Mar 28, 2012
Traders defer protest against food service act
INDORE: To oppose the newly implemented Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, a number of traders staged protest at Sanjay Setu here in the city on Tuesday. In response to a bandh call by MP Food Products and Producers' Association, almost all the shops selling food items remained closed for half-a-day. Traders termed the Central government Act as draconian and against the interests of the small traders.
Later, in the evening, a delegation of traders met the chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to seek relief. After they were assured of a solution in four days' time, the delegation postponed its protest till March 31.
"Chief Minister assured us of finding a solution, so that the traders do not feel the heat of the newly implemented Act. After his assurance, the association decided to postpone its protest till March 31," said Suresh Agarwal, coordinator, MP Food Products and Producers' Association.
Earlier, the traders alleged that the Act is full of difficult terms, conditions, discrepancies and is impractical, which will pose problems for traders to function. The Act has provision of penalizing traders with Rs 5 lakh if found functioning without license.
Ramesh Khandelwal, president, MP Food Products and Producers' Association said, "The Act has at least 24 points that need to reviewed. The new law will make it difficult for traders to do business and will give rise to 'Inspector raj'. The Act will make small traders jobless and help MNCs spread their wings." The act will also give rise to more of paper work, he added.
The protest saw participation from MP Dal Mill Association (Indore), Association of Pulses Industry, Mithai Association, Namkeen Association, MP Spices Manufacturing Traders' Association and Wholesale Retail Traders' Association. The traders presented their memorandum to the divisional commissioner Prabhat Parashar, appealing the government to reconsider the points in the act.
"The new law has made it mandatory for the small traders to get a fitness certificate from a practising doctor for running their business. Also, it has the provision of appointing a BSC graduate as technical advisor who will monitor the quality of food being manufactured by the trader. But these are all impractical guidelines," added Suresh Agarwal.
The bandh on Tuesday affected business amounting to crores as Mithai traders alone estimated a loss of Rs 65-70 lakh. Restaurants, road-side stalls, ghee trading and pulse business also suffered heavy loss due to the half-day-closure. In the past 15 days, the city has witnessed at least 8 days close due to hike in VAT.
Not enough staff at food dept office
Even as the authorities have said they are committed to implement the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 (FSSA) in the district, many applicants have complained about the shortage of staff at the office of the district food inspector. FSSA makes it mandatory for all those related to food business to get registered with the district administration. But they are running from pillar to post to get licences.
Those dealing in food business that includes restaurants, food chains and even chemists with a turnover of R12 lakh have to get a licence for selling edible products under the Act, while those with less than Rs 12 lakh turnover have to register themselves with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
"I have visited the office of the food inspector three times but never found anybody there. They want our business to be registered, but they do not have enough staff to deal with the situation," said applicant Puneet Sharma (name changed).
"The department talks about organising camps to help us in filling the forms but there is hardly anybody in the office to help us," said another applicant.
Even the authorities admit that the department does not have adequate staff. "We don't have sufficient staff. We take the help of clerks of excise laboratories in processing the applications. The situation may improve in a few days. We want cooperation of residents for proper implementation of the Act," said CR Rana, commissioner, Food and Drug Administration.
The district has only one food inspector, who is responsible for collection of food samples and attending court cases.
Surinder Singh Punia, food inspector, Gurgaon, said, "We have to collect food samples and attend court cases. In such a scenario, we are doing our best to serve the residents in a better way."
Those dealing in food business that includes restaurants, food chains and even chemists with a turnover of R12 lakh have to get a licence for selling edible products under the Act, while those with less than Rs 12 lakh turnover have to register themselves with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
"I have visited the office of the food inspector three times but never found anybody there. They want our business to be registered, but they do not have enough staff to deal with the situation," said applicant Puneet Sharma (name changed).
"The department talks about organising camps to help us in filling the forms but there is hardly anybody in the office to help us," said another applicant.
Even the authorities admit that the department does not have adequate staff. "We don't have sufficient staff. We take the help of clerks of excise laboratories in processing the applications. The situation may improve in a few days. We want cooperation of residents for proper implementation of the Act," said CR Rana, commissioner, Food and Drug Administration.
The district has only one food inspector, who is responsible for collection of food samples and attending court cases.
Surinder Singh Punia, food inspector, Gurgaon, said, "We have to collect food samples and attend court cases. In such a scenario, we are doing our best to serve the residents in a better way."
Sweets, namkeen traders observe bandh in Indore
Indore, Mar 27 (PTI) Protesting against the Centre's move to strictly implement Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, thousands of sweets and namkeen traders today observed a half-day bandh in the city. Over six thousands traders affiliated to Namkeen and Mithai Vikreta Kalayan Maha Sangh staged a demonstration at Sanjay Setu causing traffic jam for couple of hours in the heart of the city. "We do respect Indian laws but the new rules would cause harassment to the small traders," Sangh President Ramprasad Sharma told PTI.
"Under the new norms, traders will have to determine and print the nutritional value of every product, a provision small traders will find difficult to comply with. This would encourage inspector-raj," he said. The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India has laid down science-based standards for food items and regulate their manufacturer, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
The Act aims to ensure prevention of fraudulent, deceptive or unfair trade practices which may mislead or harm the consumer.
"Under the new norms, traders will have to determine and print the nutritional value of every product, a provision small traders will find difficult to comply with. This would encourage inspector-raj," he said. The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India has laid down science-based standards for food items and regulate their manufacturer, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
The Act aims to ensure prevention of fraudulent, deceptive or unfair trade practices which may mislead or harm the consumer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)