Food safety commissioner-cum-commissioner & secretary Himato Zhimomi has prohibited storage, distribution and sale of fresh fish products, including Crustaceans, treated with formalin or other forms of preservatives in Nagaland for a period of three months or till corrective measures are taken with immediate effect. A notification was issued in this regard on Friday.
And those found violating the order will be imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh with imprisonment under Section 59 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the notification warned.
According to the notification, fish vendors are selling fresh fish products, including Crustaceans, in the State treated with formalin, which is highly toxic and injurious to health.
Distribution, storage and sale of fresh fish products treated with formalin or other forms of preservatives is considered “unsafe” under Section 3(1)(zz)(v) of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, it pointed out.
Zhimomi said the notification had been issued in the interest of public health.
Adulterated powdered spices: Food safety cell of the department of health and family welfare (H&FW) has also noted that certain food business operators (FBOs) were selling powdered spices adulterated with artificial non-edible colours and also using carbide gas for artificially repining of fruits, which are harmful for human consumption.
In this regard, the department has prohibited the powdered spices containing foreign substances, offer for sale, store for sale, distribution for sale and sale of powdered spices in loose form, except under packed conditions with proper labels with immediate effect in the State.
It has also prohibited use of carbide gas for artificially ripening of fruits with immediate effect in the state. Non- compliance would be an offence punishable under Section 59 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with imprisonment and fine.
The department has informed public not to purchase goods that are suspected to be adulterated, or check the quality of the food items and labeling before making purchases.
Uncertified packaged water: Taking note of certain FBOs selling 20 litre and 1 litre packaged drinking water without obtaining BIS certification of FSSAI, the food safety commissioner has cautioned that they were liable to be penalised, punishable with imprisonment and fine under Section 52 and 63 of the said Act.
Further, the commissioner stated that FBOs both whole and retail sellers, in violation of Sub-Sections (I) (II) (III) of Section 25 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations, were selling misbranded/sub-standards, imported food articles coming from neighboring countries harmful for human consumption.
Therefore, the food safety commissioner has prohibited the manufacture, expose for sale offer for sale, store for sale or distribution of above mentioned food articles in the State, with immediate effect.
Non-compliance would be an offence, punishable, imprisonment with fine under the said Act.
The commissioner has advised general public not to purchase such misbranded and sub standard food articles or check the quality of the food and labeling before making purchased.
Meanwhile, the department has requested the general public to report to the chief medical officers/food safety officers of the districts, or food safety commissioner, H&FW department, or additional food safety commissioner for any information on food adulteration.
The designated officer (CMO)/food safety officers of the districts have been directed to carry out inspection and checking of food business establishment under its jurisdiction and submit action taken report to the food safety commissioner.
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