JK does little to ensure food safety - Poor Implementation Of Food Safety And Standards Act-2006

Srinagar, May 13: The J&K government has done little to ensure implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 despite repeated reminders by the central authorities to upgrade the related infrastructure.

 The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has many times asked the state government to upgrade the infrastructure for implementing the Act, but it has miserably failed to do so.

 Three years ago, the Controller Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, VN Gaur had written a letter to then Chief Secretary, SS Kapur seeking upgrading infrastructure in the State for transition from Prevention of Food Adulteration(PFA) Act regime to the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 which integrates all food safety related legislations.

 “In order to ensure a smooth transition, it is necessary that all preparatory action as already mentioned may be taken well in time. Some basic requirements for the implementation of the Act are appointment of Food Safety Commissioner, Designated officer, Adjucating Officer, Food Safety officer, appellate Tribunal, Special Court, Food Analyst and notification of laboratories for food testing which are accredited by the NABL,” the letter vide No DO No. 10/FSSAI/OCI/Study-2008 dated 30 December 2010 reads.

 Gaur had informed the government that Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 cannot be implemented without these statutory functionaries in position and a void will be created following the repeal of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act. If these are not in place, the matter becomes quite important requiring immediate attention,” he said.

 On contrary the state government gave Commissioner/Secretary, Health and Medical Education, M K Diwedi the additional charge of Food Commissioner of J&K. This, according to experts, reflects the non-seriousness of the government in ensuring Food Safety in the State.   

 “Similarly no Special Courts, Appellate Tribunal were not created. Adjucating Officer, Food Safety officer were not trained in new law. At many places they are just for the name and are no way ensuring food safety in state,” the sources said.

 The Central Food Safety Authority had also asked the state government to upgrade its food laboratory to access their preparedness for aggregation by NABL or any other accreditation system by the FSSAI.

 “Action will have to be taken to upgrade them in respect of testing facilities, instrumentation, manpower, training and infrastructure. The importance of this up-gradation can be appreciated from the fact that FSS Act recognizes food testing reports from accredited labs only,” the letter reads.

 The central authority also called on the state government to conduct training for the Food Safety officers with the help of trainers trained by FSSAI.