HC vacates stay on Food Safety and Standard Act section

PTI | 10:08 PM,Aug 03,2012 Chennai, Aug 3 (PTI) Madras High Court has vacated its stay on Section 31(7) of Food Safety and Standard Act and Rules under which a chain of distribution outlets operating across a state or the country was required to obtain as many licences as the number of stores.
Allowing a petition by The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to vacate the stay, Justice V Ramasubramanian held what had been inserted in the provision was not something that was not already in existence. The requirement to obtain different licences had been in vogue for the past more than 30 years and in such circumstances, there was no question of issuing an order of injunction restraining the respondent from enforcing the provision, the Judge said.
He also dismissed a batch of miscellaneous petitions from a company and an association of manufacturers and exporters of agricultural products.

BIS Finalizes Standards for Street Food Vendors

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has finalized an Indian Standard on basic requirements for street food vendors as food safety is a major concern with street foods. This was disclosed by Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Prof Thomas at Mumbai yesterday .He said that street food sector has shown phenomenal growth recently. Readily accessible and affordable to urban populations, street food provides the energy and nutrient needs to large segments of workers and their families in the cities. This sector is also a source of livelihood for a large number of people. Hence the standard developed by BIS has immense potential to safeguard public health and also promote the confidence of the consumer over the entire spectrum of food industry.

Prof Thomas was addressing National Seminar on “Food Safety – Role of Standards” at Mumbai. The seminar was organized with objective of creating awareness and to provide an insight into the concept of food safety with emphasis on the role of standards.

Stressing over safety of food and quality, the Minister said that as awareness regarding food safety issues among our citizens and concerns bout the hazards in food is showing an upward trend, the need to provide them with greater assurance about the safety and quality of food is also growing. Role of standards in the domain of food safety is immense. Standards promote public health and protect consumers from unsanitary, unwholesome, mislabeled or adulterated food; and provide a sound regulatory foundation for domestic and international trade in food. He said that in this background, the role of BIS, the National standards body of India is significant. IS has also formulated about 1000 Indian Standards in the area of food products and food safety. This includes IS/ISO 22000: 2005 ‘Food Safety Management Systems – Requirements for any organization in the food chain’. IS/ISO 22000: 2005 is an internationally harmonized standard and has emerged as the international bench mark for food safety.

Prof Thomas said that Similarly, the three Indian Standards recently formulated by BIS, Indian Standards on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Hygienic Practices (GHP) and Food Retail Management (FRM) are also important in this respect as they are envisaged to act as foundations of Food Safety Management System. They delineate the basic conditions and activities that are necessary to maintain a hygienic environment throughout the food chain suitable for the production, handling and provision of safe end products for human consumption. He expressed hope that Implementation of these food safety standards can lead to exceptional improvements in food safety performance.

AMC holds camps to spread awareness on food registration

Ahmedabad: With only a few food vendors and hotels coming forward to register themselves under the Food Safety and Standard Act (FSSA), health officials of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) are concerned at the low turnout and their target of covering all of them within Central government’s the stipulated time. Therefore, the civic body is organizing camps and seminars with different associations and bodies to spread awareness about the new license.

Speaking to DNA, Municipal Commissioner Guruprasad Mohapatra said, “We will hold camps and meet different associations like hotel associations, caterer associations and even street-side food stalls. This will help us in spreading awareness and ask them to come forward for registration.” He also stated that the earlier date for completing registrations of the city, August 2012 has been extended.

When asked what is causing the delay, an AMC official stated: “The basic problem is lack of awareness, which we are trying to cover through the seminars.” He further stated that two such camps have been completed, one more will be held this week. “We have held meetings with Chemist Association of the city and Odhav Industrial Association, from which we received around 150 registrations,” he said.

Around 35,000 registrations are expected under FSSA Act, out of which, only 5,500 have been issued licenses. Under the earlier existing Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act, around 7,000 units of the city were issued license.

But with the new Act, wholesalers, retailers, catering business, petty shops, tea kiosks etc will also have to be registered under the new Act.

சென்னை : உணவுக் கட்டுப்பாடு மற்றும் தர நிர்ணய சட்ட விதிகளின் மீது விதிக்கப்பட்டிருந்த தடையை நீக்கி சென்னை ஐகோர்ட் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது. உணவு கட்டுப்பாடு மற்றும் தர நிர்ணய சட்ட விதிகள் உணவு பொருள் விற்பனையாளர்களை பாதிப்பதாக உள்ளதாக மதுரை ஐகோர்ட் கிளையில் மனு தாக்கல் செய்யப்பட்டிருந்தது. இதற்கு மதுரை ஐகோர்ட் கிளை தடை விதித்திருந்தது. இந்த தடையை நீக்கி சென்னை ஐகோர்ட் இன்று தீர்ப்பு வழங்கி உள்ளது.

உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் தர நிர்ணய சட்ட விதிகளுக்கான தடை நீக்கம்

சென்னை: உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் தர நிர்ணய சட்ட விதிகளுக்கு விதிக்கப்பட்ட, தடையை நீக்கி உயர்நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது. உயர்நீதிமன்ற மதுரை கிளை விதித்த தடையை நீக்கி, சென்னை உயர்நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது. முன்னதாக உணவு வியாபாரத்தில் ஈடுபடுவோரை பாதிக்கும் வகையில் சட்ட விதிகள் உள்ளதாக ஐகோர்ட் மதுரை கிளையில் வழக்கு தொடரப்பட்டது. வழக்கை விசாரித்த ஐகோர்ட் மதுரை கிளை, உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் தர நிர்ணய சட்ட விதிகளுக்கு தடை விதித்திருந்தது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது

Retailers meet municipal chief over Food Safety Standards Act

KOLKATA, 2 AUG: Representatives of small and medium retailers today met municipal commissioner Khalil Ahmed and asked him not to implement the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 in the state.
Members of the Forum of Traders organisation of Paschimbanga, a representative of small and medium retailers said it would be impossible for them to run their business if the government implements the Act.
Mr Rabindratah Koley, general secretary of the forum, said under the Act, a retailer will have to pay fine of Rs 5 lakh if he fails to renew the registration of his shop in time.
The Act also stated that medical certificate of the small and medium traders should be renewed twice in a year, said Mr Koley, adding tjat it is not possible for a poor shop owner to renew his medical certificate twice ia year.
He said the comm-issioner assured him today that the civic authorities will consider their demands before implementing the Act.

Food Safety Act to pull away food?

Food Safety and standards regulations act is all set to be enforced. Millions of food sellers could go out of business.
One law is going to axe many food sellers across the country from their business and hit their livelihood. This law will be enforced in six months from now, following a breather given by the regulatory authority to the vendors. Earlier, August 4th was set as the date to begin the enforcement which would have forced millions of food sellers to shut down.
In the name of enforcing and ensuring basic hygiene and sanitary conditions at all installations, the Food Safety and Standards Association of India has declared that all food businesses need license and have to follow set norms, rules and regulations. And if violated, the authority will have the right to close the establishments down immediately.
The licensing regulations notified under this act covers the entire food chain; from manufacturers, packers, wholesalers, distributors, sellers, importers, transporters, processors to food storage establishments. All street vendors, fruit and vegetable sellers, roadside tea shops, dhabas, sweet shops, hotels, restaurants, canteens, caterers, religious places distributing the food, milk dairies, grocery stores, food malls, bakeries and edible oil units will either need a license or a registration. This law empowers state food authorities and inspectors with powers to order unit closure and impose heavy penalties with a minimum of INR 25,000.
However the response from the food sellers is very aggressive towards this law. "The regulation is impractical and undemocratic. We are selling the food and anyway ensure the hygienic conditions. In the name of this law the local officials would harass us and it also breeds more corruption," says Sunder Raju, the owner of a hotel in Ameerpet. "Undoubtedly one should maintain safety and hygiene at the food stalls. But there is sufficient time to be given to these vendors to get their establishments registered. The deadline issued by the Food safety authorities is unrealistic," laments Suresh Krishna, a owner of another restaurant at Begumpet.
According to the law food business with an annual turnover below INR 12 lakh will have to get themselves registered and while those with a turnover above INR 12 lakh will have to obtain a license. The procedure for both the categories is elaborate and time consuming. Government enforcing this law with immediate effect is drawing the food sellers into a tough situation. Fee for one year, the registration fee is INR 100 and for license it ranges from INR 2000-7500. Some categories of food sellers will also have to file annual returns to the food regulator.
However few owners of restaurants are in support of this law. "One has to think of the health of an individual. Nothing is important than your customer's health. Obtaining license or getting registered would guarantee the hygiene and safety of food at your hotel which would attract more customers. I have been running my restaurant for the past 15 years and I am totally for this law and there is nothing wrong in it. The huge uproar against this law is meaningless," says V Ramakanth, a Senior Journalist, who happens to be the owner of a restaurant as well.
The August 4th deadline was not taken well by the vendors. They were miffed at such short notice given to them. With the 6 month extension granted to the vendors, many feel it will be far easier to comply with. Many of the food sellers and road side vendors were unaware of this law. "I am hearing about it for the first time. Why should we take licenses as we have set up a stall on the road side? I do not understand the logic behind it. And in the name of this law officials and other concerned departments would try to harass us. Thankfully they gave us sufficient time to get licenses," says Mukundaiah, a roadside food seller at Secunderabad. However with the enforcement of this law millions of food sellers could go out of business. And it would become illegal if they sell food or even distribute it without a proper approval.

Health dept raids eateries Collects six samples from different eating joints, issues notices to owners

Officials of the health department collect samples of  sewage water collected outside the ship in Ludhiana on Thursday. Tribune photograp

Ludhiana, August 2
The health department has swung into action following complaints of a cockroach in a patty at the DMCH canteen and a worm in a burger at KFC. A team of the health department has started collecting samples from big eateries since yesterday. The team today collected six samples of eatables from different eateries.
Food safety officer, Ludhiana, Manoj Khosla said: “We collected two samples of cheese and butter chicken from Chawlas chicken on Chandigarh Road. Though the food was being prepared under hygienic conditions, but the workers were not wearing gloves while serving food. Two samples roasted chicken and cream chicken were collected from Chawlas chicken, Sringar Cinema Road. The food here was being prepared under unhygienic conditions. We have issued notices to owners of both these eateries.”
Food safety officer Harpreet Kaur said: “We collected a sample of aaloo kachauri from Rupali Sweets, Civil Lines as the eatables were being prepared under unhygienic conditions. The floor was dirty, the workshop was not white washed and employees of workshops were also not wearing clean clothes. We issued a notice to the owner. The team also collected samples of gulab jamun from Kalia Sweet Shop, College Road.”
The team collected samples on the directions of District Health Officer, Ludhiana, Dr Kulwinder Singh.
Civil Surgeon Dr Subhash Batta said: “We collect food samples in routine. And now as the festival season has started, we have decided to conduct frequent raids on eateries, especially before and after festivals.”

Government may have accidentally decontrolled sugar with new food law

NEW DELHI: The government may have accidentally decontrolled sugar and other essential commodities by the recent notification of a new law that aims to consolidate laws relating to food quality.

The food ministry has written to the Cabinet Secretariat seeking immediate changes to the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The act has repealed all existing orders under Essential Commodities Act, 1955, that regulates and controls essential commodities and public distribution retrospectively from August 2011.

This has virtually made food ministry toothless, and put a question mark on the legality of the Sugar Control Order, Sugarcane (Control) Order, Levy Sugar Supply Order and Sugar (Packaging and Marking) Order that mandates use of jute bags for sugar.

"The repeal of these orders impacts the functioning of the Public Distribution System, affecting families below the poverty line. It is imperative therefore that immediate action be taken to carry out necessary amendments in the FSSAct, 2006...," the food ministry has written in a frantic note to the cabinet secretariat.

According to the Gazette notification, the section 97 of the FSS Act, 2006, empowers the central government to repeal existing enactments specified in Second Schedule, which include any other order issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 relating to food.

"The supply and equitable distribution of food grain, sugar and edible oils at ration shops is maintained through the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The imposing of compulsory levy on rice and sugar millers is also exercised through orders under this Act. Now that, all the existing orders are repealed, food ministry doesn't have provisions to regulate supply and distribution of food items," said an industry official, who doesn't wish to be identified.

The ministry officials, however, say that repealing of existing orders will impact the functioning but can't stop from exercising powers.

"There is definitely some ambiguity. We need more clarity on the notification. But it can't stop us from exercising whatever power the ministry has. The FSS Act 2006 may have repealed the existing orders under EC Act but it has not quashed it. We can always frame new orders whenever need be under the EC Act to regulate supply and distribution of food items," said a food ministry official.

Food testing lab to have more staff, better equipment

Dehradun, August 2
Food Safety Commissioner (Uttarakhand) Ranvir Singh today said that for the full implementation of the Food Safety Act in the state, the food testing laboratory in Uttarakhand would be strengthened by procuring superior equipment and hiring more manpower.
“As the Food Safety Act (2006) lays importance on testing, the laboratory at Rudrapur would be strengthened by hiring manpower and equipment. In fact in the coming days the vacant posts in the Food Safety Commission would be filled and complete structure of the commission in Uttarakhand would be set up,” said Ranvir Singh.
He was speaking today at the three-day workshop for the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 for designated and adjudicating officers.
He also said that as the Act envisaged a role for a consumer wherein he could directly submit samples of food for testing for possible adulteration, and if proven, get a refund. “We need to spread awareness about the Act so that consumers are educated about the procedures to follow while collecting samples and then submitting them for tests,” said Singh.
While Joint Food Commissioner Piyush Singh said that for the implementation of the Act, a steering committee headed by the Chief Secretary had been constituted and since the Act came into effect in the state, fines of Rs 1,19,000 have been collected by the adjudicating officers. The commission has collected a total of 669 food samples, out of which 93 samples were found unsafe and in 61, cases have been filed in the court of adjudicating officers.