Three traders fined Rs 1 lakh each for storing banned gutka

Shimla, May 31 (IANS) Three local traders were Friday fined Rs.100,000 each, the highest penalty levied so far in Himachal Pradesh, for storing banned tobacco-based products, an official said.

Shimla Municipal Corporation health official Omesh Bharti fined the traders after over 300 kg gutka (tobacco-laced areca nut pieces) and pan masala were seized from them.

They have been fined under the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006.

Bhopal 'chews'es to ignore guthka ban

The government Oct 2 last year imposed a complete ban in the state on the sale, storage, manufacture and distribution of tobacco-based products.

t was a decision executed on April 1. But nobody had thought it to be a decision taken in zest then. Intentions of the state government appeared to be genuine. For some time, there was some hype over gutkha ban.

But now, the ban on tobacco-laced gutkha appears to be a zest played on April 1, 2012 and then forgotten. In fact, the ban has turned out to be counter-productive as people used to gutkha chewing have no problem finding them but shopkeepers have an excuse to sell the product at double price.

Besides, the government must also be losing crores of tax, which would have accrued to its account if gutkha sale had not been illegal.      

In one year of 'gutkha ban', gutkha pouches earlier selling for Re 1 are being sold for Rs. 4 or 5. Moreover, customers don't get small pouches which were available in the pre-gutkha ban days and they have to purchase larger quantity of gutkha and obviously they end up consuming more gutkha and therefore, tobacco.  

Officials of food and drugs department claim that they have seized around one crore gutkha pouches in Madhya Pradesh after the ban but this number is hardly anything if compared with the daily consumption of gutkha pouches in Bhopal. It has been estimated that around 10 lakh gutkha pouches are consumed in Bhopal every day.

The stated motive of health department behind gutkha ban in the state was to reduce cases of oral cancer. However, figures of Cancer Registry of Bhopal suggest that the incidence of mouth cancer is constantly rising in the city.

The licenses of seven gutka companies of the state have been cancelled to effectively enforce the ban but there is not a single company, whose products are not available in the market.    

Food safety officer DK Verma said more than one crore gutkha pouches were seized in the state in the past one year. He said food and drugs department was working hard to stop the sale of gutkha pouches in the state.

He further said the gutkha pouches sold in Madhya Pradesh were manufactured in Uttar Pradesh but after gutkha ban was imposed in UP, sale of pouches have reduced in the state also.

Renowned oncologist Dr Shyam Agarwal said the gutkha ban of the health department was not at all effective. Introducing gutkha ban in the state has only increased the profit of gutkha sellers, he added. Only government and common people were in loss because of this ban, Dr Agarwal said.

According to Food Safety and Standards Act, if any person is found selling gutkha, penalty of
Rs. 25,000 would be charged and a case would be registered under Food Security and Standard Assessment Act. However, till now, hardly any gutkha sellers have been punished and registered under this Act.

In charge, chief medical and health officer (CMHO), Dr Upendra Dubey said from Friday, health department officials will be visiting schools and colleges to find out whether tobacco products were sold in nearby areas or not. If somebody is found selling or advertising tobacco products, he/she would be charged with penalty.

World No Tobacco Day 2013: Despite ban, use of tobacco rampant in Bihar

 PATNA: While the world observes No-Tobacco Day on Friday, Bihar earns the dubious distinction of having 53.5% of its population being tobacco consumers, the highest in the country.
Despite the state government banning gutka and paan masala containing tobacco or nicotine on this very day last year, its clandestine sale at inflated price is an open secret. However, the designated food safety officer, Ashish Kumar Singh, on Wednesday said, "What is on sale is only the old stock! The strips you see hanging are merely the paan masalas that don't have nicotine content."
Asked about the compliance report that the Supreme Court had sought on gutka ban, Singh said, "The SC only asked the states which haven't banned it till date to file their replies." However, a copy of the order which is available with the TOI clearly states, "We also direct the secretaries, health department of all the 23 states and 5 union territories to file their affidavits within four weeks on the issue of total compliance imposed on manufacturing and sale of gutka and paan masala with tobacco and/or nicotine."
Also, health secretary cum food safety commissioner Sanjay Kumar, in July last year, had asked the designated food safety officers of the state to randomly collect samples of paan masalas that claim not having nicotine and send them to lab for tests. Asked about its status, Kumar said, "The report hasn't come yet."
Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) came into effect in 2008. Section 4 of the Act prohibits smoking at public places. Section 6 (a) of the Act prohibits sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of any school. But, ask the district nodal officer of tobacco control in Patna, Dr Rajneesh Choudhary, about the number of people fined for violating the Act, and he says, "In December 2012, we received a figure of total 30 challans from different police stations."
Two months ago, Patna DM N Saravana Kumar appointed ADM (law & order) Ramesh Kumar to implement the Act. When reached for his comment, the DM candidly said, "No challans could be issued after the order. From May 31, the mechanism would start."
Also, in February last year, the ADG, CID had asked all the SSPs to include COTPA violation cases in their monthly crime meetings and send a copy to Cancer Awareness Society president TP Sinha. Sinha said Patna, like many other districts, failed to report it till April this year.
Similarly, the district education officers were asked to submit a monthly report to the education department about the Act's violation near schools. Patna failed in this regard too.
Deepak Mishra, executive director of SEEDS, which has been working in seven districts for the implementation of COTPA, says, "The day we organize a workshop in any district, challans are issued. As soon as we come back, it's all over."

Manufacture, sale of gutka may be banned in state

Bangalore, May 31, 2013:  The state government is understood to have decided to ban the manufacture and sale of gutka and panmasala.

A formal announcement in this regard is likely to be made on the occasion of World Tobacco Day on Friday.

Gutka has been banned as per the Centre’s Food Safety and Standards of India Act. Though the Union government notified the Act a year ago making it mandatory for all states to ban gutka, the state had shied away from it, apparently yielding to the pressure from arecanut growers.

However, areca growers say that the ban is being imposed due to lobbying by cigarette manufacturers.

The Health Department had put up a proposal on banning gutka soon after the Centre’s notification. But the then BJP government shelved the proposal bowing to pressure from arecanut growers. Doctors’ associations and Petitions Committee of the Legislature, too, had recommended immediate ban.

Health Minister U T Khader had earlier in the day told reporters that people, especially the youth, are badly affected due to consumption of gutka. “About 20 states have already banned gutka. We have collected data on how the consumption has been a health hazard. Besides, the Supreme Court, too, has ordered in favour of a ban. Hence, the government is seriously considering it,” he added.

The minister said arecanut growers will not be affected.

Dinakaran News

Coimbatore set for drive against pan masala

With the notification prohibiting the selling or manufacturing of ghutka, pan masala and other products containing tobacco and nicotine having been issued, Food Safety officials in the district are all set to enforce the ban announced by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in the Assembly on May 8.

Official sources told The Hindu here on Thursday that teams would be constituted to inspect shops and other places where the products were likely to be sold.

To monitor the implementation, sources said that a district level committee would be constituted with Collector as the chairperson. Other members include the Superintendent of Police, District Commercial Tax Officer, Deputy Director of Health Services, Chief Educational Officer, Corporation, and Regional Transport Officer besides the Designated Officer.

During the first meeting of this committee, sources said, the modalities for implementing the ban at the district level must be worked out. The Committee must appraise the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Commissioner of the proposed course of action in their city.

Further, all the check posts operated by the Departments of Commercial Tax, Motor Vehicles and the police would be immediately alerted to prevent vehicles carrying tobacco products.

In a circular dated May 28, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Commissioner, Kumar Jayant, has directed the Designated Officers in all districts to immediately notify all food business operators to remove these banned products within a month, failing which the stocks would be seized and destroyed.

Besides educating all local food business operators on this ban and its provisions, the Commissioner had also directed all the Designated Officers of the Administration to prepare a list of all the places were these banned products were manufactured, stored, distributed and sold.

Mr. Jayant also warned the Designated Officers not to harass the food business operators or misuse the provisions of the ban and implement it smoothly.

Concern over sinking of borewells

The Public Awareness Association of Udhagamandalam has expressed concern over the indiscriminate sinking of bore wells in various parts of the district.

At a meeting of the association held here on Wednesday, participants regretted that on account of bore wells being sunk with scant regard to the laws of nature, many of the regular wells have dried up.

The need to carry out surprise inspections to check the quality of bottled water being sold or served in this holiday destination was also stressed.

The meeting lamented that notwithstanding objections from various sections of the society, work on converting a marshland near the Central Bus Stand here into a parking lot has started.

Officials of the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department should go all out to weed out the thriving practice of selling artificially-ripened fruits.

The meeting condemned the callous outlook of officials and elected representatives towards civic problems like sewage overflowing on the main roads, particularly near the ATC bus stand and the Goods Shed Road.

The Government Higher Secondary School ground should be maintained properly. The library constructed with Hill Area Development Programme (HADP) funds at Bombay Castle should be opened. The maintenance of the Guinness Park on the outskirts of Ooty should be handed over to the Department of Horticulture. A dialysis unit should be set up at the Government Headquarters Hospital. Association president G. Janardhanan presided.

Mid-day meal woes continue, samples fail test, DHO to try again

Issues regarding the quality of mid-day meal served continue as the samples of 'curry' collected by the district health department on May 2 from Government Middle School, New Subhash Nagar, have been declared 'unsafe', as per the report released by Punjab Food Analysts Lab in Chandgarh on Thursday.
The 'rice' samples, which were found infested with pests, have 'passed' the test. Food Safety Officer Harpreet Kaur questioned how the 'pest-infected rice' passed the test. "Our work is to collect samples and send. The report from Chandigarh states that the rice sample passed the test, while the curry failed," Kaur said.
Commenting on what action will be taken against the contractor who prepares the meals, she said, "A notice and warning letter have been issued against him, but legal action will be taken only after the reports of the other 16 samples that were taken on Thursday is received".
The samples taken by the district health officer on Thursday include 10 from central kitchen, Sherpur Kalan, and six from other schools. It is being reportedly seen as an eyewash to save the contractor from action that will be taken against him after the curry samples failed the test.

Manufacture, sale of gutka may be banned in state

Bangalore, DHNS:May 30, 2013

 The state government is understood to have decided to ban the manufacture and sale of gutka and panmasala.

A formal announcement in this regard is likely to be made on the occasion of World Tobacco Day on Friday.

Gutka has been banned as per the Centre’s Food Safety and Standards of India Act. Though the Union government notified the Act a year ago making it mandatory for all states to ban gutka, the state had shied away from it, apparently yielding to the pressure from arecanut growers.

However, areca growers say that the ban is being imposed due to lobbying by cigarette manufacturers.

The Health Department had put up a proposal on banning gutka soon after the Centre’s notification. But the then BJP government shelved the proposal bowing to pressure from arecanut growers. Doctors’ associations and Petitions Committee of the Legislature, too, had recommended immediate ban.

Health Minister U T Khader had earlier in the day told reporters that people, especially the youth, are badly affected due to consumption of gutka. “About 20 states have already banned gutka. We have collected data on how the consumption has been a health hazard. Besides, the Supreme Court, too, has ordered in favour of a ban. Hence, the government is seriously considering it,” he added.

The minister said arecanut growers will not be affected.

Samples of mid-day meal collected from schools

Ludhiana, May 30
A team of health officials today collected 16 samples of mid-day meal from central kitchen at Sherpur Kalan and three government schools.
Food safety officer Harpreet Kaur said,"We collected 10 samples of cooked rice, cooked daal, raw rice, flour, besan powder, pulses, black grams and cumin from the central kitchen yesterday. The samples have been sent for testing. If these fail test, action will be taken under the Food Safety Act under."
The officials today collected samples of mid-day meal food from government schools.
Harpreet Kaur said,"We collected six samples of curry and rice from Government Senior Secondary School, Sekhewal, Government Primary School, Tarakh Karabara, and Government High School, Jamalpur Awana."
The health department told Sanjay Dhawan, manager of central kitchen, Sherpur Kalan, to get a licence issued under the Food Safety and Standard Act. He was also
directed him to depute a special cook, use more ghee while preparing daal, follow dress code and wear footwear while preparing food.

State Govt to tighten noose on public smokers

On an average, Just about two smokers are challaned a day in all over Punjab. Official statistics reveal that in month on January, only 1408 challans were issued to smokers in 20 districts of Punjab under Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003.
Among the highest violators of the COPTA Act, applicable to all products containing tobacco in any form, are the districts of Hoshiarpur, followed by Sangrur and Amritsar.
The situation emerged to be unfit as compared to the previous as a total of 13,090 violators were challaned in 2012. And with already 1,408 challans in a month, the total figure seemed to be much higher.
“This is because we have set up task forces in districts, and also state and district level monitoring committees to take stock of the situation, and keep the tobacco use under control,” a senior official of the state health department told The Pioneer, requesting anonymity.
Citing “easily availability” of gutka or pan masala and other chewable tobacco products in the market in small pouches of Rs one each, official maintained that there’s lot to be done to make Punjab a tobacco-free State.
Despite imposing ban on the sale of tobacco products or any other food products containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients across the State, the State Government is clambering to make the entire State “tobacco free” — as decided
 in 2012. Blame it on the “loopholes” in the Tobacco Control Act, or failure of the State Government, the State Government’s efforts to check the use of tobacco has been tuned out.
In the districts, where sale and consumption of gutkha and pan masala were banned since long — Ropar, Amritsar, Mohali, and Mansa — as many as 91, 222, 91, and 25 violators were challaned.
A Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) revealed that Punjab has 12 per cent tobacco use, with 6.5 percent adults and less than one per cent of women chewing tobacco products. The survey also revealed that in Punjab, 7.7 cigarettes were smoked daily, which is quite less.
“Centre is helping us in our tobacco control programme, and we are declaring several districts as tobacco free with Centre’s help. Already, Ropar, Mohali, Amritsar, and Mansa have been declared tobacco free. On State-level function at Nawanshahr on the World Tobacco Day, we are going to declare Gurdaspur, Nawanshahr, and Sangrur as tobacco free districts,” Punjab Health Director Dr Ashok Nayyar told The Pioneer.
He maintained that District Task Forces and district monitoring committees are working well in some districts, including Amritsar, Mohali, Nawanshahr; while some need little improvement.
District Task Forces have been set up by the authorities to act against any person who commits any offence under Tobacco Control Act and its provisions at any public place. It comprise Deputy Commissioner or his
representative, the SSP or his representative not below the rank of DSP, Civil Surgeon or District level Nodal Officer of the Tobacco Control Program, Drug Inspectors, Food Inspectors, District Attorney, along with one local NGO or social activist or the religious leader.
Besides, the State and district level monitoring committees, to evaluate the anti tobacco laws, and activities regarding educating the people about ill effects of tobacco use, have also been set up.
The State monitoring committee is headed by Health Secretary as chairman, with Director Health and Family Welfare as its secretary. The representative of DGP, Food safety commissioner, and State drug controller are its members.
At district level, concerned DC is the chairman, with SSP, district public relation officer, drug inspector, and food inspector as its members.
“We are facing many challenges, but have improved upon at many aspects. We hope that our aim to declare the State tobacco free, in a real sense, be fulfilled soon.
“There is a dire need to strict implement Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, by the District Food Safety Officers. We are also making the people aware, sensitising them through multimedia,” a official of the health department said.

Rs 4L tobacco products seized

Rajahmundry: As the state imposed ban on sale of tobacco products like khaini, pan masala and others containing either tobacco or nicotine as main ingredients, the sellers are selling such products by dubious means under different names claiming to be 100 per cent  tobacco-free products to evade the vigil of the law enforcing authorities and to make good money in East Godavari district.
Acting on a tip-off from the railway parcel authorities about a consignment of tobacco products arrived from Visakhapatnam to Rajahmundry, the food safety authorities carried out search operation and found several sachets of khaini bundled in a pack with a label passed on it claiming to be a product of Raja Premium Tobacco. The product is manufactured by a Delhi-based firm M/s Lokenath Prasad Gupta while Visakhapatnam-based wholesale firm Deepa Traders is supplying to the retailers based on their indent.
The huge consignment having 1,000 boxes stored in a residential area near ILTD Junction was seized by the food safety authorities here on Thursday. Each box contains 21 sachets of khaini and each sachet contains six grams of khaini to be sold at Rs 3.
The authorities maintain that the market value of the seized material will between Rs 3.5-4 lakhs. They booked a case under the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 section 30 (2) (a) against Deepa Traders sales in-charge D. Krishna Rao and its proprietor Sridhar. The authorities have collected samples of the product and they will be sent for analysis to the food analyst at state food laboratory in Hyderabad.
If the product contains tobacco, the case will be taken up at the joint collector’s court for adjudication and the trader will be penalised. The authorities seized five bundles of similar stocks at SVG Market of Pidimgoyyi panchayat near the city on May 27 and booked the trader Jyothi Enterprises.
The food safety authorities express concern by saying that the manufacturers of such products are supplying them with false claims on their labels to evade the law. Food inspector B.V.S.R.K. Prasad said, “We are going to step up vigil to keep a tab on transport and sale of such banned tobacco products. We will write a letter to the railway authorities to keep a check on transport of such products.” 

State likely to ban gutka in battle against tobacco

Today is World No Tobacco Day

Waking up to the alarming increase in tobacco addiction, the State government is likely to impose a ban on gutka, joining the group of 25 States and five Union Territories that have already banned it.

Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader told reporters on the eve of World No Tobacco Day that a decision on the matter was likely to be taken in the next four weeks. “It is mandatory for us to ban gutka now as we also have to submit a compliance report to the Supreme Court in the next four weeks. After we take a decision, we will submit it as the compliance report to the court,” he said.

The ban, if imposed, will be under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011, which prohibits the use of nicotine and tobacco in any food product (2.3.4). These regulations have been framed based on the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Besides, with the Supreme Court ruling that pan masala is a food product, State governments have been compelled to impose the ban.

The debate on a ban on gutka has been on for a long time. In April 2011, the then Special Secretary to the Union Health Ministry, Keshav Desiraju, had written to Karnataka’s Principal Secretary (Health) E.V. Ramana Reddy advising the State Government to consider imposing the ban.

Allaying fears that the ban would hit arecanut growers and tobacco farmers hard, the Minister said that the ban, if imposed, would be only on gutka and not on arecanut (supari).

“If we open a gutka packet, we find more of other ingredients (chemicals) and less of supari. If the ban has not affected farmers in other States, I am sure it will not have any effect here,” Mr. Khader said.

Faculty members from the Institute of Public Health, who have been arguing for the ban for several years, have welcomed the move.

“We submitted another detailed letter to the State government’s high power committee on tobacco control on May 21 explaining reasons for the ban. We want the government to ban tobacco in all forms, otherwise it will not be possible to implement gutka ban effectively,” said Upendra Bhojani from the institute.

Gutka ban comes into effect

Just ahead of World No Tobacco Day (on Friday), the State government issued a formal notification to implement the ban on manufacture, sale, storage, and distribution of gutka and pan masala in the State.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa made an announcement on the floor of the Assembly during the budget session that the government would implement a comprehensive ban on gutka and pan masala.

The notification was issued on May 23 by the Commissioner for Food Safety, the key implementing agency.Following the rules of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the notification says that in the interest of public health, the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of not only pan masala and gutka, but also “any other food products containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients, by whatsoever name it is available in the market.” The notification is valid in all of Tamil Nadu for a period of one year.

Guidelines are being framed for the same.

Gazette notification declares gutkha sale illegal for a year



According to the May 23 notification, manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of any food products containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients, by whatsoever name it is available in the market, has also been prohibited. | EPS

The Health and Food Welfare Department’s order prohibiting the manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of gutkha and pan masala for one year has been notified in the gazette.
According to the May 23 notification, manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of any food products containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients, by whatsoever name it is available in the market, has also been prohibited.
The ban is in conformity with the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011 made by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. As per the regulation, tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food product. The notification said gutkha and pan masala are food products in which tobacco and nicotine are widely used as ingredients and it is expedient to prohibit these in Tamil Nadu.
Announcing the decision to ban gutkha and pan masala in the Assembly on May 8, the Chief Minister said that it was being done to prevent cancer caused by the consumption of these items. She also recalled that the previous AIADMK government headed by her had banned the sale of gutkha and pan masala on November 19, 2001 for five years under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act. However, the Supreme Court, while hearing the case relating to this ban on August 2, 2004, had cancelled the notification issued by the Tamil Nadu government and some other States. The SC had said the powers to ban such goods lie with the Central.
Later, the Central government enacted the Food Safety and Standards Act in 2006 and the legislation came into force from August 5, 2011 across the country.

Pesticide residue management cell under Delhi's food safety chief soon

Following the Delhi High Court’s recent suo motu notice asking food regulators to check the percentage of pesticide residue in fruits and vegetables sold in the national capital, an Expert Panel has recommended the formation of Pesticide Residue Management Cell  under the Food Safety Commissioner Delhi to monitor and check the menace.

The matter is now listed for August 17 when the court will take a decision on the issue.

Sources with the Expert Panel told that for this, the panel has suggested for taking APMC Delhi in the loop as it handles the trade of fruits and vegetables and is equipped with a lab facility.
“APMC has a major role to play as it handles the trade of fruits and vegetables and has responsibility for the quality of agri produce,” the member said.

The panel also suggested intensifying the checking and sampling of collection of fruits and vegetables and expansion of lab facilities in the city to regulate and monitor the level of pesticide residue level on a regular basis.

Experts feel that the court would take a decision on August 17, only by then the formalities of settling up the cell would commence.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Rajendra Sharma, chairman, Delhi APMC, said that he would comply by the decision taken by the court. He told that there was a lab facility near Vidhan Sabha, which did the sample collection on daily basis to see the levels of pesticide residue.

“Let us see what the court has to say. There is already a mechanism in place involving experts,” he said.

Earlier survey
Pesticides are still being used to protect fruit and vegetables from insect attacks three years after a survey by Consumer Voice, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), revealed that the fruit and vegetables being sold in markets in New Delhi are a cocktail of pesticides. The failure of the government and the regulatory authorities to take action against the culprits has become very evident.

Some of these pesticides have, in fact, been banned, because they are capable of doing more harm in the long run than merely affecting the soil. A host of side-effects as loss of weight and appetite, irritability and insomnia, behavioural disorders, and diseases such as skin problems cancer, heart disease, infertility and ailments affecting the liver, kidneys, lungs and the nervous system are on the rise owing to the cultivation and consumption of the pesticide-laden fruit and vegetables.

Ashok Kanchan, advisor (technical), Consumer Voice, confirmed this, stating, “We undertook a study and came up with a report on the presence of pesticides in fruit and vegetables which cause cancers in November 2010. But even after three years, no action has been taken by the government and food regulators against those involved in the malpractice.”

Consumer Voice's report
During its November 2010 survey, Consumer Voice tested 193 samples of 35 vegetables. These did not only fall foul of the Indian standards, but also violated the stringent standards laid down by the European Union (EU). Tests revealed the presence of banned pesticides such as chlordane, endrin and ethyl parathion in bitter gourd and heptachor in spinach.

The NGO also conducted tests on fresh seasonal vegetables to assess the level of pesticides in them. While some samples were purchased from five different localities of New Delhi, others were bought from other metropolitan cities across the country. In the capital, the retail outlets chosen were situated near the five mandis (wholesale markets), to which fresh vegetables are transported in bulk. These fresh vegetables are then transported to various retail outlets across the city for sale.

Box needed (to be taken from the report)

The survey by NGO Consumer Voice on pesticides in vegetables revealed the following:

Objectives of the study on pesticides in vegetables

• To examine the total level of pesticides used in the individual vegetable as per the maximum residue limit (MRL) of permitted pesticides;
• To identify the quantity of the level of pesticides used in the fresh vegetables;
• To identify pesticides which are banned due to their potential toxicity impacts;
• To spread awareness among consumers on presence of pesticides in fresh vegetables and their possible toxic effects, and
• To allay fear and anxiety prevailing in consumers’ minds about safety of daily items of consumption

Names of the pesticides tested (box)

Table of EU violations of vegetables at glance (to be taken from the report)

Comparison of Indian and EU maximum residue limit (MRL) of some pesticides in vegetables

Table of violations as per EU standards of pesticides found in the tested vegetables

Legal provisions
Section 21 of the Food Safety and Standard Act (FSSA), 2006 states that:
No article of food shall contain insecticide or pesticide residues, veterinary drug residues, antibiotic residues, solvent residues, pharmacological active substances and micro-biological counts in excess of such tolerance limits as may be specified by the regulations, and

No insecticide shall be used directly on articles of food, except fumigants registered and approved under the Insecticides Act, 1968.

Imprisonment and fine
Section 50 of the Food Safety and Standard Act-2006 states that any person who sells to the purchaser's prejudice any food which is not in compliance with the provisions of this Act, or the regulations made thereunder, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding Rs 5 lakh, and

Whoever uses an insecticide in contravention of any provisions of the Insecticides Act, 1968, or any rule made thereunder, shall be punishable with upto six months imprisonment and a fine ranging between Rs 500 and Rs 5,000

Reasons for the pesticide menace

• Indiscriminate use of chemical pesticide;
• Lack of awareness on the part of farmers with regards to judicious use of chemical pesticides;
• Non-observance of prescribed waiting periods, incorrect application techniques, more use of recommended dosages;
• Use of sub-standard pesticides, and
• Wrong advice to farmers by pesticides dealers

Consumer Voice's report on pesticides in fruit
In tropical countries like India, the possibility of damage is high due to the hot and humid weather. In order to examine and assess the level of various pesticides present in fruit, Consumer Voice conducted tests for pesticides in fresh seasonal fruit.

Box needed (to be taken from the report)
Objectives of the study on pesticides in fruit

• Identify and quantity of the level of pesticides used in fresh fruit;
• Examine the total level of pesticides used in the individual fruits as per maximum residual limit (MRL) of permitted pesticides;
• Identify pesticides which are banned due to their potential toxicity impacts, and
• Spread awareness among the consumers and society on presence of pesticides in fresh fruits and possible toxic effects

Box needed on voilations as per EU and Indian standards of pesticides found in the tested fruit (to be taken from the report)

Box on comparison of Indian and Codex maximum residue limit (MRL) of some pesticides in fruits

Comparison of Indian and European Union (MRL) of some pesticides in fruit

Remedies to minimise pesticides impact on human health

• Education to farmers about the judicious use of chemical pesticides and adopting good agricultural practices and ill-effects of indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides
• Awareness about the harmful effects of chemical pesticides, especially to farmers as they and their families would be exposed to it first
• Monitoring and re-evaluation of the pesticide residue limit in the food chain by the ministry of health and family welfare
• Reviewing and reduction of the pesticide residue limits by the government
• Increasing the punishment besides fines, incorporating stringent provisions of punishment to all offenders in the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006, including manufacturers, importers, dealers, retailers and farmers, and
• Use of bio-pesticides to be encouraged. To encourage the use of bio-pesticides, farmers should be given assistance/subsidies by the government.

Effect of pesticides
Bhopal gas tragedy
In 1984, the Bhopal gas tragedy occurred when the Union Carbide plant released 40 tonne of methyl isocyanate gas, a chemical intermediate in the synthesis of some pesticides. The disaster immediately killed nearly 3,000 people and ultimately caused at least 15,000 deaths.

Kerala's endosulfan disaster
The chemical endosulfan came into spotlight in Kasargod, Kerala. It was sprayed aerially and the local populations of many villages were exposed to it. What followed was very shocking. It led to physical and mental defects in poor farmers and their families.

Studies have shown endosulfan to accumulate in mother's breast milk, and it has been linked to birth defects such as cleft lip, the likes of which are still being observed at Kasaragod. Endosulfan is mainly used in apples, grapes, pears, peaches and other fruit.

A day after gutka ban order, sale thrives

Chennai:A day after a government order was issued banning sale of gutka and paan masala “with immediate effect”, petty shops made a killing, selling stuff under the table for a premium. Incidentally, May 31 is World No Tobacco Day.
    Chief minister J Jayalalithaa announced the ban on May 8 in the assembly, but as it had not come into effect immediately, no action was initiated against violators. The government order prohibiting their manufacture, transporation, stocking and sale in the state came on Wednesday. On Thursday, TOI found the sale of gutka and paan masala thriving across the city.
    A regular gutka buyer in Teynampet said, “I don’t think there will be a decrease in the sale of these tobacco products. Customers continue to buy them as they are addictive. The ban will only increase their price. A vendor in Mylapore said gutka was out of stock, but for regular customers he sources it from a supplier. In the wake of the ban, vendors in most localities have stopped displaying these products on the counter, but they suddenly materialize when requested.
    Sources in the food safety department said they had not seized or destroyed any packet of gutka or paan masala in the city after the ban came into effect. “We will give a month to the manufactures to stop production. But storage, distribution and sale will be banned immediately. We will start raids from Thursday onwards,” said afood safety official.
    With the theme for this year’s World No Tobacco Day being ‘ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship’, medical expe-rts feel that this may be an opportunity for stakeholders to bring strong advocacies on the policy front.
    “Implementing the ban in every possible way would help reduce preventable deaths due to tobacco. Instead of merely banning advertising of tobacco, the state should take up campaigns that portrayed the dangers of it,” said Dr T Raja of Apollo Specialty Hospital.

BAN AND THE BUSINESS: Despite a ban, gutka is being sold in stalls across the city on the eve of World No Tobacco Day

TNFS Dept. - Villupuram Dist. News

கல் வைத்து பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட 10 டன் மாம்பழங்கள் பறிமுதல்

விழுப்புரம்: விழுப்புரத்தில் கார்பைட் கல் வைத்து பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்டு விற்பனைக்காக வைத்திருந்த 10 டன் மாம்பழங்களை அதிகாரிகள் பறிமுதல் செய்து அழித்திருப்பது அதிர்ச்சியை ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளது. விழுப்புரத்தில் மாம்பழங்களை வாங்கி சாப்பிடவுடன் வயிற்று வலியும், வயிற்று போக்கும் ஏற்படுவதாகவும் புகார் எழுந்தது. இந்நிலையில் பொதுமக்கள் பலர் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகளுக்கு இது குறித்து புகார்களை அனுப்பியுள்ளனர். அதையடுத்து, இன்று காலை விழுப்புரம் எம்.ஜி.சாலையில் உள்ள மாம்பழ கடைகளை அதிகாரிகள் சோதனை செய்தனர். அப்போது, ஆறு கடைகளில் கார்பைட் கல் வைத்து பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட 10 டன் மாம்பழங்களை அதிகாரிகள் பறிமுதல் செய்து அழித்தனர். மேலும் மாம்பழங்களை பழுக்க வைக்க பயன்படுத்திய ஐந்து கிலே கார்பைட் கல்லையும் அதிகாரிகள் பறிமுதல் செய்தனர். இந்த ஆறு கடைகளும் பழங்களை மொத்தமாக விற்பனை செய்யும் கடைகள். இந்த கடைகளில் இருந்து தான் சுற்றியுள்ள அனைத்து சில்லரை விற்பனையாளர்களும் மாம்பழங்களை வாங்கி சென்று விற்பனை செய்வது வழக்கம். உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரி ஆறுமுகம் நம்மிடம், தற்போது விழுப்புரத்தில் 6 மொத்த விற்பனை கடைகளில் சோதனை நடத்தி கார்பைட் கல் வைத்து பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட மாம்பழங்களை பறிமுதல் செய்து அழித்துள்ளோம். அதேபோல் சில்லறையில் பழங்களை விற்பனை செய்யும் பழக் கடைகளிலும் சோதனை செய்ய இருக்கிறோம் என்றார். மேலும், ‘‘கார்பைட் கல் வைத்து பழுக்க வைக்கப்பட்ட மாம்பழங்கள் கருப்பாகவும், தோல் சுருங்கியும், தண்ணீர் வடிந்தும் இருக்கும். இப்படிப்பட்ட மாம்பழங்களை பார்த்தவுடன் பொது மக்கள் உஷாராக வேண்டும். மாம்பழங்களை சாப்பிட்டவுடன் வயிறு வலி ஏற்பட்டால் சூடு என்பார்கள். வயிறு வலிக்கு சூடு காரணமில்லை, கார்பைட் கல் தான் காரணம். மாம்பழங்களை ஒரு மணி நேரம் தண்ணீரின் ஊற வைத்துவிட்டு பிறகு சாப்பிட்டால், கார்பைர் கல்லின் பாதிப்பு குறைவாக இருக்கும்’’ என்றார்.

தமிழ்நாடு முழுவதும் குட்கா, பான்மசாலாவுக்கு தடை அமலுக்கு வந்தது

 

சென்னை

தமிழ்நாட்டில் குட்கா, பான் மசாலா போன்ற சுவைக்கும் புகையிலை பொருட்களை தயாரிக்கவும், சேமித்து வைக்கவும், வினியோகிக்கவும், விற்பனை செய்யவும் தடை விதிக்கப்படும் என்று கடந்த 8–ந்தேதி சட்டசபையில் முதல்–அமைச்சர் ஜெயலலிதா அறிவித்தார். பேரவை விதி எண் 110–ன் கீழ் ஓர் அறிக்கையை படித்த முதல்–அமைச்சர், புகையிலையால் ஏற்படும் பல்வேறு வகையான புற்று நோய்களை தடுக்கும் வகையில் குட்கா, பான் மசாலா போன்ற சுவைக்கும் புகையிலை பொருட்களுக்கு தடை விதிக்க அரசு முடிவு செய்திருப்பதாக அப்போது தெரிவித்தார்.

இந்த நிலையில், முதல்–அமைச்சர் ஜெயலலிதாவின் அறிவிப்பை தொடர்ந்து, குட்கா, பான் மசாலாவுக்கு தடை விதித்து அரசு பிறப்பித்த உத்தரவு நேற்று வெளியிடப்பட்டது.

உடல்நலத்திற்கு கேடு

இதுதொடர்பாக உணவு பாதுகாப்பு ஆணையர் குமார் ஜெயந்த் வெளியிட்டுள்ள உத்தரவில் கூறப்பட்டு இருப்பதாவது:– இந்திய உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் தர ஆணையத்தின் விதிமுறைகளின்படி, புகையிலை மற்றும் நிகோடின் ஆகியவை உடல் நலத்திற்கு கேடு விளைவிக்கும் என்பதால் அவற்றை எந்த ஒரு உணவு பொருளிலும் சேர்க்கக்கூடாது. குட்காவும், பான் மசாலாவும் புகையிலை மற்றும் நிக்கோடின் சேர்க்கப்படும் உணவு பொருளாக உள்ளன. எனவே, குட்காவுக்கும், பான்மசாலாவுக்கும் உடனடியாக தடை விதிக்க வேண்டியது அவசர அவசியமாகிறது.

அமலுக்கு வந்தது

எனவே, பொதுமக்களின் உடல்நலனை கருத்தில் கொண்டு, தமிழ்நாட்டில் குட்கா, பான் மசாலா மற்றும் புகையிலை, நிக்கோடின் இடம்பெறும் இதர உணவு பொருட்கள் எந்த பெயரில் சந்தையில் இருந்தாலும் அவற்றை தயாரிக்கவும், சேமித்து வைக்கவும், வினியோகிக்கவும், விற்பனை செய்யவும் இந்த உத்தரவு வெளியான நாள் முதல் ஓராண்டுக்கு தடை விதிக்கப்படுகிறது. இவ்வாறு அந்த உத்தரவில் கூறப்பட்டு உள்ளது.

அரசு உத்தரவு நேற்று வெளியிடப்பட்டதை தொடர்ந்து இந்த உத்தரவு நேற்று முதல் அமலுக்கு வந்துள்ளது. இந்த உத்தரவு ஓராண்டுக்கு அமலில் இருக்கும். இது தொடர்பாக, உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரி ஒருவர் கூறியதாவது:–

பான்மசாலா விற்பனைக்கு தடை

முதல்–அமைச்சர் ஜெயலலிதா அறிவித்திருந்தபடி, தமிழ்நாட்டில் பான்மசாலா, குட்கா விற்பனை செய்வதற்கான தடை உடனடியாக அமலுக்கு வருகிறது. இதற்கான உத்தரவு நேற்று இரவு அரசு பிறப்பித்து உள்ளது. வியாபாரிகள் தங்கள் கையிருப்பில் உள்ள பான்மசாலா, குட்காவை அகற்றுவதற்கு ஒரு மாத காலஅவகாசம் அளிக்கப்படுகிறது. அதற்குள் சரக்குகளை அகற்றி விடவேண்டும். அதையும் மீறி கையிருப்பில் வைத்து இருந்தால், அவற்றை அதிகாரிகள் பறிமுதல் செய்வார்கள். அத்துடன் சம்பந்தப்பட்ட வியாபாரிகள், கடைக்காரர்கள் மீது சட்டப்படியான நடவடிக்கை மேற்கொள்ளப்படும். இவ்வாறு உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை உயர் அதிகாரி தெரிவித்தார்