High Commission had met the Chairperson, Food Safety & Standards Authority of India on 27th September 2012. In line with that discussion, India would await the draft MoU Agreement to strengthen cooperation in the area of Food Safety and inspections for mutual benefit.

Senior officers of the Ministry assisted Shri Azad in the bilateral meeting.