FDA doesn’t know its limits

Officials confused over jurisdiction and where they can take action, while gutkha sellers make merry

Gutkha is freely sold at Babajan Chowk which is under PCB jurisdiction The newly-implemented Food Safety and Standards Regulation, 2011 has thrown Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials into confusion when it comes to their jurisdiction and where they can take action. According to new rules, airports, seaports, defence areas and railways fall under the Central licensing body, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSA). FDA officials are uncertain as to whether they can issue or cancel food vendors licences in these areas and also, if they can take action on the sale of banned products such as gutkha. Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA, said, “We are not supposed to take any action or issue licenses to any vendor in the cantonments, railways and airports. Taking advantage of the situation, most of the gutkha sellers in the city have their godowns in these areas. Recently, we have conducted raids in Camp which comes under the Pune Cantonment Board and seized gutkha worth lakhs of rupees. If they challenge us in court, we are in trouble.” Ordinarily, Cantonment areas and railways have their own officials to conduct checks and crack down on any illicit activities, but in recent times, these posts have n’t been filled. S S Desai, FDA assistant commissioner (food), said, “Earlier, cantonment areas had respective designated assistant commissioners (food) but that seems to have stopped. We used to get a slip signed from them before taking any action against any vendor or restaurant but now that is not possible. We have sent a number of requisitions to the FSSA, but to no avail. ” Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) health superintendent Vilas Khandode said, “We don’t have food inspectors to conduct raids neither do we have laboratories to test the food samples. The board has a population of 70,000 and it is not logical to have a specialised lab and inspectors for such a small population. When FDA can collect money for licences, why can’t they check the food quality?” Arti Mahajan, vice president of Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) said that “It does not matter to us whether FDA operates in our area or not as we have our secondary food officers and health superintendent in place. Our food inspectors do conduct checks at food stalls and not only raw materials but also the end product.” On being questioned about the open sale of gutkha, she said, “In case it is being sold in the PCB area, strict action will be taken.” On the other hand, Y K Singh, railway spokesperson said, “We have the Railway Police Force and the commercial department has the authority to maintain the quality of food and take action if any banned product is being sold inside the railways premises, but even the FDA can take action or inform us in case they receive any information.” State FDA commissioner Mahesh Zagade was optimistic,saying, “There are issues regarding the jurisdiction, but we have written to the central body and things will be sorted soon. Till then, our officers will take action against the guilty ." ►►►  According to new regulations, we can’t take action or issue licences to vendors in any of the cantonments, railways and airports -  Shashikant Kekare, Joint commissioner(food), FDA