FOOD SAFETY DEPT IN WOES

Food safety Dept under Medical Directorate remains in name only and has failed to function properly. Though Food Safety and Standard Act has been in operation since 5^th August 2006 yet it failed to take off in Manipur as there is not enough men power and fund and all the activities of the Dept has been looked after by one district food safety officer only. 

Due to the absence of Special court of food safety and food safety tribunal many difficulties were faced while dispensing activities related to legal matters. Legal action cannot be taken up against those who traffic drugs and psychotropic substances at Chandel and Thoubal recently. Due to the lack of manpower, testing of sub standard food brought from Myanmar cannot be taken up and as such food items of sub standard quality were openly sold in Manipur. 

Food testing laboratory of the state is also not having enough equipment and has to rely upon reference laboratory at Poone. If any controversy arises then the test has again to be taken at Notified Laboratory of Kolkata. Due to such situations testing of samples took a long period of time. Due to the lack of funds for information communication and education awareness campaign could not be taken up and as a result many failed to understand about food safety. 

Under the act any businessmen related with food items need to take license and registered but no businessmen has ever taken any license and did not registered.