Staff shortage bane of anti-adulteration drive

Govt says new posts in offing; meanwhile, traders and manufacturers flout norms at will

Jammu, March 6

The drive against adulteration seems to have lost its sheen, as the government has failed to provide adequate technical staff for the laboratory of the Drug and Food Control Organisation (DFCO). Under Food Safety Act 2011, the government has said new posts will be created to strengthen testing facilities.
While a new modern laboratory is nearing completion at Patoli, it does not have the required staff to deal with the samples lifted during the inspections.
Till date, hundreds of samples are being handled by the overburdened Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) laboratory, as the lab of Drug and Food Control Organisation (DFCO) does not have a full-time scientist or other staff.
"Though the organisation’s new modern laboratory is nearing completion at Patoli, it does not have the required staff to deal with the samples lifted during the inspections. Due to the delay, most of the cases remain pending for months together and traders engaging in adulteration escape the clutches of law by paying a fine," said an official.
Accepting that manpower shortage is an issue, Drug Controller Satish Gupta said steps have been taken to fill posts. “The government has created 36 new posts in various categories to supplement food regulations and the process has been initiated. We hope the process will be completed on a fast-track basis,” he stated.
Gupta said an awareness campaign has been started to make officials aware of the new laws and get them to know how to deal with challenges, keeping in view the emergence of fast food culture in the city.
“There is an Act, but no consideration is given to creation of manpower and filling of sanctioned posts. The fight against adulteration cannot be won only with laws; there is need for evidence to take legal action against the culprits. We have been approaching the government for filling of the posts, but as of now, nothing much has come out,” said a senior officer of DFCO.
Though the number of adulteration cases has shot up in recent years, Jammu Municipal Corporation is still dependent on one Public Analyser (food tester) to deal with the samples lifted by the field teams during routine checks.
When it comes to adulteration, prohibited substances are either added or partly or wholly substituted in eatables. During the festival period, there is always the threat of poor quality material being used in manufacture of sweets and other eatables for profit.
As per Food Safety Act, all food business operators were directed to get their existing licences renewed and registration was granted under the repealed Food Act/Order under the Food Safety & Standards Act 2006 and Food Safety and Standards (Licensing & Regulation of Food Business) Regulations 2011.