Jun 28, 2018
Banned tobacco products worth Rs 20 lakh seized in TN
The banned tobacco products were seized by a team of 10 officials led by designated officer for food safety, ... Read More
MADURAI: Food safety officials on Wednesday seized banned tobacco products weighing around two tonnes from two houses on the outskirts of Dindigul town in Tamil Nadu. The estimated value of the seized items is Rs 20 lakh.
The banned tobacco products -- 1.6 tonne of Ganesh tobacco 701, 350kg of Vimal pan masala and 150kg of cool lip filtered tobacco -- were seized by a team of 10 officials led by designated officer for food safety, Dindigul district, Dr K Natarajan.
The banned items were hidden in two residential houses, belonging to the same person, at Mettupatti.
The officials acted on a tip off and confirmed the presence of the contrabands in the houses. They took the help of police. Women officials from the food safety department were also deployed since women were the only occupants in the houses. The smugglers were not present in the house.
Officials suspect that it could be a part of larger network. Details like mode of transport and the distribution network were under investigation. If proven, the smugglers would get six months imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakh.
Two tonnes of banned tobacco confiscated
Dindigul: Food safety officials on Wednesday seized banned tobacco products weighing around two tonnes from two houses on the outskirts of Dindigul town. The estimated value of the seized items is Rs 20 lakh.
The banned tobacco products -- 1.6 tonnes of Ganesh tobacco 701, 350kg of Vimal pan masala and 150kg of cool lip filtered tobacco -- were seized by a team of 10 officials led by designated officer for food safety, Dindigul district, Dr K Natarajan.
The banned items were hidden in two residential houses, belonging to the same person, at Mettupatti. Of the 30 bundles, 25 were found in one portion, the rest were found in the other.
The officials acted on a tip-off and confirmed the presence of the contraband in the houses. They took the help of police. Women officials from the food safety department were also deployed since women were the only occupants in the houses. The smugglers were not present in the house.
While the contraband has been shifted, the samples would be sent to a laboratory.
Officials suspect that it could be a part of larger network. Details like mode of transport and the distribution network were under investigation.
NVCO wants FIR filed on formalin in fish case
DIMAPUR, JUNE 27 (MExN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) has lauded the analysis wing (State Public Health Laboratory, Kohima) and the enforcement wing Kohima (Food safety officials) for the timely detection of fish injected with formalin which lead to seizure of huge quantity of fish from the market.
A press release issued by media cell, NVCO said ever since the inception of the implementation of Food Safety & Standard Act 2006 in the state, this was the first time that the Food Safety Commissioner, Nagaland issued a blanket ban on storage, distribution and sale of fresh fish products treated with formalin which is highly toxic and carcinogenic.
Earlier, it said the Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, Department of Health & Family Welfare failed to hold the responsibility of State Food Authority as Food Safety Commissioner for the reason best known to them.
Consequent to the recent detection of formalin in fish, the NVCO has urged the authority to lodge an FIR so as to allow the investigating agency to arrest those unscrupulous traders who were purposely using various hazardous edibles just to make money at the cost of public life and health. The State Government should also set up an appropriate committee to enquire as to how, where and who were involved in the health hazard act, it added.
While stressing that food is not safe in Nagaland and the importance of food safety is ‘no one can refuse food,’ the NVCO has appealed to the State Government to take advantage of the recent detection as an opening to a flood gate in checking the unscrupulous traders, while assuming that this case is just tip of an iceberg.
The NVCO, also terming it as very encouraging to see the State Public Health Laboratory, Kohima in full swing by undergoing testing of several food products, however said the laboratory is still require more equipments to upgrade it so as to ensure several item of food safety to all citizen as a consumer.
The State Government is required to put more concentration on this issue as food safety is concern to all whether rich or poor, young or old, educated or illiterate, it maintained. It also reminded that the Food Safety Authority should undertake activity and programmes for dissemination of information, education and awareness on food safety.
It pointed out that the Food Safety & Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has regulated Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 for every state of India to ensure food safety and standards for human consumption and to check the sub-standard of any article of foods in every state by Food Safety Officer.
Citing an instance of how ill equipped Nagaland was; the NVCO said the state does not even have a slaughterhouse, even though it is mandatory for every state to have slaughterhouses with proper hygiene and maintenance instruments and to be regularly checked by the concern doctor before handing it for human consumption.
Therefore, the NVCO has appealed to public to be aware of the many hazardous issues such as adulterants, colorants and chemicals that are found in most of the food items sold and consumed everyday and also the expiry food items including medicines.
Results from fish samples send for test awaited: DCCI
DIMAPUR, JUNE 27 (MExN): The Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has informed that fish samples have been collected from importers and send to Guwahati for further testing to ascertain the presence of formalin in fish.
If the tests on the samples are found positive, action would be taken against those business firms involved in unethical business practices, the DCCI said. It however requested the public not to make hasty conclusions since results were being awaited.
The DCCI also maintained that for safety of the consumers, since the banning of the formalin injected fish, there has been no import and auctioning of fish for the last 3 days. It also said there will be no import of fish from outside by the business community till the test result arrives.
It further notified that as a business community, it was working overtime to ensure quality product to the consumers and has requested the public to be vigilant and inform DCCI on any issue related to business malpractices at contact no.7005526728.
The DCCI also appreciated the Health and Welfare Department for banning the sale of formalin injected fish which threatens the health of the consumers
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