May 24, 2017

FDA sends notices to four illegal units


Pune: The Food & Drugs Administration (FDA) has sent notices to four Uruli Kanchan-based drinking water packaging units. FDA officials said these four units did not have a Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licence and a BIS certification. 
8,800 litres of water worth Rs 62,612 was confiscated. The FSSAI licence is mandatory to start a drinking water packaging unit. The BIS certification provides a third party guarantee of quality, safety and reliability. 
FDA (Food) Joint Commissioner Shivaji Desai told Sakal Times they inspected the four firms, Sai Industries Pure Drinking Water, Navdisha Filter Water, Abhijeet Enterprises and Akansha Industries. Their plants have been sealed and notices issued to them to stop business activities. The investigation concluded on May 12. 
Speaking about the investigation process, FDA Assistant Commissioner Sampat Deshmukh said 12 samples were taken for testing.
“We have confiscated 8,800 litres of water which is worth Rs 62,612. Mostly, maximum retail price (MRP) of a one-litre bottle is around Rs 15 to 20,” said Deshmukh.
Desai said legal cases will be filed against these units. “Under the relevant act, once the industry is found guilty, then there will be six months of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakh for not having a legal licence to make packaged drinking water. More such inspections will be carried out by the department in the future as well.”

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