Food for thought

The Food Safety Act has received a mixed response. Officials have been told not to insist on licenses or impose heavy penalties on violators as there are apprehensions about the legislation.

The Act has been brought under review in view of representations made by various stakeholders in the food business.

To create public awareness, a Food Safety Express is coming to Madurai district on March 20 and it will go across the district to sensitise stakeholders on the importance of the Act.

A lorry remodelled as Awareness Express will provide information on do’s and don’ts, food sample tests, role of consumers, label/packaging requirements. It will be in the district for 20 days and cover urban and rural areas.

R. Srinivasan, State secretary, Tamil Nadu Hotels Association, says that the Food Business Operators have in principle welcomed the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. However, there are certain inconsistencies which have to be addressed.

“We welcome the Act because it provides for self-declaration by Food Business Operators. But there is no clarity on the penalty clauses. The drastic changes that took place in agriculture, fertilisers and pesticides too need to be taken into account when you talk of food safety,” he says.

Mr. Srinivasan said that various associations represented to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India that the Act is not easy to implement.

“On February 18, it was notified that sub-committees will be formed to review the Act. A review is needed for vendors and small traders to safeguard themselves. Foreign influence in preparing this Act is not acceptable to us and we should have a law that suits the ground reality in India,” he says.

Consumer activists S. Arunkumar and A. Ravindran, who attended a training programme on the implementation of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 at Chennai from March 6 to 9, have welcomed the food safety legislation.

“We were told that the fine will be very nominal. The campaign through Food Safety Express will clear apprehensions and ensure compliance,” Mr. Arunkumar said.