Bathinda, April 26
Due to the lack of proper infrastructure at the level of the District Food Safety Office or lack of awareness among the small shopkeepers, rehriwalas, vendors and the owners of business establishments about the new Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which was implemented on August 5 last year in the country, the district health authorities have been facing problems in implementing the Act in letter and spirit so far.
Perhaps due to lack of awareness, no small shopkeeper, rehriwala, pheriwala or vendor with an annual turnover below Rs 12 lakh, has applied to the District Food Safety Office for getting himself registered in the Bathinda district while around 12 business establishments with an annual turnover above Rs 12 lakh have applied to the district office for procuring the licences so far.
As per the available information, the 12 establishments that have applied for licences, included distributors of juice, edible oils and other food products, Easyday stores and a hotel. However, out of these around 12 establishments, the licences of five have already been prepared by the district office here.
In the name of infrastructure and manpower, at present, there is only Food Safety Officer, besides a clerk who has been looking after some other work in the Civil Surgeon's office here. Besides, the District Health Officer has been made the designated officer (in-charge) for the implementation of the Act.
For creating awareness among the small shopkeepers, pheriwalas and rehriwalas who are reportedly about one lakh in number and thousands of big business establishments in the district, no separate budget has been provided for the purpose by the state health authorities, which is essential if the government wants proper implementation of the Act. Besides, the District Food Safety Office also requires a computer operator and a clerk for it.
Sources told this reporter that the Act had been enacted and implemented to protect the interests of the consumers.
Some special provisions had also been included in the Act for the protection of consumers so that they could not be deceived or misled by anyone by adopting unfair practices, including advertisements, in the case of food articles.
Due to the lack of proper infrastructure at the level of the District Food Safety Office or lack of awareness among the small shopkeepers, rehriwalas, vendors and the owners of business establishments about the new Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which was implemented on August 5 last year in the country, the district health authorities have been facing problems in implementing the Act in letter and spirit so far.
Perhaps due to lack of awareness, no small shopkeeper, rehriwala, pheriwala or vendor with an annual turnover below Rs 12 lakh, has applied to the District Food Safety Office for getting himself registered in the Bathinda district while around 12 business establishments with an annual turnover above Rs 12 lakh have applied to the district office for procuring the licences so far.
As per the available information, the 12 establishments that have applied for licences, included distributors of juice, edible oils and other food products, Easyday stores and a hotel. However, out of these around 12 establishments, the licences of five have already been prepared by the district office here.
In the name of infrastructure and manpower, at present, there is only Food Safety Officer, besides a clerk who has been looking after some other work in the Civil Surgeon's office here. Besides, the District Health Officer has been made the designated officer (in-charge) for the implementation of the Act.
For creating awareness among the small shopkeepers, pheriwalas and rehriwalas who are reportedly about one lakh in number and thousands of big business establishments in the district, no separate budget has been provided for the purpose by the state health authorities, which is essential if the government wants proper implementation of the Act. Besides, the District Food Safety Office also requires a computer operator and a clerk for it.
Sources told this reporter that the Act had been enacted and implemented to protect the interests of the consumers.
Some special provisions had also been included in the Act for the protection of consumers so that they could not be deceived or misled by anyone by adopting unfair practices, including advertisements, in the case of food articles.
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