Will equip all districts with mobile labs; 36 additional posts created in DFCO
Srinagar, June 2
With the high court seized of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking implementation of the food safety standards to check adulteration, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has decided to upgrade existing food testing laboratories in two capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar to national-level standards.
The government is also planning to equip other districts with mobile food testing labs.
On April 7, the state health authorities in their compliance report to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had stated that they have acquired a project report on mobile food testing laboratories from the Gujarat Government and are actively considering setting up the same in the state to check adulteration of milk and milk products.
The government has decided to set up mobile food testing laboratories in all districts besides upgrading the existing food testing laboratories in Jammu and Srinagar cities to check food adulteration.
The decision in this regard was taken during a high-level meeting of health officials here in Srinagar on Friday chaired by Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmad Khan.
During the meeting, it was decided that food testing labs in Srinagar and Jammu cities would be upgraded to national-level standards at a cost of Rs 10 crore.
Khan informed the meeting that the government has already decided to create 36 posts of different categories to provide the required staff in the Drugs and Food Control Organisation (DFCO), which is tasked with implementing food and safety standards in the state.
Directing the authorities concerned to intensify efforts to check the food adulteration in the markets, Khan said market checking squads of the DFCO have been asked to impose heavy penalties on the persons indulging in food adulteration with directions that their licences should be cancelled without any discrimination.
Concerned over the increased adulteration in food items, the high court had earlier ordered continuous testing of milk being sold in the market and directed the authorities concerned (DFCO market checking squads) to take samples of eatables from markets and factories in all districts of the state on a weekly basis for testing and initiate action against the defaulters.
The high court is hearing a PIL seeking implementation of the food safety standards to check adulteration in the state.
What the PIL says
The PIL had sought court directions commanding the respondents to implement the Food Safety Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011
It had been submitted that the non-implementation of the Act and rules by the state government was a grave issue and the matter required to be dealt with seriously to check adulteration of food items and eatables
The government has often come under criticism for lack of seriousness on the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act in the state
Srinagar, June 2
With the high court seized of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking implementation of the food safety standards to check adulteration, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has decided to upgrade existing food testing laboratories in two capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar to national-level standards.
The government is also planning to equip other districts with mobile food testing labs.
On April 7, the state health authorities in their compliance report to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had stated that they have acquired a project report on mobile food testing laboratories from the Gujarat Government and are actively considering setting up the same in the state to check adulteration of milk and milk products.
The government has decided to set up mobile food testing laboratories in all districts besides upgrading the existing food testing laboratories in Jammu and Srinagar cities to check food adulteration.
The decision in this regard was taken during a high-level meeting of health officials here in Srinagar on Friday chaired by Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmad Khan.
During the meeting, it was decided that food testing labs in Srinagar and Jammu cities would be upgraded to national-level standards at a cost of Rs 10 crore.
Khan informed the meeting that the government has already decided to create 36 posts of different categories to provide the required staff in the Drugs and Food Control Organisation (DFCO), which is tasked with implementing food and safety standards in the state.
Directing the authorities concerned to intensify efforts to check the food adulteration in the markets, Khan said market checking squads of the DFCO have been asked to impose heavy penalties on the persons indulging in food adulteration with directions that their licences should be cancelled without any discrimination.
Concerned over the increased adulteration in food items, the high court had earlier ordered continuous testing of milk being sold in the market and directed the authorities concerned (DFCO market checking squads) to take samples of eatables from markets and factories in all districts of the state on a weekly basis for testing and initiate action against the defaulters.
The high court is hearing a PIL seeking implementation of the food safety standards to check adulteration in the state.
What the PIL says
The PIL had sought court directions commanding the respondents to implement the Food Safety Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011
It had been submitted that the non-implementation of the Act and rules by the state government was a grave issue and the matter required to be dealt with seriously to check adulteration of food items and eatables
The government has often come under criticism for lack of seriousness on the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act in the state
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