Strange are the ways the food safety authorities function in the state – an issue that has come to the fore in the context of the food poisoning case involving a capital eatery the other day.
While it’s almost a year since Food Safety Commission (FSC) offices in the districts started accepting applications for licences – for eateries/hotels -- under the new Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, the commission headquarter here is completely in the dark about the number of applications received and licences issued till date in the state.
The officials at the FSC office here said they were not keeping the records and these were being maintained at the district offices.
Joint FSC, K Anil Kumar said, “The act came into force in the state on August 5, 2011 and we have been collecting applications for licences across the state since then. The applications go to the district offices where these are processed after checking the credentials. Our staff also visit the shops to crosscheck the facilities mentioned in the application forms, before issuing the licence.”
Anil Kumar said that the commission would come out with the details of the number of licences issued, and applications pending and rejected, by August.
Meanwhile, the office of the Food Safety Commissioner conducted raids in 240 hotels across the state.
Three hotels, one in Pathanamthitta and two in Ernakulam, were closed down and improvement notices were issued to 133 hotels. In Ernakulam district alone, more than 40 eateries were closed by enforcement agencies, including the health wing of local bodies.
While it’s almost a year since Food Safety Commission (FSC) offices in the districts started accepting applications for licences – for eateries/hotels -- under the new Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, the commission headquarter here is completely in the dark about the number of applications received and licences issued till date in the state.
The officials at the FSC office here said they were not keeping the records and these were being maintained at the district offices.
Joint FSC, K Anil Kumar said, “The act came into force in the state on August 5, 2011 and we have been collecting applications for licences across the state since then. The applications go to the district offices where these are processed after checking the credentials. Our staff also visit the shops to crosscheck the facilities mentioned in the application forms, before issuing the licence.”
Anil Kumar said that the commission would come out with the details of the number of licences issued, and applications pending and rejected, by August.
Meanwhile, the office of the Food Safety Commissioner conducted raids in 240 hotels across the state.
Three hotels, one in Pathanamthitta and two in Ernakulam, were closed down and improvement notices were issued to 133 hotels. In Ernakulam district alone, more than 40 eateries were closed by enforcement agencies, including the health wing of local bodies.
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