Illegal flavoured water units in Coimbatore face closure

 

The HinduEmpty water cans lying on the roof top of a flat after the TN Food Safety and Drug Administration Department issued closure notices to flavoured drinking water units.

They were operating without licence or product approval

The Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety Wing), Coimbatore Unit, on Wednesday issued closure notices to three flavoured water manufacturing units here for operating without licence or product approval.

The action follows an instruction, issued on Monday, by Food Safety Commissioner Kumar Jayanth, to implement a judgment of the National Green Tribunal’s Southern Zone to close water manufacturing units operating without the approval of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Many water manufacturing units labelled their products as ‘flavoured’ or ‘herbal.’. These were not covered under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which had set stringent standards only for ‘mineral’ and ‘packaged’ water, both of which must have ISI accreditation issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

Following the NGT judgment, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board was directed to take water samples of all such water manufacturing units, regardless of the labelling, across the State. Such samples were taken from 62 units in Coimbatore district, of which only three companies had not obtained any approval.

R. Kathiravan, Designated Officer, Coimbatore, told The Hindu that notices were issued to Amohha Flavoured Water, a product of Jayaram Industries, Season Dew Flavoured Water packaged at Pappanaickenpalayam by GJX Aqua Industries and H2OOH packaged at Annur at Sri Balaji Water Industries. “We have asked these three units as to why they should not be closed down within one week since they had not obtained ‘No-objection Certificates’ from the Food Safety Wing or clearance under FSSA,” he said.

A drive would soon be launched to close down all illegal water packaging units in the city. Anyone having information on illegal water manufacturing units operating in the city could mail the information to the e-mail id: dofssacbe@gmail.com. All information would be kept in confidence and action taken, assured Dr. Kathiravan.

Guidelines on junk food sale in schools to be out by December

Food safety regulator FSSAI will put the draft guidelines framed by it in front of a seven-member expert committee. The final guidelines will be out post that

In a move that will alter the consumption of products such as burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, snack foods and soft drinks in schools, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is putting in place final guidelines to determine what constitutes healthy and unhealthy food in educational institutions.
The guidelines, which will be out by December this year, will categorise food items commonly sold and consumed in schools under segments such as junk food, street food, nutritional food and unhealthy food. The endeavour, according to persons in the know, is intended to help children inculcate good eating habits.
FSSAI will put the draft guidelines framed by it recently in front of a seven-member expert committee. The final set of guidelines will be formulated taking into account the recommendations by the expert committee, persons in the know said.
Executives at Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, however, say they do not market carbonated drinks to children in primary and secondary schools. Juice drinks such as Maaza, on the other hand, are available only on demand in secondary schools. Packaged water though is kept both in primary and secondary schools by the two companies.
Activist bodies such as the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) say the move by the food regulator is important given the lack of adequate food safety and labeling standards in India. Chandra Bhushan, deputy director, CSE, says, "While the step is welcome, the draft guidelines in my view need to specifically address food labeling issues. There is also rampant consumption of junk and street food happening right outside schools. The draft guidelines do speak of regulating sale of these food items within 500 yards of schools, but strict implementation has to be there."
Last year, CSE had found fast food meals and snacks such as PepsiCo's Lays and Haldiram's Aloo Bhujiya containing dangerous levels of trans fats and salt in a two-month study done by it. At that time, CSE had said, "Sugar, salt and fat are items that need to be regulated. This means governments have to step in to control the powerful processed food industry. But this is not happening in India."
Coca-Cola and PepsiCo say they are already part of an eight-member club of companies in India, which has pledged to promote healthy dietary habits among young children.
The group, which was formed three years ago, includes Hindustan Unilever (HUL), Nestle, Kellogg’s, General Mills, Mars and Cadbury besides Coke and Pepsi. The pledge taken by these companies as part of the endeavour includes no advertising to children below 12 years and desisting from commercial communication of their food & beverage products in primary schools, except for those that fulfill specific nutrition criteria or have been requested by or agreed by the school administrator.

Experts to review norms on sale of junk food

The New Delhi high court on Wednesday allowed the Central government’s plea to let its expert committee examine its draft guidelines on regulating the sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around schools across the country.
The court’s order came after senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the All India Food Processors’ Association, opposed the draft guidelines of the government and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Manu Singhvi said private agency AC Nielsen QRG-MARG Pvt Ltd, which was engaged by the government for the same, could not be allowed to frame guidelines that would affect the entire nation. He further submitted that “most points in the draft guideline were impractical and vague”.
“At best, AC Nielsen can collect data and assist the Centre but it cannot frame guidelines that will have ramifications across the nation,” Manu Singhvi said. Lambasting the draft guidelines, he said, “One of the guidelines is that the schools should grow vegetables within its premises. Schools today do not have enough space for a playground, how can they grow vegetables,” he said.
The Centre, however, told the Court that it already had a seven-member expert panel in place that could review the guidelines. Representing the government, ASG Rajeev Mehra told the court that the expert committee included members from the government, FSSAI and doctors, and hence would review the draft guidelines within four weeks from now.

FDA seizes Gutkha worth Rs 3L

SATPUR : The Food & Drugs Administration (FDA) has spurred its drive to take legal action against Gutkha, Pan Masala manufacturers and sellers across the district. As a part of this drive, FDA raided a godown of a merchant in Kathe Lane area on Tuesday. Stocks of Gutkha, Pan Masala and Sweet Supari (betel nuts) worth around Rs 3 lakh were seized during this drive. The administration has filed crime in this case with Ambad and Bhadrakali Police Stations. 

After the FDA officials got a secret information about illegal storage and sale of Gutkha, Pan Masala and Supari, they set a trap and arrested Sunil Raghunath Musale. After inspection, the godown owned by Musale was found full of stocks of Guthka packets of brands including Hira, Vimal, Hira Pan Masala, RMD Gutkha, Mogli Supari, Kuber tobacco and other products. Administration seized entire stocks and filed crime against 5 persons owner Raghunath Bhatu Musale, Sunil Raghunath Musale, Sudhakar Musale, Rahul Musale and Ashok Dutonde under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and section 328 of IPC. 

Meanwhile, administrative officials also raided a shop at building Kasturi Park in the same area. They seized stocks of Gutkha and other tobacco based products worth Rs 80,000. They have taken Rakesh Deshmukh in custody in this case and filed crime against him. FDA officials including Assistant Commissioner M M Sanap (Zone 1), D S Mahale (Zone 3), Food Safety Officer P S Lohar, N D Mohite, R S Takate, U V Kumbhojkar, R D Suryavanshi, B C Ingale and others conducted these raids under the aegis of Joint FDA Commissioner Chandrakant Pawar and seized the illegal stocks of Gutkha and other tobacco based products.

FSSAI issues new ordinance about labelling system

SATPUR : The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), New Delhi, has recently issued a new ordinance stating amendments in methods of packaging and labelling of products under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. Accordingly, the license holders will now have to display their license numbers on labels pasted on packaging of their products. These changes will be implemented after the next six months, FSSAI has added. 

The Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture (MACCIA) issued a press note in this regard on Tuesday. It has informed that it will be mandatory for the food merchants and traders to display their license numbers along with weight and price of the product on the packaging material. On this backdrop, FSSAI administration has directed all type of license holders to use all their old pattern labels within the next six months as new label method will be implemented immediately after this tenure. 

MACCIA vice-president Santosh Mandlecha has appealed all food traders, merchants, re-packer agencies and other license holders to use all their old labels within the next six months and contact MACCIA office if they have any query about this ordinance.

814 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு அனுமதி மறுக்கப்பட்ட வழக்கு அக்டோபர் 7க்கு ஒத்திவைப்பு

சென்னை, செப்.5:

குடிநீர் விற்பனை நிறுவனங்களுக்கு அனுமதி வழங்கப்படாதது குறித்த வழக்கு அக்டோபர் 7ம் தேதி ஒத்தி வைக்கப்பட்டது.

அரும்பாக்கத்தில் உள்ள தென்மண்டல பசுமை தீர்ப்பாயம், கடந்த மார்ச் மாதம் தானே முன்வந்து குடிநீர் விற்பனை செய்யும் நிறுவனங்கள் நிலைப்பாடு குறித்து ஆய்வு செய்ய மாசு கட்டுப்பாடு வாரியத்துக்கு உத்தரவிட்டது. இதைதொடர்ந்து, நேற்று நீதிபதி சொக்கலிங்கம் விசாரணை செய்தார்.

அப்போது மாசு கட்டுப்பாடு வாரிய உறுப்பினர் செயலர் பாலாஜி, குடிநீர் விற்பனை ஆலை களை தமிழகம் முழுவதும் ஆய்வு செய்ததில் 814 குடிநீர் விற்பனை நிறுவனங்கள் அனுமதி பெறாமலும், 153 நிறுவனங்கள் அனுமதி பெற்றும் செயல்படுவதாக தெரிவித்தார்.

814 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு ஏன் அனுமதி வழங்கவில்லை என நீதிபதி கேள்வி எழுப்பினார். அதற்கு 2011ல் உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில் திருப்பூர் பொதுப்பணி துறை சார்பாக நிலத்தடி நீரை உறிஞ்சி பயன்படுத்துவது குறித்து வழக்கு தொடரப்பட்டது, அந்த வழக்கில் 31&11&2011 அன்று வர்த்தக நோக்கோடு நிலத்தடி நீரை உறிஞ்சக்கூடாது என தீர்ப்பு கூறப்பட்டது. அதன் அடிப்படையில் 814 நிறுவனங்களுக்கு அனுமதி வழங்கவில்லை என்று வாரிய உறுப்பினர் செயலர் தெரிவித்தார். இதையடுத்து வழக்கை அக்டோபர் 7ம் தேதிக்கு நீதிபதி ஒத்தி வைத்தார்.

இது தவிர ஹெர்பல் வாட்டர் விற்பனை நிறுவனங்கள் தொடர்பான வழக்கில், உணவு பாதுகாப்பு தரநிர்ணய உதவி ஆணையர் செல்வா நேற்று ஆஜராகி இந்த கம்பெனிகள் ஒரு ஆண்டில் எவ்வளவு குடிநீரை விற்பனை செய்துள்ளனர். அதன் அளவீடு பொறுத்து மத்திய அரசின் தலைமையின் கீழ் வருகிறதா, மாநில அரசின் தலைமையின் கீழ் வருகிறதா என ஆய்வு செய்து அறிக்கை தரவேண்டியுள்ளது என கூறினார். இந்த வழக்கையும் நீதிபதி, அக்டோபர் 7ம் தேதிக்கு ஒத்தி வைத்தார்.

சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் முதல் முறையாக போலி டீ தூள் தயாரித்த நிறுவனம், விற்பனையாளர் மீது கோர்ட்டில் வழக்கு உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை நடவடிக்கை

சேலம், செப்.5-தமிழ்நாட்டிலேயே முதல் முறையாக போலி டீ தூள் தயாரித்த நிறுவனம் மற்றும் விற்பனையாளர் மீது கோர்ட்டில் வழக்கு தொடர சேலம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரிக்கு உத்தரவு வந்துள்ளது. போலி டீ தூள் சேலம் மாவட்டம் ஓமலூர் அக்ரஹாரம் பகுதியை சேர்ந்த செல்வம் என்பவரது வீட்டில் போலி டீ தூள் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுவதாக சேலம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரிகளுக்கு தகவல் கிடைத்தது. இதையடுத்து உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை நியமன அலுவலர் அனுராதா தலைமையில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரிகள் கடந்த சில மாதங்களுக்கு முன்பு அவரது வீட்டுக்கு சென்று சோதனை மேற்கொண்டனர். அப்போது வீட்டில் இருந்து போலி டீ தூள் ஏஜெண்டுகள் மூலம் விற்பனை செய்யப்பட்டு வந்தது தெரியவந்தது. இதையடுத்து வீட்டில் இருந்த போலி டீ தூளை அதிகாரிகள் கைப்பற்றினர். மேலும் மாதிரிக்காக அங்கிருந்து டீ தூளை எடுத்து சென்னைக்கு அனுப்பி வைத்தனர். வழக்கு தொடர உத்தரவு தற்போது இந்த ஆய்வின் முடிவு வந்துள்ளது. இதில் பொதுமக்கள் இந்த டீ தூளை உபயோக தகுதியற்றது என்று கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதையடுத்து, இந்த டீ தூளை தயாரித்த நிறுவனம் மீதும், போலி டீ தூளை விற்ற விற்பனையாளர் மீது கோர்ட்டில் வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்ய சென்னை உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை ஆணையாளர் குமார் ஜெய்ந்த் சேலம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகளுக்கு அனுமதி வழங்கியுள்ளார். சேலம் கோர்ட்டில் இதுகுறித்து உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை நியமன அலுவலர் அனுராதா கூறும் போது, ‘ஓமலூர் பகுதியை சேர்ந்த செல்வம் என்பவர் மீதும், இந்த டீ தூளை தயாரித்த சென்னையை சேர்ந்த நிறுவனம் மீதும் கோர்ட்டில் வழக்கு தொடர ஆணையாளரிடம் இருந்து உத்தரவு வந்துள்ளது. உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை மூலம் தமிழ்நாட்டில் முதல் முறையாக கோர்ட்டில் வழக்கு தொடர்வது இதுவே முதல் முறை என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது. இவர்கள் மீது ஒரு சில நாட்களில் சேலம் கோர்ட்டில் வழக்கு தொடரப்படும். மேலும் அதே நபர் செல்வத்தின் வீட்டில் நேற்று நடந்த சோதனையின் போது 100 கிலோ போலி டீ தூள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது’ என்று கூறினார்.

உணவு தரநிர்ணய ஆணையத்தின் சான்று பெறாத 9 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு முன் எச்சரிக்கை நோட்டீசு 5 நாட்களுக்குள் மூட உத்தரவு

சேலம், செப்.5-சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் உணவு தர நிர்ணய ஆணையத்தின் தடையில்லா சான்றிதழ் பெறாத 9 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு முன் எச்சரிக்கை நோட்டீசு அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளது. இவர்கள் நிறுவனத்தை 5 நாட்களுக்குள் மூட வேண்டும் என்று உத்தரவிட்ப்பட்டு உள்ளது.
எச்சரிக்கை நோட்டீசு
சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் 33 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் இயங்கி வருகின்றன. இதில் 24 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு தர நிர்ணய சான்று ஐ.எஸ்.ஐ. அங்கீகாரம் பெற்றுள்ளது. மீதமுள்ள குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் மேற்கண்ட அனுமதி பெறாமல் ஹெர்பல் வாட்டர் சங்கத்தில் உறுப்பினராக பதிவு செய்து உள்ளது.இந்த குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களில் நெல்லிக்காய், வெட்டிவேர், ஜீரா, அதிமதுரம் போன்ற மூலிகைகளை கலந்து சுவையூட்டப்பட்ட நறுமண குடிநீர் என்ற பெயரில் பாட்டில்களில் விற்பனை செய்து வருகின்றனர். இதையடுத்து, தேசிய பசுமை தீர்ப்பாயம் பதிவு செய்யப்படாத குடிநீர் ஆலைகளை மூட வேண்டும் என்று அதிரடியாக உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.
9 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு
அதன்படி சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் 9 குடிநீர் ஆலைகளுக்கு முன் எச்சரிக்கை அறிவிப்பு நோட்டீசு பதிவு தபால் மூலம் அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதுகுறித்து சேலம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் அனுராதா கூறியதாவது:-பசுமை தீர்ப்பாயத்தின் படி சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் உணவு தர நிர்ணய ஆணையத்தின் தடையில்லா சான்றிதழ் பெறாத 9 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு முன் எச்சரிக்கை அறிவிப்பு நோட்டீசு பதிவு தபால் மூலம் அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளது. இந்த நோட்டீசு அனுப்பிய நாளில் இருந்து 5 நாட்களுக்குள் இந்த நிறுவனங்களை மூட வேண்டும்.
சீல் வைக்கப்படும்
இல்லையென்றால் அதன் பிறகு அந்த நிறுவனங்களின் உரிமையாளர்கள் மீது உணவு பாதுகாப்பு சட்டத்தின் கீழ் 4 பிரிவுகளில் வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்து நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும். மேலும் அந்த நிறுவனங்களுக்கு உடனடியாக சீல் வைக்கப்படும். குடிநீர் விற்பனை செய்ய கண்டிப்பாக உணவு தரநிர்ணய ஆணையத்தின் தடையில்லா சான்றிதழ் பெற்று இருக்க வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

DINAKARAN NEWS

DINAMALAR NEWS

தமிழகத்தில் அனுமதியின்றி 814 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள்: தீர்ப்பாயத்தில் மாசுக் கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரியம் அறிக்கை

சென்னை: "மாநிலம் முழுவதும், 814 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் அனுமதி பெறாமல் செயல்படுகின்றன' என, பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயத்தில், மாசுக்கட்டுப்பட்டு வாரியம் அறிக்கை தாக்கல் செய்தது.

தனியார் குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களில் இருந்து, விற்பனைக்கு அனுப்பப்படும் குடிநீர் தரமானது இல்லை என, தெரிய வந்ததால், தேசிய பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயம் - தென்மண்டலம், தாமாக முன் வந்து வழக்கு பதிந்து, விசாரித்து வருகிறது. இந்த வழக்கு, நீதிபதி சொக்கலிங்கம், பேராசிரியர் நாகேந்திரன் முன்னிலையில் நேற்று விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது. "தமிழகத்தில் உள்ள, 967 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களில், 153 நிறுவனங்கள் மட்டுமே வாரிய அனுமதி பெற்றுள்ளன; 814 நிறுவனங்கள் அனுமதி பெறவில்லை. 391 நிறுவன மாதிரி பரிசோதனை முடிவுகள் கிடைத்துள்ளன. 499 நிறுவனங்களின் மாதிரிகளின் பரிசோதனை நடந்து வருகிறது' என, மாசுக்கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரியம் அறிக்கை தாக்கல் செய்தது. இதில், 814 நிறுவனங்கள்,அனுமதி பெறாதது குறித்து, தீர்ப்பாயம் கேள்வி எழுப்பியது. வர்த்தக ரீதியாக நிலத்தடி நீர் எடுக்க, உயர்நீதி மன்றம் தடை விதித்துள்ளதால் அனுமதிக்கு விண்ணப்பிக்க முடியவில்லை என, குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் சார்பில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டது. ஐகோர்ட்டில் நடக்கும் இது தொடர்பான வழக்கில் இணைந்து, குடிநீருக்கு தண்ணீர் எடுப்பது தொடர்பாக, விலக்கு பெறுமாறு குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு அறிவுறுத்தப்பட்டது. மத்திய உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறை சார்பில், அதிகாரிகள் விளக்கம் அளித்தனர். அதன்படி, "ஹெர்பல், பிளேவர்டு' குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள், முதலில் குடிநீர் உற்பத்திக்கான அனுமதி பெற வேண்டும் என, தீர்ப்பாயம் உத்தரவிட்டது. உற்பத்தி, விற்பனைக்கான தடையை நீக்க மறுத்த தீர்ப்பாயம், விசாரணையை, அடுத்த மாதம், 7ம் தேதிக்கு ஒத்தி வைத்தது.

Food safety drive from today

1,000 samples of every food item to be tested across State in view of Onam

Food safety inspections will be made more stringent as it has come to the notice of the Health Department that adulterated or substandard food items are increasingly reaching the State from across the border with the start of the festive season.

Special squads of the Food Safety wing have started inspections across the State as part of a pre-festival drive to ensure food safety. The officials have started testing samples of coconut oil coming through check-posts following widespread complaints that engine oil, converted into white oil, was being used to adulterate coconut oil. A private firm at Palakkad was closed down by the food safety officials on Tuesday in this connection.

Testing of samples of milk has been made stringent as increased quantities of milk will be brought into the State in view of the festival season. During the last Onam season, the Food Safety wing had detected widespread use of formalin to preserve milk.

Steps have been taken to collect statutory samples of ghee, jaggery, chilli powder, fruits, vegetables, payasam mix, pickles, meat, and cashew nut and send these for lab testing.

The services of laboratories in universities and other government enterprises will be utilised for testing the food samples.

In a State-wide intensive food safety drive being launched on Thursday, over 1,000 samples of every food item will be tested across the State. This is the first time since the inception of the Food Safety wing that such a widespread food safety inspection is being held, an official release said.

800 packaged water units in state illegal TNPCB: 90% Of Firms Don’t Have Consent To Operate

Chennai:The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has in a shocking revelation informed the southern bench of the National Green Tribunal that more than 800 packaged drinking water units in the state are illegal.
    Among the companies that lack ‘consent to operate’ are 144 in Chennai and towns nearby. The board said it conducted quality checks at 967 units and found that 814 did not have consent to operate, prompting the bench to ask why TNPCB had not taken action against the illegal units.
    Amajority of the units have licences from the Bureau of Indian Standards but not the mandatory consent to operate from TNPCB.
    The board on Wednesday submitted a report to the tribunal stating that 16 units in the Chennai region, 73 in Ambattur, 30 in Sriperumbudur, and 25 in Tiruvallur operated without government consent. Tests by the board and the food safety and drug departments revealed that only 86 units provided safe drinking water. They declared water from 35 units as substandard (but not unsafe), eight as substandard and 15 as unsafe.
    PCB joint chief environment engineer S Selvam, who was present during the hearing on Wednesday, reported that the board had issued showcause notices to all 814 units even before the tribunal took cognizance of the issue.
    The bench said the notices appeared to serve no purpose and expressed shock over the illegal units. “The figure is alarming. Only 10% of the units in the state have consent to operate. You have not closed even a single unit. Who is responsible for this,” the bench asked. “The units have been flouting the rules for decades. What have you been doing?” it said. “The Water Act is completely flouted in the state. This is dereliction of duty.”
    Abench of the tribunal consisting of Justice M Chockalingam and expert member R Nagendran had in March taken suo motu cognizance of pollution in packaged drinking water in Chennai and other cities in the state and directed TNPCB and the food safety department to conduct tests.
    The bench took note of the contention that the units had submitted applications for consent to the board, but the board returned them due to an order issued by a division bench of the Madras high court in 2011, restraining the government from granting consent to extract groundwater for commercial purposes till the Tamil Nadu Groundwater (Development and Management) Act, 2003 is notified.
    Tamil Nadu Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers’ Association counsel P S Raman said the state would first have to set up an authority on extraction of groundwater. He asked the bench for time so the association could file a review petition against the order in the high court. The bench posted the next hearing to October 7.
TIMES VIEW
    The PCB’s finding should come as a wake-up call for the government. In a land of water scarcity, the packaged water business will, no doubt, lead to a mushrooming of such units. The PCB should not wait for the National Green Tribunal’s order to inspect these places—it should be a routine exercise. The health authorities should close illegal units and ensure that others stick to safety rules of the highest standards.

Expired fruit juice products seized

Imphal, September 04 2013: Sharing details about recent seizure of fruit juice products found to have sold beyond its expiry period, Deputy Food Safety Commissioner Brojendro Khaba cautioned that sale of expired fruit juice items by some selfish traders amount to 'slow poisoning' the people of Manipur.
Speaking to newspersons at his office chamber in the Medical Directorate building today, Brojendro said executive member of Consumer Club namely Huidrom Shantikumar came across some people attending to one Laishram Tomba Meitei s/o L Gokul of Samurou after the individual complained of throat soreness and irritation moments after sipping Frooti brand fruit juice, which he had purchased from one MK Store Pan Dukan near Pologround at around 1.30 pm on August 31 .
Feeling intense irritation after taking a few sip, Tomba inspected the 500 ml bottle and realised that it has expired consumable date, said the Deputy Food Safety Commissioner who also informed that Consumer Club executive member Shantikumar accompanied by other members inspected remaining stock of the trader's godown leading to detection of more expired fruit juice packets such as Frooti, Maaza, Sprite, Limca Lime, Jumpy etc.
In addition to the fruit juice brands the Consumer Club members also detected several cartons of cooking oils which were either expired or did not bear proper labelling at the said godown, he said.
Along with impounding the unhealthy food items the said godown has been sealed.
Identifying the trader as Muna Saha (35) s/o Babul Saha from Buxar in Bihar, Brojendro said Muna named Jaganarayan (MG avenue), Manipur Traders (Thangal Bazar), SK Jain (Majorkhul), Ajit Kumar Jain (Allu Gali) and Shiva Bihari (MG avenue) as some of the agents/dealers from whom he procured the fruit juice/food items.
Among the impounded products some had no manufacture or expiry date details and the others found to be put on sale inspite of being expired, said the Deputy Food Safety Commissioner who strongly advised the general public to inspect details about date of manufacture and expiry while purchasing items.
Manufacturers of the seized items are said to be based in Satgoan (Assam), Burnihat (Meghalaya) and Vadodara (Gujarat) .
Further conveying that Muna Saha could not produce trade licence or registration documents as is mandatory for traders under the Food Safety and Standard Act, Brojendro said such a violation entails six month imprisonment as well as Rs 5 lakh penalty.
The exact term of penalty would however be decided by the Government based on the report of the Food Safety Commission, he maintained.
Additional director (Public Health) Dr S Mema Devi and Consumer club members were also present during the media briefing.

FDA confiscates 12 parcels of khoa, kalakand

PANAJI/VASCO:  FDA inspectors on Wednesday morning confiscated twelve parcels of mawa or kalakand at Vasco railway station brought from Miraj. The consignment was meant for delivery to sweet mart vendors in Vasco city. The total quantity seized was 263 kg and valued at approximately ` 40,000. 

According to information available from Food and safety officer attached to the FDA Rajiv Korde, the officials of the FDA have received information about the illegal consignment being transported through Vasco bound Hazrat Nizamuddin (Goa Express) passenger train on Tuesday. Accordingly, a five-member team led by Korde including those of food and safety officers Flavia D’Souza and Shradha Khutkar and two staff members Suresh Shirodkar and Sandeep Shilke rushed to Sanvordem railway station at around 2.30 am in order to seize the illegal materials but they could not find any. 

They later arrived at Vasco railway station where the passenger train arriving from Delhi takes the final halt in the morning. During the course of investigation, the FDA authorities noticed some parcels thrown out onto the platform. Upon investigation, it was revealed that the khoa and kalakand were packed inside the parcels. The parcels were loaded into the train at Yeshwantpur and Miraj subsequently. 

According to FDA inspectors, the railway authorities said that the parcel receipt did not carry details of the person who booked it and no name or address to whom it was meant to be delivered. 

Inspectors said that the consignment was seized because it was defective in labelling. Moreover the parcels were unclaimed.  Mawa is used in the preparation of sweets and suspect quantities of it are brought into Goa from outside prior to Ganesh Chaturthi festival. A milk based product, it spoils easily and hence transportation or storage has to be refrigerated. 

The latest FDA seizure is close on the heels of officials thwarting attempts to bring in spurious quality of mawa by traders. Some days back three raids were conducted in Ponda, Margao and Mapusa. But the vendors returned the consignment back to Belgaum. 

Meanwhile the FDA has stepped up surveillance on sweets sold in stores. Acting on a complaint on Friday, August 30 from a consumer that a sweet mart in Mapusa was selling stale kaju barfi which had foul taste and smell, safety officers immediately visited the shop and sent the sample of the sweets to a laboratory for quality assessment. The balance quantity of kaju barfi sweets was removed from the shop to prevent further sale and consumption.  According to Salim Veljee, director, FDA surprise checks show that food items which are faulty labelled are being brought from Kerala and other parts of the country into Goa.  

Goods worth almost Rs.45,000 were confiscated in raids conducted in Salcette and around ` 30,000 from Chimbel. The raids in Salcette taluka was in Margao, Navelim and Davorlim where it was found that vendors did not possess food license and also the food articles were not labelled in the manner required under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. 

FDA has advised consumers to be vigilant whilst purchase of sweets and farsan items, especially items which do not have proper and complete product details on the labels. 

Vendors have also been warned to exercise responsibility while purchasing and displaying food articles which are properly labelled in terms of manufacture date, best before use, net weight, MRP and also its nutritional label declaration. Vendors include all super markets, provision stores, Sahakar Bhandars, Bhagyatdar stores, and other  retail outlets.

FDA seizes 263 kg of mawa at Vasco railway station

PANAJI/VASCO: Mawa/kalakand weighing 263 kg and worth 40,000 brought for delivery to a sweet mart in the state was confiscated by food safety inspectors of the food and drugs administration (FDA) at the Vasco railway station on Wednesday morning.
Salim Veljee, FDA director, said that the consignment containing seven parcels of mawa did not have any label. Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, a consignment should have a label and it should reveal the name of the manufacturer as well as the nutritional value of the product.
Such consignments containing perishable food products should be transported under refrigerated conditions to ensure that the product does not get spoilt, and there is no pilferage in the transition. The FDA has started the drive in view of the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival, as a lot sweets are imported by traders from neighbouring states.
The consignment had arrived on the Miraj-Vasco rail for delivery to a dairy in Vasco. A few days ago the FDA had received a tip-off that a particular consignment was coming from Miraj. Since then FDA inspectors had been keeping a watch, he said. "The railways authorities co-operated but they too had no details.
The consignment had no name not even a reference contact number. Also, nobody came to claim the parcels," he added.
The raid was conducted by food safety officers Rajiv Korde, Flavia DeSouza and Shardha Kuttikar. The FDA will continue it's checks for a few more days.

Good bye to junk food in schools? Expert panel formed to finalise guidelines

The health ministry on Wednesday told the Delhi high court that it has formed a seven-member expert committee to finalise its recently drafted guidelines on regulating sale of junk food in and around school premises.

Research company AC Nielsen which was tasked with drafting of the guideline had suggested banning of  sandwitches, pizzas, chips, burgers, noodles, french fries, sandwiches and aerated soft drinks in schools across the country.

It said these were “junk food which contained no proteins or vitamins but were rich in salt, sugar and high in calories which can cause obesity and hypertension”.

Additional Solicitor General Rajeeve Mehra said the expert panel will have as members four members of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India-- advisor S Dave, product approval director Pradeep Chakraborty, Quality Director K Sandhya, scientist  Meenakshi Singh and one official each from HRD ministry, Health Ministry and National Institute of Nutrition.

The court is hearing a PIL filed by social activist Rahul Verma of the NGO Uday Foundation demanding ban of sale of junk food in schools. “If the guidelines are strictly implemented, children will have access only to healthy food and not those which cause obesity and other dangerous diseases”.

The panel will also hold discussions with All India Food Processors Association (AIFPA) and Restaurant Association. But the AIFPA had in its affidavit questioned the credentials of Nielsen to frame the draft guidelines.

“AC Nielsen is neither a scientific body nor does it have relevant expertise to provide advise in the area of food law. It is a consumer market research company which has no qualifications to develop scientific guidelines for improvement in safety and quality of food served to school children”, the AIFPA said .

Contending that such the company is only known for data collection, AIFPA said the health ministry guidelines failed to take into account crucial aspects related to food, nutrition, eating habits and life style and its approach was not supported by any scientific rationale.

File norms for junk food near schools in a month: HC to Centre

The Delhi High Court has allowed the Central government more time to create guidelines on regulating sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around schools, accepting a plea for the examination of the recently formulated draft guidelines by an expert committee.

During a hearing before the High Court bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justice Pradeep Nandrajog on Wednesday, amicus curiae in the case, advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, suggested that the guidelines should be examined by an expert committee since they referred to a number of "vague" concepts as well as technical terms from the guidelines created by the World Health Organization.

"We have a seven-member expert committee. We would place the draft guidelines before the expert committee. Kindly give us four weeks," Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Rajeeve Mehra said, appearing for the Centre. The draft guidelines had last month been submitted to the court, and copies given to the amicus curiae and representatives of food processing companies, restaurants and other parties involved in the litigation. The court has now allowed the government time till December to get the guidelines analysed by the Committee.

In 2010, NGO Uday Foundation had filed a PIL seeking a ban on sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around schools. In January last year, the court had asked the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to frame guidelines on banning sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around educational institutions in six months. The court had also asked FSSAI to consult the All India Food Processors' Association (AIFPA) and restaurant associations for framing the guidelines. The draft guidelines were framed after a delay of nearly a year.

During the hearing, senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for one of the parties, opposed the draft guidelines, since they had been framed by private firm AC Nielsen QRG-MARG Pvt Ltd on the basis of a survey of over 600 schools, and analysis of the data collected. "The term junk food is a subjective term. A food item may be junk food for one and may not be for others," Singhvi said.

"There are suggestions such as 'schools may be encouraged to grow leafy vegetables', what is this? Schools in the urban areas don't have enough space," Singhvi said. Another proposed guideline under attack by the lawyers was to ban sale of junk food within 500 metres of a school. "Junk food is everywhere today. Will you close down main markets close to schools?" Singhvi said.

JMC penalises defaulters for food adulteration

Jammu Tawi, September 4
Continuing the drive against the menace of adulteration, the Health Officer Jammu Municipal Corporation, Dr Vinod Sharma along-with a team of Food Safety Officers, Assistant Sanitation Officers, Sanitary Inspectors and other field staff conducted an extensive tour in the areas like Nanak Nagar, Preet Nagar, Digiana etc. Jammu City today on 04/09/2013 to check the quality of commonly used food items to the general public inspected various food establishments like Meat shops, Vegetables Shops, Fruits Shops, Halwai Shops etc and compounding fee of Rs 12,200/- was also realised from defaulters and about 15 kg of polythene was seized.
Moreover 02 (two) food samples of Paneer and two samples of carbonated beverage water were also lifted from different parts of Jammu city like Janki Vihar, Roop Nagar & Industrial Area Gangyal, and sent to Public Analyst Jammu for ascertaining their standard of purity.
During the round citizens were advised not to smoke in the public places as it is injurious to health, a fine of Rs 200 would be imposed to those not adhering to the norms. All the food establishment owners were asked to adhere to the terms & conditions of FSS Act 2006 & keep their premises neat & clean for ensuring supply of pure & good quality of food items to the customers. All the business owners are also instructed not to use polythene bags which is in long run injurious to health, can cause Cancer & impotency.