Food Safety Act is unrealistic, says traders’ association

The Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006, has been introduced to replace the Prevention of Adulteration Act, 1954. “Ironically, the major challenge of the menace of adulteration has not been dealt with in the new Act but rather more emphasis has been laid down on ‘mis-branded’ food,” the Confederation of All India Traders said

A traders association has urged the union health ministry to constitute an expert committee to look in to the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and has also announced nationwide protest against it. Calling the provisions as draconian, unrealistic and impracticable, the association feels that it will impact the businesses of small and medium traders. The Act proposes separate licences for each enterprise and separate audit reports for various products.

BC Bhartia, secretary general, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said, “The Act in question prescribes the traders to prepare an audit report, obtain clearance from state pollution control board, get a no-objection certificate from the municipal corporation, medical certificates of workers, graduate technologist and a separate audit report for products made from milk, which is not possible under the Indian food conditions. The Act is framed is in utter disregard of the ground realties and will promote big corporate houses to enter into food business.”

It further added that, “This would trigger further corruption and would allow government machinery to harass the traders-said CAIT,” he added.

The traders association has called upon union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to constitute an expert committee of food policy analysts, government officials and representative of trade to review the provisions of the Act.

The Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006, has been introduced to replace the Prevention of Adulteration Act 1954. “Ironically, the major challenge of the menace of adulteration has not been dealt with in the new Act but rather more emphasis has been laid down on ‘mis-branded’ food, which does not fall under the ambit of ‘adulteration’. Adulteration is a heinous crime which cannot be misbranded because of distinction in implications of classification. Such a provision will encroach upon the rights of the consumers in the country. The Act will promote adulteration or demote it, is a question?” CAIT said in a release.

CAIT is conducting a national conference of trade leaders on 10th and 11th May at New Delhi to discuss a national agitation. Earlier, traders from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh had already held a trade bandh for four and three days, respectively. On 25th April, Madhya Pradesh-based MP Sumitra Mahajan has also raised the issue in the Lok Sabha.