GUWAHATI: The buyers of tea in Assam under the banner of Guwahati Tea Auction Centre Buyers' Association (GTACBA) have expressed concern over violation of Food Safety and Standard Act (FSSA), 2011 even as the Tea Board of India is carrying out awareness programmes in the state.
The members of GTACBA alleged that time and again they have to face complaints from consumers and other parties for not following the norms.
"Starting form packaging to manufacturing, the producing agencies are not following the norms of FSSA. The tea growers do not even follow the norms of usage of pesticides, iron filling, artificial colouring of tea and packaging standards. It should be implemented at the earliest and the Tea Board should keep an eye in this regard," said Dinesh Bihani, general secretary of GTACBA.
As per the regulatory guidelines set up by Food Safety and Standard Authority of India under the Union ministry of health and family welfare, all organizations managing food and beverage operations are required to implement good hygiene practices, good manufacturing practices and fulfill the requirements of Codex Home And Community Care guidelines.
"It has become important for all food organizations to be aware about the challenges they will be facing with the enforcement of FSSA, which has come into force from August 5, 2011. According to the act, with the exception of farmers, all food business operators involved in processing, packaging, distribution, storage and transportation will come under the purview of FSSAI regulations and have to procure either license or get them registered with FSSAI as per their turnover to carry out business prior to February 4 in 2014," said Anirban Basu Majumder, research officer of Tea Board. Majumder further said the Tea Board will carry out awareness campaigns across the state for the tea associates in the next one month or so. However, GTACBA also alleged that in spite of several written complaints, the Tea Board did not respond to the problems.
Assam produces about 50 per cent of India's annual tea production of nearly 990 million kg. The British discovered tea in Assam and started farming it, making it famous across the world. Today, the state has more than 800 big tea estates and thousands of small growers. The industry employs more than 2.2 million people directly or indirectly. The cumulative tea production from nearly 69,000 small tea gardens in the state is estimated at 25 per cent of Assam's total production.
The members of GTACBA alleged that time and again they have to face complaints from consumers and other parties for not following the norms.
"Starting form packaging to manufacturing, the producing agencies are not following the norms of FSSA. The tea growers do not even follow the norms of usage of pesticides, iron filling, artificial colouring of tea and packaging standards. It should be implemented at the earliest and the Tea Board should keep an eye in this regard," said Dinesh Bihani, general secretary of GTACBA.
As per the regulatory guidelines set up by Food Safety and Standard Authority of India under the Union ministry of health and family welfare, all organizations managing food and beverage operations are required to implement good hygiene practices, good manufacturing practices and fulfill the requirements of Codex Home And Community Care guidelines.
"It has become important for all food organizations to be aware about the challenges they will be facing with the enforcement of FSSA, which has come into force from August 5, 2011. According to the act, with the exception of farmers, all food business operators involved in processing, packaging, distribution, storage and transportation will come under the purview of FSSAI regulations and have to procure either license or get them registered with FSSAI as per their turnover to carry out business prior to February 4 in 2014," said Anirban Basu Majumder, research officer of Tea Board. Majumder further said the Tea Board will carry out awareness campaigns across the state for the tea associates in the next one month or so. However, GTACBA also alleged that in spite of several written complaints, the Tea Board did not respond to the problems.
Assam produces about 50 per cent of India's annual tea production of nearly 990 million kg. The British discovered tea in Assam and started farming it, making it famous across the world. Today, the state has more than 800 big tea estates and thousands of small growers. The industry employs more than 2.2 million people directly or indirectly. The cumulative tea production from nearly 69,000 small tea gardens in the state is estimated at 25 per cent of Assam's total production.
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