Jun 27, 2016

FSSAI ADVT.


Govt releases Rs 7.75 cr for food testing labs

The Minister acknowledged that strict regulations regarding food safety existed but there was laxity in their enforcement due to infrastructure shortcomings and official apathy.
Government has admitted that there was laxity in implementation of the food safety laws due to some constraints and released funds for strengthening of the food testing labs in Jammu and Kashmir. In reply to a question by legislator Mubarak Gul, that sought government to explain the steps being taken to ensure access to safe food and drugs, Bali Bhagat, Minister for Health and Medical Education, said that government was on the job and funds for augmentation of the food labs were released. “We have released Rs 7.75 crores for the labs. Of this, Rs 3 crore each will be spent on food testing labs in Jammu and Srinagar and Rs 1.75 crore will be spent on mobile testing vans,” Bhagat said.
The Minister acknowledged that strict regulations regarding food safety existed but there was laxity in their enforcement due to infrastructure shortcomings and official apathy.
He added that JK Medical Supplies Corporation had been given the charge of procurement of equipment for the labs, based on the specification of the instruments required for upgradation of the lab.
He further said that 25062 inspections had been conducted to check quality of food items in 2015-16 and 2866 samples were lifted for analysis out of which 419 samples were found adulterated and 282 samples were found misbranded. He said 729 prosecutions were filed during the year and 602 cases were decided by adjudicating officers. The Minister also said that a week-long special drive regarding milk and milk products had been conducted in April 2016 and 13472 liters of milk and milk products were destroyed on spot while 419 samples were lifted for analysis. He said 127 samples were analyzed out of which 41 samples were found substandard while 2 samples were misbranded. About Rs 56.91 lakh was imposed as fine regarding food adulteration during the last year by the Drug and Food Control Department.

It's official: Durbar employees served unhygienic food

Srinagar, June 26: It's official now. The employees from Jammu presently working in Srinagar with durbar move are being served "unhygienic food in broken utensils" something which may terribly affect their health, while some are already complaining of ailments.
The Department of Drugs and Food Control Organization during surprise inspection of hotels and guesthouses where the move employees live here in the summer capital has found "gross negligence" in serving of food to the Move employees. Early Times is in possession of relevant documents in support of the story.
"During inspection of various hotels / guesthouses where Darbar Move Employees stay, it has been observed that in certain cases good hygienic practices are not followed in kitchens/ processing areas. Entry of flies is not restricted and broken utensils are used in the preparation of food," reads a document signed by Assistant Commissioner Food Safety. Interestingly instead of taking strict action against the offenders, the Assistant Commissioner Food Safety has merely asked them to mend their ways or that in future action would be initiated.
"It is impressed upon all such hoteliers/ guesthouse owners, managers to follow Schedule 4 of Food Safety and Standards Act which prescribes maintaining high level of hygiene in the procession areas otherwise strict action shall be initiated against them which shall also include suspension of license," reads a copy of notice issued to the guesthouse and hotel owners.
Officials said given the threat to the health of the employees who serve the government, the concerned should have already cancelled licenses of the offenders serving unhygienic food. "How can you be so negligent towards the health of your own colleagues who are here to serve the government?" said a senior official in the administration.
A move employee putting up at a government accommodation said he often suffers from gastroenteritis. "I consulted doctors who said it was due to unhygienic food. But I can't myself improve hygienic conditions of the mess offered by the government," said a Civil Secretariat official from Jammu asking not to be identified.
The Estate Department offers accommodation to the Move employees. Those who cannot get accommodation in government quarters are given space in hotels and guesthouses selected by the government.
As part of the pre-independence biannual darbar move, Jammu and Kashmir government keeps shuttling between Jammu and Srinagar for six months each, while the Chief Secretary personally reviews the arrangements.
Meanwhile the Secretariat employees have appealed Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to personally look into the matter.

DINAMANI NEWS



Customs officers to act as food safety officers at seaports & airports

Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has decided to designate officials of the customs department to act as food safety officials at seaports and airports, key points from where imported food gets into the country.
The decision has attracted criticism from many quarters, as the two departments have different job profiles. Further, it has brought to the fore issues plaguing the apex food regulator such as shortage of qualified manpower resulting in shutting down of two regional offices in Lucknow and Chandigarh. More than anything else, it is being felt that the move is likely to put the health of the people in the country at risk. But FSSAI does not seem to have much choice.
While Amit Khurana, programme manager, food safety, CSE, insists, “There may be a checklist for the customs officers to do as food import is a sensitive issue. And whatever FSSAI decides to do, it should have the food safety of domestic consumers a top priority,” FSSAI insiders maintain that this is part of a larger roadmap for food safety in which a surveillance-based risk management plan is being charted by the apex food regulator. They point out that in a past instance, faced with a situation of lack of enough staff to check the quality of wine and liquor, a similar decision was taken and states were allowed to use services of excise officers, duly qualified, to act as food safety officers.
The current situation seems no different. There are 125 entry points for importing food in the country and the staff strength is not enough to monitor it. Hence, customs officials will be acting as FSOs and supervising the food imports, taking samples for lab testing and after that approving the consignment for clearance.
Further, in the recent past, there has had been criticism on the kind of food imported in India and many a times it has been said that India was a dumping ground for food. FSSAI officials themselves have questioned the quality of a number of food commodities like canola oil, chocolate, seafood, and sauces and the claims made on their labels.
Thus it is no surprise that in the present scenario, an order dated March 29 states that in terms of provisions contained in Section 25 read with 45(5) of the FSS Act, the superintendent, appraiser, inspector or examiner of the concerned port listed by FSSAI were notified as authorised officer for food clearance. But it is also being said that the decision of the appointment of customs officials is in contradiction with FSSAI’s decision that the qualification should be equal when it comes to food safety checks. And, it has been decided to give the officials at ports, training on the subject of food safety.
Making the picture clear, a senior level officer from JNPT, Navi Mumbai, states, "The FSSAI has endowed a responsibility on us due to lack of manpower and also several other reasons like delay which takes place with regards to the imported consignments. Now the customs officers are receiving training sessions through the apex food regulator. Even in terms of any queries raised, we are open to connect with the nearby FDA offices."
He adds, "Customs officers are always present at the point of entry. So, earlier an officer from food safety department selected products for regular sampling laboratory tests but now all these powers are endowed upon the customs officer."
Primarily, FSOs should possess a degree in food technology or dairy technology or biotechnology or oil technology or agricultural science or veterinary sciences or bio-chemistry or microbiology or a masters in chemistry or degree in medicine from a recognised university. The officer can also have an equivalent or recognised qualification notified by the Centre, and he or she has to complete the mandated training before joining the post. But during the exercise of the comprehensive review last year it was proposed that the training could be imparted after recruitment.
Interestingly, though the move has not gone down well with those expressing concern over the country’s food safety, officials responsible for ensuring compliance to norms are happy about it. For instance, a senior officer from FDA Maharashtra, observes, "This move will cut down the delay which usually takes place when an imported consignment as it went for regular sampling or is sent to the laboratory inspection. All these powers regarding the imported product for regular sampling or sending products to laboratory inspections were only given to the food safety officers. But now as per the new amendment customs officer can ask for laboratory inspections of the imported products from the consignments."
He adds, "This will help us for regulating in a better way avoiding the delay caused at the points of entry," added.
Also since last year’s ministry of health’s proposed Rs 1,950 crore plan for strengthening of food safety infrastructure in states and at the Centre was put on the backburner, the government was not left with much option.