PUNE:
Food safety norms will now be implemented in six cantonment areas in
Maharashtra including three in Pune and one each in Nashik, Ahmednagar
and Aurangabad that come under the Union government's jurisdiction.
State government officials have been asked to oversee the work in these
areas.
The issue of implementing authority in six cantonment areas in Maharashtra for enforcing food safety norms has finally been resolved.
State officials have been asked to oversee the work in three cantonment areas in Pune and one each in Nashik, Ahmednagar and Aurangabad that come under the union government's jurisdiction.
Though standards and guidelines set for food items under the 'Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Rules and Regulations 2011,' were implemented two years ago, they were not enforced in the state's cantonment areas due to the absence of an authority. The Act had replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 from August 5, 2011.
Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), Food and Drug Administraiton, Pune said, "The state FDA had brought up the issue with the Central Advisory Committee of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in the past. However, no decision was made on notifying either central or state officials to regulate food businesses in cantonment areas as per the Act. The issue has been resolved now."
In the absence of an implementing authority, registration and licensing of food business operators in cantonment areas have not been done, so far.
"We have notified our officials to oversee the implementation of the Act in cantonment areas that fall in their division. The respective divisional heads were notified on October 8. The registrations and licencing of food business operators in cantonment areas, which could not take place in the last two years, has started in full swing now," said a top official from state FDA.
A Pune Cantonment Board official admitted that the provision of the new food act has not come into force in cantonment areas. "Even the ban on gutka has not been implemented despite its rampant sale here. As far as food business regulation is concerned, we have a well-designed system in place to ensure that food items and food handlers conform to standards of hygiene and safety," he said.
As per conservative estimates, there are around 15 lakh food business operators in Maharashtra. FDA has issued licences to 3.9 lakh food business operators in the state and incurred revenue of Rs 34 crore. Maharashtra is the first state in the country that has carried out licencing work of this proportion so far.
"We have intensified the drive of registering and licensing food business operators in the three cantonment areas in Pune," said Dilip Sangat, assistant commissioner (food), FDA, Pune.
Delay in enforcement
* Food safety norms were not enforced due to ambiguity over implementing authority. Since cantonment areas come under the Central government jurisdiction, state officials were not empowered to do so without clear instructions
* The designated officer for central licensing had not notified any of their officials to oversee the implementation of the Act in cantonment areas. State officials were also not given directives. Despite being a central Act, food safety norms under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 could not be enforced in the state's cantonment areas
Cantonment areas
* Pune has three cantonment areas - Pune, Dehu and Khadki
* Deolali cantonment in Nashik
* Bhingar cantonment in Ahmednagar
* Aurangabad cantonment
* FDA officials in Pune, Nashik, Ahmednagar and Aurangabad have been notified to implement the food safety norms in these areas
The issue of implementing authority in six cantonment areas in Maharashtra for enforcing food safety norms has finally been resolved.
State officials have been asked to oversee the work in three cantonment areas in Pune and one each in Nashik, Ahmednagar and Aurangabad that come under the union government's jurisdiction.
Though standards and guidelines set for food items under the 'Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Rules and Regulations 2011,' were implemented two years ago, they were not enforced in the state's cantonment areas due to the absence of an authority. The Act had replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 from August 5, 2011.
Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), Food and Drug Administraiton, Pune said, "The state FDA had brought up the issue with the Central Advisory Committee of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in the past. However, no decision was made on notifying either central or state officials to regulate food businesses in cantonment areas as per the Act. The issue has been resolved now."
In the absence of an implementing authority, registration and licensing of food business operators in cantonment areas have not been done, so far.
"We have notified our officials to oversee the implementation of the Act in cantonment areas that fall in their division. The respective divisional heads were notified on October 8. The registrations and licencing of food business operators in cantonment areas, which could not take place in the last two years, has started in full swing now," said a top official from state FDA.
A Pune Cantonment Board official admitted that the provision of the new food act has not come into force in cantonment areas. "Even the ban on gutka has not been implemented despite its rampant sale here. As far as food business regulation is concerned, we have a well-designed system in place to ensure that food items and food handlers conform to standards of hygiene and safety," he said.
As per conservative estimates, there are around 15 lakh food business operators in Maharashtra. FDA has issued licences to 3.9 lakh food business operators in the state and incurred revenue of Rs 34 crore. Maharashtra is the first state in the country that has carried out licencing work of this proportion so far.
"We have intensified the drive of registering and licensing food business operators in the three cantonment areas in Pune," said Dilip Sangat, assistant commissioner (food), FDA, Pune.
Delay in enforcement
* Food safety norms were not enforced due to ambiguity over implementing authority. Since cantonment areas come under the Central government jurisdiction, state officials were not empowered to do so without clear instructions
* The designated officer for central licensing had not notified any of their officials to oversee the implementation of the Act in cantonment areas. State officials were also not given directives. Despite being a central Act, food safety norms under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 could not be enforced in the state's cantonment areas
Cantonment areas
* Pune has three cantonment areas - Pune, Dehu and Khadki
* Deolali cantonment in Nashik
* Bhingar cantonment in Ahmednagar
* Aurangabad cantonment
* FDA officials in Pune, Nashik, Ahmednagar and Aurangabad have been notified to implement the food safety norms in these areas
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