The Tamil Nadu government’s decision to bring in regulatory measures to confine pesticide use in farm produce to permissible limits is a welcome step, Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar has said.
At a meeting held at the Secretariat on Friday, he said that the Tamil Nadu government’s positive response was an acknowledgement of the strong interventions by the Kerala government in the matter. He hoped that Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments too would take steps to restrain farmers from using pesticides excessively.
Kerala would strengthen its coordination with neighbouring States in all matters of public health.
Meeting in July
A first meeting of officials of Food Safety and related departments of all neighbouring States will be held in Thiruvananthapuram in the first week of July.
As part of strengthening measures against the import of pesticide-ridden vegetables, checks have been intensified at all border check-posts. A clear database on the source of each consignment of vegetables and its destination are being recorded at these check-posts, which will help the State identify the farmlands where pesticides are used in excessive quantities and to avoid/ban the produce from these places.
Licence mela
The licence/registration mela of the Food Safety Department will be held in all districts from June 15 to 27 with the help of Akshaya centres. All food business operators, including all vegetable/fruit shops, wayside vendors, bakeries, wayside eateries, grocery shops, fish and meat shops, canteens and mid-day meal distribution centres should use this opportunity to secure the mandatory FSSA licence/registration.
Engaging in food business without the mandatory FSSA licence/registration is a punishable offence.
Health Secretary K. Elangovan; Commissioner of Food Safety T.V. Anupama; and the Director of Health Services S. Jayasankar attended the meeting.
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