PANAJI: The hookah could soon disappear from Goa's shacks and restaurants. The food and drugs administration (FDA) has directed hookah parlours to discontinue the use of hookahs at their premises after FDA food safety officers conducted a drive on such parlours operating along the coastal belt.
FDA director Salim Velji told TOI that in the garb of fruit-based hookah products, the parlours are pushing products containing tobacco. He also said that in a recent judgment, the high court of Bombay at Goa directed municipal authorities to ensure that such parlours are not allowed to operate in eateries.
"We have directed these eating places operating hookah parlours to discontinue such activities," Velji said adding that the survey would be further intensified by FDA in the coming days.
"FDA has also recommended that the government examine the feasibility of directing all state bodies to issue similar directives in an attempt to ensure that tobacco smoking is not allowed to proliferate in public places," Velji added.
Food safety officers had raided around 12 food outlets along the coastal belt and drawn three samples of these alleged products used in hookah parlours to test for the presence of nicotine.
FDA has also appealed to existing food business operators to register under the new Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and Rules and Regulation, 2011. The last date for switching over to the new registration system is July 31.
FDA director Salim Velji told TOI that in the garb of fruit-based hookah products, the parlours are pushing products containing tobacco. He also said that in a recent judgment, the high court of Bombay at Goa directed municipal authorities to ensure that such parlours are not allowed to operate in eateries.
"We have directed these eating places operating hookah parlours to discontinue such activities," Velji said adding that the survey would be further intensified by FDA in the coming days.
"FDA has also recommended that the government examine the feasibility of directing all state bodies to issue similar directives in an attempt to ensure that tobacco smoking is not allowed to proliferate in public places," Velji added.
Food safety officers had raided around 12 food outlets along the coastal belt and drawn three samples of these alleged products used in hookah parlours to test for the presence of nicotine.
FDA has also appealed to existing food business operators to register under the new Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and Rules and Regulation, 2011. The last date for switching over to the new registration system is July 31.
Hi I was surfing thru the web and found out about this blog which I felt very useful......we are running small packaged drinking water plant of can only, maintaining hygienic and cleanliness and supplying to few places in Bangalore and have few good distributors servicing few shops and offices . We are a year old plant and was going smoothly obtaining the BBMP ( Municipal Corporation ) licence paying the fees , suddenly we received a notice today fromFSSA Bangalore under food and safety act 2006, 2.3.14(17) stating that within 3 days we need to submit bis standards cretiificate FSSA certified copy.
ReplyDeleteShocking for us as its very difficult to apply BIS and lot of expenditure for the same eventually had the plan to do once the set up is done.
Pls can any one help regarding how to get a stay for this so that they will not seize the plant for sometime like at least a year. If we get this time so many ppl will be great full as lot or depended on this and even the people surrounding also as there is no water and state government can't supply drinking water daily.
Pls do help me regarding this .
Regards
Hemanth