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Jun 28, 2013
Food business licensing procedures go online
New process:A view of the page in the Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India website that food business operators must use to
apply online for licence.
All firms must get licence before February 4, 2014
The Tamil Nadu Food Safety Department has taken online the licensing
procedures for food businesses in the State. The food business operators
can now apply or renew licences without ever having to come to any
office of the Food Safety Department.
Official sources told
The Hindu
here on Thursday that Tamil Nadu was the ninth State in the country to take the licensing procedures online.
This
step had been mandated by the Food Safety and Standards Act. The online
facility was launched by State Food Safety Commissioner Kumar Jayanth
in Chennai on Tuesday.
Sources said that the Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India, a statutory body that implemented the Act,
would conduct training programmes for food business operators on the
new procedure. Officials here said that they would assist the applicants
during the initial period with the online application process.
Licence
was mandatory for all food business concerns with an annual turnover of
above Rs. 12 lakh. At present, 2,156 firms in Coimbatore had obtained
licences, an official said, adding that the total number of food
business firms here would be around 8,500. All the firms must get
licences before February 4, 2014.
According to the officials, Form
B application, submitted for getting the licence, would no longer be
issued in paper form and could be obtained only online.
Applicants
would have to go to the website www.fssai.gov.in and choose the option
‘Food Licensing & Registration System (FLRS)’ to commence the
process. Once the Form B was submitted, the applicants would have to
remit the requisite fee to the treasury, scan the receipts and other
relevant documents such as identify proofs and upload them to the
website.
However, a senior official said that for this step alone,
applicants also have option of sending the documents and receipt
through registered post to the Designated Officer of Tamil Nadu Food
Safety and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety Wing) in the
district.
After this, Food Safety Officers will conduct the
physical inspection and would submit their reports online. All the 32
Food Safety Officers in Coimbatore district had been issued with an
internet-enabled tablet for the purpose.
Once their reports were scrutinised by the Designated Officer concerned, the applicant would be issued Form C or the licence.
The
applicant could track the status of the application during any stage of
the process through an Application Reference Number. If any
clarifications were needed, the applicant would get an email
automatically.
1,000 kg of gutka, pan masala seized
BannedThe stash was found in homes in Ayanavaram and Vadapalani.
Officials burnt all the products at the Kodungaiyur dumping yard
Over 1,000 kg of chewable tobacco products stored
clandestinely in various houses in Ayanavaram and Vadapalani were seized
on Thursday.
A massive raid conducted by the food
safety department, with assistance from the Chennai Corporation and the
police, led to the seizure of gutka and pan masala, which are banned,
carcinogenic products.
Since the ban came into effect
in May, the food safety department has cracked down on business units
that sell the products. To circumvent this, wholesalers began storing
products in residential properties, officials said.
On
Thursday evening, 1,060 kg of the products were destroyed at the
Kodungaiyur dumping yard. However, so far, no legal action has been
taken against the wholesalers.
Officials said the
screening of retail and wholesale shops will continue, but four teams of
25 officials each have also been asked to search houses connected to
those in the business. “We are now educating food business operators,
including 56 wholesalers in Chennai district. The raids will continue
daily,” said S. Lakshmi Narayanan, designated officer of the department.
A
chunk of the wholesale dealers operate from Sowcarpet and T. Nagar. An
official on one of the teams said that while retailers have taken the
products off their shelves, they continue to sell them clandestinely.
“We have to educate proprietors at all such outlets,” he said.
Since
the ban is only for products that contain tobacco, officials said
businesses that sold pan masala or gutka could get their products tested
in accredited laboratories. If the products did not contain tobacco,
they could be sold. “Pan masala mixed with tobacco or nicotine is
banned. The regular kind can be sold,” said Dr. Narayanan.
The
State government banned the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale
of carcinogenic chewable forms of tobacco based on a proposal submitted
by the State Tobacco Control Cell.
The present ban
is legally tenable as it relies on the Food Safety and Standards Act,
which has provisions to prevent tobacco and nicotine from being used as
ingredients in food.
Drive against tobacco products to be intensified
Five teams of officials from the Food Safety Department,
which have been formed to seize tobacco products such as pan masala and
gutka from dealers, will intensify their exercise from Friday.
The State Government has banned production, possession, distribution and sale of these products.
It was notified in the gazette on May 23 and traders were given time till June 22 to remove all these products.
The five teams will work as per the direction of M. Kavikumar, Designated Officer, Food Safety Wing.
Collector
T.N.Hariharan said those who witnessed the sale or purchase of these
goods could contact the following numbers 9443268149 or 04562252255 for
action.
HC pulls up govt for non-implementation of Food Safety Act
Directs Chief Secretary To File Response Or Appear In Person
Srinagar, June 27: Expressing displeasure for taking its
directions on a Public Interest Litigation seeking to curb food
adulteration in a ‘casual manner’, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on
Thursday directed the Chief Secretary to ensure the implementation of
the directions or appear before the court on the next date of hearing on
August 2.
A division bench of High Court comprising the Chief Justice M M Kumar and Justice D S Thakur passed the direction on a PIL filed by Advocate Sheikh Muhammad Ayoub seeking implementation of Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006 and Food Safety and Standard Rules, 2011.
“Official respondents are taking the directions issued by this court in a casual manner therefore while granting time as per the prayer made by the respondents, we direct the Chief Secretary to ensure the directions are carried to the hilt” the division bench said.
It said if the directions are not implemented within four weeks granted, the Chief Secretary would appear in person before the court on the next date of hearing.
The court has passed several directions to the state government to implement Food Safety and Standard Act and Food Safety and Standard Rules hitherto.
Earlier the court had directed the state government to collect samples of spices, manufactured by factories and/or industrial units in the state, on weekly basis for laboratory testing. The Court directed the government to punish those found indulging in adulteration.
The Court said the samples should be sent to the concerned laboratories in accordance with the mandate contained in the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006.
In order to maintain food standards in their respective districts, the Court had directed all the District Magistrates to “closely monitor the functioning of the authorities responsible to maintain food standards in their districts.” The DMs were directed to convene fortnightly meetings of all officers for this purpose.
The court directed the government to take necessary steps for making provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act effective and visible on the ground level. The petitioners were represented by advocates S M Ayub and T H Khawaja while SAAG, J A Kawoosa defended the state.
A division bench of High Court comprising the Chief Justice M M Kumar and Justice D S Thakur passed the direction on a PIL filed by Advocate Sheikh Muhammad Ayoub seeking implementation of Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006 and Food Safety and Standard Rules, 2011.
“Official respondents are taking the directions issued by this court in a casual manner therefore while granting time as per the prayer made by the respondents, we direct the Chief Secretary to ensure the directions are carried to the hilt” the division bench said.
It said if the directions are not implemented within four weeks granted, the Chief Secretary would appear in person before the court on the next date of hearing.
The court has passed several directions to the state government to implement Food Safety and Standard Act and Food Safety and Standard Rules hitherto.
Earlier the court had directed the state government to collect samples of spices, manufactured by factories and/or industrial units in the state, on weekly basis for laboratory testing. The Court directed the government to punish those found indulging in adulteration.
The Court said the samples should be sent to the concerned laboratories in accordance with the mandate contained in the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006.
In order to maintain food standards in their respective districts, the Court had directed all the District Magistrates to “closely monitor the functioning of the authorities responsible to maintain food standards in their districts.” The DMs were directed to convene fortnightly meetings of all officers for this purpose.
The court directed the government to take necessary steps for making provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act effective and visible on the ground level. The petitioners were represented by advocates S M Ayub and T H Khawaja while SAAG, J A Kawoosa defended the state.
Govt taking our directions on FSSA in ‘casual manner’: HC
CS asked to carry orders ‘to the hilt’ or appear before court
Srinagar: The J&K High Court on Thursday criticised the government
for taking its orders regarding implementation of Food Safety and
Standard Act 2006 (FSSA) in a “casual manner” and directed the Chief
Secretary to ensure its various directions are “carried to the hilt.”
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation, a bench of Chief Justice, Justice MM Kumar and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur, made it clear that if the needful was not done by August 2, the Chief Secretary shall appear in person on the next date of hearing.
As soon as the hearing in the PIL, which seeks complete implementation of FSSA, began on Thursday senior Additional Advocate General JA Kawoosa moved an application for granting eight weeks more to file status report about the directions issued by the court last month.
However, before allowing the prayer made by the Senior AAG, the court sought details about the measures taken for the implementation of the FSSA.
The bench said that various directions were passed by the court in its orders on December 31 last and May 25 this year for government to comply with.
On December 31, as many as six directions were issued by the court and government was required to file a detailed status report by second week of February, the court said. “However no status report with regard to steps taken for making the provisions of the FSSA effective and visible on the ground has been filed,” the bench said. “Nor necessary staff has been made available to constitute service in terms of the Act, so as to avoid any confusion in its implementation.”
The bench observed that there was also nothing on record regarding lifting of samples on weekly basis from all factories and industrial units which manufacture and produce spices of all kinds.
Besides, in its orders on December 31, the court had directed government to test milk sold in the open market; district magistrates to closely monitor functioning of the authorities responsible for maintaining food standards in their respective districts; to inform it about number of slaughter houses in each district; and lastly it had asked government to provide information about the result of samples referred for testing in the past.
On May 25, the court had sought a report regarding infrastructure, machinery and manpower in Food Testing Laboratory Srinagar to examine adulteration in food items.
“Directions were issued for filling up of various posts and up gradation of Food Testing Laboratories,” the bench said. “We had also highlighted that government may consider giving independent charge of the post of Commissioner (under FSSA) so that he may prove effective in discharge of his duties rather than giving additional charge to an officer already occupied with various other functions.”
In wake of the repealing of Food Adulteration Act by the government, the court said that it has gathered an impression that “earlier mechanism is gone, new mechanism is not in place.”
While senior AAG appeared for official respondents in the PIL, the petitioner Advocate Sheikh Ayoub was present in person alongside advocate TH Khawaja.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation, a bench of Chief Justice, Justice MM Kumar and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur, made it clear that if the needful was not done by August 2, the Chief Secretary shall appear in person on the next date of hearing.
As soon as the hearing in the PIL, which seeks complete implementation of FSSA, began on Thursday senior Additional Advocate General JA Kawoosa moved an application for granting eight weeks more to file status report about the directions issued by the court last month.
However, before allowing the prayer made by the Senior AAG, the court sought details about the measures taken for the implementation of the FSSA.
The bench said that various directions were passed by the court in its orders on December 31 last and May 25 this year for government to comply with.
On December 31, as many as six directions were issued by the court and government was required to file a detailed status report by second week of February, the court said. “However no status report with regard to steps taken for making the provisions of the FSSA effective and visible on the ground has been filed,” the bench said. “Nor necessary staff has been made available to constitute service in terms of the Act, so as to avoid any confusion in its implementation.”
The bench observed that there was also nothing on record regarding lifting of samples on weekly basis from all factories and industrial units which manufacture and produce spices of all kinds.
Besides, in its orders on December 31, the court had directed government to test milk sold in the open market; district magistrates to closely monitor functioning of the authorities responsible for maintaining food standards in their respective districts; to inform it about number of slaughter houses in each district; and lastly it had asked government to provide information about the result of samples referred for testing in the past.
On May 25, the court had sought a report regarding infrastructure, machinery and manpower in Food Testing Laboratory Srinagar to examine adulteration in food items.
“Directions were issued for filling up of various posts and up gradation of Food Testing Laboratories,” the bench said. “We had also highlighted that government may consider giving independent charge of the post of Commissioner (under FSSA) so that he may prove effective in discharge of his duties rather than giving additional charge to an officer already occupied with various other functions.”
In wake of the repealing of Food Adulteration Act by the government, the court said that it has gathered an impression that “earlier mechanism is gone, new mechanism is not in place.”
While senior AAG appeared for official respondents in the PIL, the petitioner Advocate Sheikh Ayoub was present in person alongside advocate TH Khawaja.
Food Act: HC gives govt two months to comply with orders
Srinagar, June 27
Expressing displeasure over the lacklustre response of the authorities to the directions issued for implementation of the Food Safety Standards Act and rules, the J&K High Court has given the state government two months to comply with its directions issued from time to time, failing which, the Chief Secretary has been directed to appear in person.
These directions were issued by a division of the High Court headed by the Chief Justice MM Kumar in a PIL seeking court directions commanding the respondents to implement the Food Safety Standards Act 2006 and the Food Safety and Standards Rules 2011.
Earlier, the state counsel had sought two months time for compliance with the court directions in the PIL and had also submitted a formal application in this connection.
The court has been seeking compliance with the set of directions issued by it in the PIL from time to time, more particularly the directions issued on December 31, 2012.
The directions included constitution of a separate food safety organisation, appropriate service as envisaged under the Food Safety & Standards Rules 2011, creation and appointment of the staff to man the organisation and setting up of a functional laboratory for testing food samples for adulteration.
However, as the matter came up for hearing today, the bench expressed its displeasure over non-substantial implementation of most of the directions issued by the court in the matter so far.
“The court expressed its displeasure over the tardy response by the government functionaries towards implementation of the Food Safety Standards Act 2006 and the Food Safety and Standards Rules 2011 and has now granted J&K government two months time to comply with the directions,” advocate Tassaduq Khawaja, who is representing the petitioners in the PIL, said.
In case of failure to do so, he said, the court has further directed that Chief Secretary MI Khanday will appear in person on the next date of hearing, fixed after two months.
What does the PIL say?
The PIL has sought court directions commanding the respondents to implement the Food Safety Standards Act 2006 and Food Safety & Standards Rules 2011
It has been submitted that “non-implementation of the Act and rules by the state government is a grave issue and the matter requires to be dealt with seriously” to check adulteration of food items and eatables
The government has often come under criticism for lack of seriousness about implementing the Food Safety and Standards Act in the state
The PIL argued, “The authority in question in the PIL is not in a position to take any action against the person found guilty under the Act and Rules.”
Expressing displeasure over the lacklustre response of the authorities to the directions issued for implementation of the Food Safety Standards Act and rules, the J&K High Court has given the state government two months to comply with its directions issued from time to time, failing which, the Chief Secretary has been directed to appear in person.
These directions were issued by a division of the High Court headed by the Chief Justice MM Kumar in a PIL seeking court directions commanding the respondents to implement the Food Safety Standards Act 2006 and the Food Safety and Standards Rules 2011.
Earlier, the state counsel had sought two months time for compliance with the court directions in the PIL and had also submitted a formal application in this connection.
The court has been seeking compliance with the set of directions issued by it in the PIL from time to time, more particularly the directions issued on December 31, 2012.
The directions included constitution of a separate food safety organisation, appropriate service as envisaged under the Food Safety & Standards Rules 2011, creation and appointment of the staff to man the organisation and setting up of a functional laboratory for testing food samples for adulteration.
However, as the matter came up for hearing today, the bench expressed its displeasure over non-substantial implementation of most of the directions issued by the court in the matter so far.
“The court expressed its displeasure over the tardy response by the government functionaries towards implementation of the Food Safety Standards Act 2006 and the Food Safety and Standards Rules 2011 and has now granted J&K government two months time to comply with the directions,” advocate Tassaduq Khawaja, who is representing the petitioners in the PIL, said.
In case of failure to do so, he said, the court has further directed that Chief Secretary MI Khanday will appear in person on the next date of hearing, fixed after two months.
What does the PIL say?
The PIL has sought court directions commanding the respondents to implement the Food Safety Standards Act 2006 and Food Safety & Standards Rules 2011
It has been submitted that “non-implementation of the Act and rules by the state government is a grave issue and the matter requires to be dealt with seriously” to check adulteration of food items and eatables
The government has often come under criticism for lack of seriousness about implementing the Food Safety and Standards Act in the state
The PIL argued, “The authority in question in the PIL is not in a position to take any action against the person found guilty under the Act and Rules.”
Periodic Inspections For Hygienic Food
Restaurants should be under scan on a regular basis in order to prevent the hitches caused by unhygienic food
On Jun 27, 2013
| Trivandrum:
As the city has witnessed a couple of incidents related to unhygienic
food catered by the restaurants, it is high time to make inspections
periodic, instead of random surprise checks by the authorities. “Though Food Safety Authority does random surprise checks, it is not enough,” an officer from the District Medical Officer’s (DMO) office added. He opined that there should be periodic checks on whether the rules are being followed or not. He stressed that even if the inspections are random and surprise ones, it should be periodic. “Only this will make hotel owners follow the rules and keep their establishments hygienic. Not keeping a healthy environment in their institutions can lead to even death,” he added. Cooks and waiters infected with communicable diseases like Typhoid, Cholera, Dysentery, Diarrheal diseases and Hepatitis B could easily transfer these diseases to their customers if they are allowed to work in restaurants. Simple things like not washing hands for 5-10 minutes after attending nature’s call can also cause to spread infection. The restaurant owners who tend to violate these mandatory laws on food hygiene are viable to the cancellation of their licenses. |
Image courtesy: The Hindu
According to the procedure, there is a penalty for violation for the first time, while second time attracts legal action against them. Provisions are there in law to provide compulsory compensation from the owners of such restaurants to those who are hospitalised or deceased. Public can inform suspected food poisoning cases to Food Safety Authority, District Medical Officer, and other local bodies. Only the active participation of public can help control this nuisance. |
One hotel closed, 21 eateries fined in raids
District
Food Safety Officer K.Ajith Kumar conducted checks in various eateries in the city and closed down Hotel Lavanya in
Kaloor and fined 21 other hotels and bakeries
on various grounds.
Most of the hotels and bakeries had a clean dining room, but the kitchen areas were found wanting, Mr. Kumar said.
The hotels were fined on various accounts like reuse of oil, unhygienic storage of prepared food, store area that did not have proper moisture control, using old and unclean utensils, cobwebs in the kitchen, and broken or dilapidated condition of kitchens.
The guidelines issued under the Food Safety Act along with a Malayalam transcript had been given to all the outlets through their associations, said Mr. Kumar. He said the raids would continue for another couple of days.
Raids were conducted for the past three days on hotels and bakeries in the city area, Aluva, Koothatukulam and Vazhakulam. In the city 19 outlets were inspected and improvement notices were issued to seven units.
In Aluva, 10 establishments were raided and improvement notices issued to seven units while in Koothatukulam and Vazhakulam areas inspections in 14 units were held of which 9 were given improvement notices.
The raids were conducted on the orders of the State Food Safety Commissioner Biju Prabhakar.
Most of the hotels and bakeries had a clean dining room, but the kitchen areas were found wanting, Mr. Kumar said.
The hotels were fined on various accounts like reuse of oil, unhygienic storage of prepared food, store area that did not have proper moisture control, using old and unclean utensils, cobwebs in the kitchen, and broken or dilapidated condition of kitchens.
The guidelines issued under the Food Safety Act along with a Malayalam transcript had been given to all the outlets through their associations, said Mr. Kumar. He said the raids would continue for another couple of days.
Raids were conducted for the past three days on hotels and bakeries in the city area, Aluva, Koothatukulam and Vazhakulam. In the city 19 outlets were inspected and improvement notices were issued to seven units.
In Aluva, 10 establishments were raided and improvement notices issued to seven units while in Koothatukulam and Vazhakulam areas inspections in 14 units were held of which 9 were given improvement notices.
The raids were conducted on the orders of the State Food Safety Commissioner Biju Prabhakar.
One hotel closed, 21 eateries fined in raids
June 27, 2013
00
Most of the hotels and bakeries had a clean dining room, but the kitchen areas were found wanting, Mr. Kumar said.
The hotels were fined on various accounts like reuse of oil, unhygienic storage of prepared food, store area that did not have proper moisture control, using old and unclean utensils, cobwebs in the kitchen, and broken or dilapidated condition of kitchens.
The guidelines issued under the Food Safety Act along with a Malayalam transcript had been given to all the outlets through their associations, said Mr. Kumar. He said the raids would continue for another couple of days.
Raids were conducted for the past three days on hotels and bakeries in the city area, Aluva, Koothatukulam and Vazhakulam. In the city 19 outlets were inspected and improvement notices were issued to seven units.
In Aluva, 10 establishments were raided and improvement notices issued to seven units while in Koothatukulam and Vazhakulam areas inspections in 14 units were held of which 9 were given improvement notices.
The raids were conducted on the orders of the State Food Safety Commissioner Biju Prabhakar.
- See more at: http://news.indiaonline.in/One-hotel-closed-21-eateries-fined-in-raids-30779#sthash.6AlK6DIB.dpuf
One hotel closed, 21 eateries fined in raids
June 27, 2013
00
Most of the hotels and bakeries had a clean dining room, but the kitchen areas were found wanting, Mr. Kumar said.
The hotels were fined on various accounts like reuse of oil, unhygienic storage of prepared food, store area that did not have proper moisture control, using old and unclean utensils, cobwebs in the kitchen, and broken or dilapidated condition of kitchens.
The guidelines issued under the Food Safety Act along with a Malayalam transcript had been given to all the outlets through their associations, said Mr. Kumar. He said the raids would continue for another couple of days.
Raids were conducted for the past three days on hotels and bakeries in the city area, Aluva, Koothatukulam and Vazhakulam. In the city 19 outlets were inspected and improvement notices were issued to seven units.
In Aluva, 10 establishments were raided and improvement notices issued to seven units while in Koothatukulam and Vazhakulam areas inspections in 14 units were held of which 9 were given improvement notices.
The raids were conducted on the orders of the State Food Safety Commissioner Biju Prabhakar.
- See more at: http://news.indiaonline.in/One-hotel-closed-21-eateries-fined-in-raids-30779#sthash.6AlK6DIB.dpuf
KVVES protests against raids
Raids on hotels and food outlets is merely an excuse to
harass small-time businessmen, the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana
Samithi (KVVES) said on Thursday. It was responding to a series of
State-wide raids conducted by food safety officials.
In
a release, the traders’ body said these raids were unfair on the small
trader and amounted to effectively crippling his business.
It
said food safety officials had no authority to order the closure of and
charge cases against food establishments, as it came only under the
power of the Revenue Divisional Officer.
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