DINAKARAN NEWS

Panel approves new global food safety measures

 

The Codex Alimentarius Commission, jointly run by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization, for food safety, has recently agreed on a new set of regulations -- including the maximum level of melamine in the liquid milk formula for babies -- to protect the health of consumers across the world.

Other measures adopted include new food safety standards on seafood, melons, dried figs, nuts and spices and food labelling.

The Commission has now reduced the maximum limit of melamine to 0.15mg/kg in liquid infant milk.

Two years earlier, it had  adopted a maximum melamine level of one mg/kg for powdered infant formula and of 2.5 mg/kg for other foods and animal feed.

Melamine can be lethal at high concentrations and has been used illegally to increase the apparent protein content in food products, including infant formula and milk powder.

Milk tainted with melamine has caused death and illness in infants.

Aflatoxins, a group of mycotoxins produced by moulds, are toxic and known to be carcinogenic.

They can be found in a variety of products such as dried fruits, nuts, spices and cereals at high levels if the produce is not stored properly.

The Commission has now agreed on a safe maximum limit of 10 micrograms/kg.

This limit will be crucial to the export sector of India [ Images ], as the country is a leading exporter of nuts and spices.

The Commission also said an emerging public health issue relates to the increased popularity of pre-cut melon slices. Exposed pulp of the fruit can become a breeding ground for bacteria.

This has been linked to life-threatening salmonella and listeria outbreaks.

In India, water melon slices are widely sold by street vendors across the country, especially in the summer.

The Commission says pre-cut melons should be wrapped or packaged and refrigerated as soon as possible and distributed at temperatures of four degrees Celsius or less.

Cooling and cold-storing was recommended as soon as possible after harvest, while knife blades used for cutting or peeling should be disinfected on a regular basis.

It had also agreed on a set of residue limits for ractopamine, the veterinary drug, in animal tissues. Ractopamine is a growth promoter and also keeps pigs lean.

It has adopted maximum residue limits for the amount of the drug allowed in the tissues of pigs and cattle.

Seafood

The Commission also adopted a set of preventive hygiene measures aimed at controlling food-borne viruses, especially in seafood items.

Viruses are generally more resistant than bacteria and those transmitted by the faecal-oral route can persist for months in bivalve molluscs, soil, water and sediments.

They can survive freezing, refrigeration, ultraviolet radiation and disinfection but are sensitive to heat.

Common food-borne viral diseases are caused by the hepatitis A virus and norovirus.

The Commission noted the main hazard for the production of molluscs, such as oysters and mussels, was the biological contamination of the waters in which they grow.

It is, therefore, important to ensure the seawater quality of growing areas, the Commission noted.

When there is a likelihood or evidence of viral contamination, closure of the area, destruction of contaminated molluscs and/or heat treatment before consumption of already harvested molluscs are recommended.

The commission sets international food safety and quality standards, to promote safer and more nutritious food for consumers worldwide and ensure fair practices in the food trade.

It has 185 member-countries.

Extension of Proviso to regulation 1.1.2 of Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation 2011

Hoteliers told to be wary of cheats

Licence for food business operators

The Commissioner of Food Safety has asked food business operators/restaurant owners not to be duped by any individual or organisation who might be collecting huge amounts as service charge or office expenses for the mandatory licence/registration that food business operators (FBOs) have to apply for, under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.

The registration fee for small and medium FBOs with an annual turnover of less than Rs.12 lakh is Rs.100 only. The application form for the registration process is available free of cost at the Respective Food Safety Offices in districts.

A licence is mandatory for FBOs, food manufacturing units that have an annual turnover of above Rs. 12 lakh, under the FSS Act. The licence fee ranges from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 7,500 for various grades, which has been clearly notified in the FSS Licensing Regulation.

The licence and registration fee has to be remitted in the government treasury. However, the Office of the Food Safety Commissioner has been receiving complaints about traders being duped by individuals or organisations in the name of service charge.

Complaints regarding this should be intimated to the respective district food safety officers. In case action has not been taken, complaints can be made at the Office of the Commissioner of Food Safety on the toll free line, 1800 425 1125 .

Details regarding licence or registration are available atwww.fssai.gov.inorwww.foodsafetykerala.gov.in

All food business operators should ensure the legality of their trade by applying for the licence/registration before August 5, the Commissioner of Food Safety has informed.

Seven more eateries served closure notice

Seven more eateries which were functioning in unhygienic conditions were ordered closed by food safety officials in raids conducted across the State on Thursday.

Special squads deputed by the Commissioner of Food Safety inspected hotels in Kasaragod, Kannur, Thrissur and Kottayam districts . Hotel Anand, Uduma; Hotel Sreesastha, Kuttikulam; Hotel Arabian Food Corner , Uppala bus stand, Hotel New Lucky, Uppala, all in Kasaragod district, and Hotel Bharath Thriprayar; Hotel Kavitha, Pala bus stand; both in Kottayam, were issued closure notices.

Of the 92 eateries and hotels inspected, improvement notices were served on 51 establishments and fine of Rs.2,27,500 was slapped on several hotel owners.

Food safety officials had to stop work in between after a group of traders attacked the officials while they were inspecting Hotel Thirubhavan, at Uppala bus stand in Kasaragod. Officials have filed a case with the Kumbala police station in this regard.

Obstructing or preventing food safety officials while on duty is a criminal offence which can earn up to three months rigorous imprisonment and up to Rs. 1 lakh fine, under S. 62 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 . Food safety officials have been given direction to file cases under S. 62 whenever they are prevented from discharging their duty.

Government delays implementation of Food Safety law by 6 months

MUMBAI: The implementation of a legislation that would have shuttered thousands of eateries across the nation and put millions at the mercy of government staff has been postponed by six months, bringing temporary relief to hoteliers.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, or FSSAI, has extended the time period given to so-called food business operators to comply with tough Food Safety and Standards Act to February 5, 2013, from August 4, 2012, due to protests.

The implementation of the new rules, including penalty and prosecution if rats are found at restaurants, serving of pure water and mandated labelling of products, would strain owners when the basic responsibility for most of these lies with the municipal administration.

These proposals don't distinguish between fivestar hotels and a road-side food stall when it comes to proposals in the name of safety standards. "This extension is just a temporary relief, and the horror of unpractical and harsh provisions shall be back to haunt from February," said Tejinder Singh Renu, secretary, Vidarbha Taxpayers Association (VTA).

"The Act uses the same parameter for a five-star hotel and a road-side vendor thus failing to strike a balance in implementation. Without studying the Indian market, agriculture and other parameters, the Act has been enacted in haste."

The FSSA 2006 was implemented on August 5 last year with the objective to bring out a sciencebased uniform food law in the country that repealed several other laws and brought the food industry under one umbrella. The Act brings all food traders, right from street food vendors, dabbawallas, food transporters to hoteliers under it.

The Mumbai Mewa Masala Merchant's Association has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court against the Act, which comes up for hearing on August 2. "For any small business operator, the provisions are impractical to adhere to," says Lakshmidas Bhai, Lakshmidas Thakker of the Mumbai Mewa Masala Merchant's Association.

"The clauses are drafted without taking realities of food business units in India. A penalty being imposed in the case of a rat being found in the premises of a food business unit is a case in point.

FSSAI gives in, extends licensing deadline by six months; FBOs relieved

Responding favourably to various representations from all over the country, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has granted food business operators (FBOs) a six-month extension to the August 5, 2012, deadline for complying with the licensing and registration rules laid down by the Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSA), 2011.

While there is jubilation over the move in the industry. Prabodh Halde, VP, Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (India), Mumbai chapter, said, “It is a welcome move. All food business operators will now be on their toes. When there was nothing, we got a year's extension, and when things didn't really progress along expected lines, we have to accept this six-month extension and hurry.”

D V Malhan, executive secretary, All India Food Processors' Association (AIFPA), agreed with Halde. Calling it a step in the right direction, he said, “There are teething troubles, but the job will have to be done. If the objectives are not met by February, we will take a call on a further extension. FBOs and the government will have to trust and cooperate with each other.”

“The last date for renewal of licenses/registration under the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, has been extended by six months with effect from 5th August, 2012,” informed Praveen Khandelwal, secretary-general, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). “The date has been extended by the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India, the Competent Authority,” he added.

Khandelwal added that the Food Safety & Standard Act was notified on August 5, 2011, by the Central government.

Other reactions
In a statement via e-mail, R Kaleeswaran, honorary secretary, Karaikudi Bakery Owners' Association, said, “It is good news for all FBOs. We now have until February 4, 2013, to register or obtain licences. However, we (KBOA) will continue to fight the FSSA till the battle ends.”

The Vidarbha Taxpayers' Association (VTA) had sent prime minister Manmohan Singh; agriculture and food processing minister Sharad Pawar; health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad; FSSAI chairman K Chandramouli; and Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration commissioner Mahesh Zagade; a memorandum requesting them to extend the deadline by at least a year.

Tejinder Singh Renu, secretary, VTA, said, “The six-month extension is a temporary relief, but the horror of impractical and harsh provisions will return to haunt the FBOs after February 5, 2013. So the fight for amendments to the rules should continue, so that small- and medium-sized FBOs don't suffer. Unfortunately they may be compelled to resort to corruption.”

However, not all were gung-ho about this decision by the country's apex food regulator. Ashwini Malhotra, executive director, Weikfield Products Co (India) Pvt. Ltd, said, “To ensure that it is implemented properly, they have to make sure the infrastructure issues are addressed. For instance, systems have to be put in place, and the right people have to be appointed to do the job. Or else, it'll keep extending, and the objective won't be achieved.”

Vijay Prakash Jain, secretary-general, Bharatiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal (BUVM), Delhi, said, “The six-month extension is not for everyone; it is only for those food business operators who haven't registered or obtained a licence under the FSSA, 2006. As for our agitation against the contentious provisions, it is poised for a fight to the finish.”

Statutory advisory
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently issued a statutory advisory titled, “Extending time period for seeking conversion/renewal of existing licences/registrations granted under the repealed Orders by FBOs” and signed by S S Ghonkrokta, director, enforcement, FSSAI.

It said, “As per the provisions given under Clause 2.1.2 of Licensing/Registration of Food Businesses Regulation, 2011, the food business operator has to apply for conversion/renewal of registration/licence within one year from the date of notification. This time period was to expire on August 4, 2012.”

“The approval of the Competent Authority is hereby conveyed for extending the time period granted to food business operators seeking conversion/renewal of licences by another six months with effect from August 5, 2012,” the advisory stated.

FBO definition
The term food business operators includes any undertaking whether for profit or not and whether public or private, carrying out any of the activities related to any stage of manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution of food, import and includes food services, sale of food or food ingredients. All such business establishments are required to obtain registration under the new Act.

Tea sector gears up for food act

The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2011, has dictated tough terms for all industries associated with the food and beverages sectors, including the tea industry

Safety first Guwahati, : A legislation that came into force last year has forced the tea industry to conform to international norms, while keeping its focus on product quality intact. The law — Food Safety and Standards Act — that came into force from August 5, 2011, dictates that all food establishments and manufacturing units have to either procure licence or get these registered with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) before August 4 in accordance with their turnover. To prepare organisations associated with the tea industry to face the upcoming challenges of the act, Tea Board, in association with CII Food and Agriculture Centre of Excellence, organised awareness programmes at Jorhat on June 27 and at Golaghat on June 28. The idea behind the events was to ensure that all the stakeholders understood FSSAI regulations while maintaining quality and food safety standards in their products. About 75 tea estates and bought leaf factories participated in the events. The event provided an insight was also provided into the critical steps to food safety — a set of guidelines issued by the ministry of health and family welfare through the act for all organisations managing food and beverage operations to ensure implement good hygiene and good manufacturing practices. The guidelines state that no tea shall contain any additive or processing aid unless it is in accordance with the provisions of the act and regulations made there under, and no tea shall contain any contaminant, naturally occurring toxic substances or toxins or heavy metals in excess of quantities as may be specified by regulations. On pesticides, it says that no tea shall contain insecticides or pesticide residues, solvent residues, pharmacologically active substances and microbiological counts in excess of limits specified by regulations. No insecticide shall be used directly on tea leaves except fumigants registered and approved under the Insecticides Act, 1968. On the presence of chemicals, it says that pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, weedicides, microbials should be used in the gardens in accordance with the approved list and be sprayed in accordance with the recommended dosage recommended by Tea Research Association and United Planters’ Association of Southern India. One of the provisions says flavoured tea shall be sold or offered for sale only by those manufacturers who are registered with Tea Board. Registration number should also be mentioned on the label. It shall be sold only in packed conditions with label declaration as provided in the Regulation 2.4.5 (23) of Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) regulations, 2011. “Domestic consumers have the right to get tea which is safe and hygienic as consumers demand globally,” Indrani Ghose, principal counsellor, CII Food and Agriculture Centre of Excellence, told . The Tea Board is taking a scientific approach to sort out the problems of different regulatory issues. Colour adulteration is strictly prohibited from the consumer health point of view and colouring of tea has gradually become a matter of serious concern these days. Sources said the treatment of teas with various colouring chemicals comes under the head of adulterants. There are occasional reports that sub-standard tea leaves are coloured with Bismark brown, potassium blue, turmeric and indigo, to impart colour or gloss to the product. Tea industry officials say the Tea Board has strongly advised the industry to follow the FSSAI guidelines for not using any colour in tea as violation of the guidelines may attract legal action. The penal provisions are tough, with penalties ranging between Rs 25,000 and Rs 10 lakh. Moreover, unlicensed food business has been strictly prohibited. A licence can be valid for a period of one to five years. Bidyananda Barkakoty, chairman, North Eastern Tea Association, said the intention of the FSSA — to bring food safety of our country to international standard — was a welcome step. “There is a possibility that by following the norms laid down in the FSSA, tea may be able to get a better price in the domestic and international markets,” he told. He, however, said it would add to the cost of production. Dhiraj Kakati, secretary, Assam branch, Indian Tea Association, said the regulations had beneficial aspects and should work well, provided there was no red tape.

Stubborn stains fade a shade - Responsible citizens switch to paan on Day One of ban, but gutkha prices soar in black market

Some voluntarily munched paan, some grudgingly bit into betel nuts and yet others scoured black markets for their habitual quota of nicotine kick — the state’s blanket ban on gutkha was only partially successful on Thursday, the first day of its implementation. Armed with the new Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 — which was implemented in Jharkhand in January this year — the health and family welfare department had issued a notification in newspapers in Ranchi on Wednesday, banning production, storage, distribution and sale of gutkha from July 26. The ban also included paan masala of various brands that contain nicotine. It had also made a fervent appeal to citizens to stop chewing the tobacco mix, one of the key reasons of a 30 per cent increase in oral cancer cases in Jharkhand in six years. The plea, which came with the penalty sting of Rs 25,000 or a jail term of seven to 10 years in case of violation, did not completely fall on deaf ears. Some vendors in the capital refused to sell gutkha even to regular customers, while some avaricious ones made last-ditch attempts to exhaust their existing stock by selling pouches at 50 per cent to 75 per cent more than the printed price. In Jamshedpur, the banned items sold at double the price. “I did not get a pouch of gutkha. Even the paan masala on sale is the one without even a trace of tobacco. I decided to switch to paan,” Sanjay Singh, who deals in stationery items at Saheed Chowk, Ranchi, said. Sudhir Barnwal, who runs a shop for mouth freshners at Albert Ekka Chowk, said the ban had not affected their earnings. “Every day, I used to sell gutkha pouches worth Rs 400. After it was banned, I was worried about my income. But fortunately, people are opting for paan and I won’t suffer losses,” he said. Not everyone was as respectful to the law as Singh and Barnwal. A youth at Albert Ekka Chowk was found striking a hard bargain for 10 pouches of tobacco sprinkled paan masala. “You sell a pouch for Rs 2, I am ready to pay Rs 3 for each. Please arrange for at least 10 pouches,” he was overheard requesting the vendor. The latter was smarter. He was unwilling to part with his newfound treasure at anything less than Rs 3.50 a pouch. “Selling gutkha is risky now. If I am caught, I will have to pay Rs 25,000. Or may even be sent to jail. You have to pay me more,” he reasoned. Dilip Kumar, the owner of Shree Zarda Store at Saheed Chowk, said such bargains would continue only till stocks last. “After that there will be no chance of getting gutkha even in the black market. People can chew paan, which anyway is a better substitute.” In Jamshedpur, both violations and violators were more brazen. Rajesh Yadav (38), a security guard at an apartment in Bistupur, was found staining the government’s image with tobacco laced paan masala. “I know about the ban. It is in the newspaper, but I did not face any problem in getting my brand of paan masala,” he said with an I-don’t-care attitude. He, however, added that if gutkha and paan masala vanish from the market, he would switch to betel leaves. Bikram Singh (25), a resident of Kadma, agreed. “If shops stop selling gutkha, we will stop consuming,” he said. Vendor Ayodhya Mahto Sakchi Market said the authorities should first target manufacturers and wholesalers. “Why hurt poor shopkeepers. I feel this will give powerful people like the police another opportunity to harass us,” he added. Despite violations here and there, state food controller T.P. Barnwal expressed satisfaction over imposition of the ban. “On the first day, we do not have information of sale of gutkha anywhere. None of our officials across the state have reported seizure or imposition of fines,” he asserted.