Food and Safety Authority of India to invite suggestions

The Food And Safety Authority of India is issuing shortly a notification inviting suggestions from the public and trade bodies regarding 400 standards fixed for various food items,a top official said today. 

The present Act had been brought amalgamating seven different acts concerned with the food industry,V.N.Gaur, Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, said. "We have taken the old standards into consideration during the framing of the act.We are not happy with the present standards and there is scope for improvement and polishing". he said participating in an awareness programme on Food Safety Standards Act. The suggestions will be examined by a scientific committee,under which a panel of 120 scientists are working. 

The CEO rejected the argument that the Act would come in the way of feeding people,starving in the country. He said the issue(setting standards will come in the way of feeding poor people)was discussed even at the World Food summit where a resolve was made to bring down number of people suffering from chronic hunger from a billion to 50 per cent by 2015. 

While Government's philosophy was not to hang wrongdoers,it wanted punishment to be deterrent for violators, he said. "We want the stake holders to come along with us.The act is yet to be implemented in some states,while in other states people have been prosecuted under the act." "We have to see what happens in the months to come.The problems in implementing the act..we will take it to the notice of the Government,and it should consider it.But any penalty should not be convenient,it should be deterrent.We are strong on that," he said. 

The Primary food produce from the farm had been exempted from the ambit of the act.But at the same time the Government was launching a major programme for the farmers so that they used less fertilsers and harmful pesticides following certain practices.

There will be a massive awareness programme for the farmers also."It is being taken up in a big manner." The programme was organised by the Madurai District Tiny and Small Industries Association.