Srinagar, May 21: The J&K government is yet to come clear on
implementing agency for the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. At least
three departments—Local Bodies, Commissioner Food Safety and Municipal
Committees—are implementing provisions of the Act, making it
ineffective.
Presently the Act is implemented in the twin cities of Srinagar and Jammu by the respective municipal corporations. In towns and notified areas of Jammu and Kashmir, it is implemented by Local bodies. And ironically the Commissioner, Food Safety, who should look after the implementation according to the law, is devoid of any administrative control over Municipal Corporations and Local Bodies.
“Since there is no single agency to implement the Act, it becomes easy for the three departments to pass the buck as and when the complaints surface,” said an official, privy to the issue. “It seems officials at the helm of affairs have deliberately muddled the implementation to allow some elements to benefit from lax food safety measures.” According to the Act, food safety officers are subordinate to designated officers and Food Safety Commissioner notified under the Act. “One fails to understand why they are put under different controlling authorities. This only causes confusion,” an official source said.
Recently the confusion surfaced after the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) authorities passed an Order No SMC/PS/Secy/537 asking Health Officer and Food Safety Officers to report before them.
“The SMC officers claim that FSSA rules are not finally cleared by Law department and may not be applicable to them. They also say that the Food Safety Officers draw the salaries from their department and are under their control,” sources said. In its response letter to Secretary, the Health Officer had said that there was no provision under FSSA under which Health Officer is required to report to Joint Commissioner or any other SMC officer.
Secretary SMC has clearly mentioned that FSSA was not applicable to them. “Ask them to report to Joint Secretary’s office as FSSA-2006 is not applicable to us till issue is finally cleared by Law Department,” the note reads. Deputy Commissioner Food Safety J & K, Nazir Ahmed Wani said, “At block level we have food safety officer and designated officers at district level. In case of Health Officer SMC, he/she will have to report to both.”
Presently the Act is implemented in the twin cities of Srinagar and Jammu by the respective municipal corporations. In towns and notified areas of Jammu and Kashmir, it is implemented by Local bodies. And ironically the Commissioner, Food Safety, who should look after the implementation according to the law, is devoid of any administrative control over Municipal Corporations and Local Bodies.
“Since there is no single agency to implement the Act, it becomes easy for the three departments to pass the buck as and when the complaints surface,” said an official, privy to the issue. “It seems officials at the helm of affairs have deliberately muddled the implementation to allow some elements to benefit from lax food safety measures.” According to the Act, food safety officers are subordinate to designated officers and Food Safety Commissioner notified under the Act. “One fails to understand why they are put under different controlling authorities. This only causes confusion,” an official source said.
Recently the confusion surfaced after the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) authorities passed an Order No SMC/PS/Secy/537 asking Health Officer and Food Safety Officers to report before them.
“The SMC officers claim that FSSA rules are not finally cleared by Law department and may not be applicable to them. They also say that the Food Safety Officers draw the salaries from their department and are under their control,” sources said. In its response letter to Secretary, the Health Officer had said that there was no provision under FSSA under which Health Officer is required to report to Joint Commissioner or any other SMC officer.
Secretary SMC has clearly mentioned that FSSA was not applicable to them. “Ask them to report to Joint Secretary’s office as FSSA-2006 is not applicable to us till issue is finally cleared by Law Department,” the note reads. Deputy Commissioner Food Safety J & K, Nazir Ahmed Wani said, “At block level we have food safety officer and designated officers at district level. In case of Health Officer SMC, he/she will have to report to both.”
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