WORLD CONSUMERS DAY 2014

Chandigarh:To Celebrate the World Consumers Day A seminar on Food Safety Act was organized by Consumers Association Chandigarh (CAC) at Community centre Sector 21, Chandigarh. Hon’ble Shri Harphool Chander Kalyan, Mayor Municipal Corporation Chandigarh presided over the function. Mr. Sukhwinder Singh Food Safety Officer Health Department Chandigarh Administration gave a talk on the topic. He apprised the gathering that Food borne illnesses are major health problems in our country. Food borne illnesses are prevalent in all parts of the world, and the toll in terms of human life and suffering is enormous. Contaminated food contributes to 1.5 billion cases of diarrhea in children each year, resulting in more than three million premature deaths according to the WHO. Accidental or intentional adulteration of food by toxic substances also can result in serious health incidents. Food safety remains a critical issue in India with frequent reports of outbreaks of food borne illnesses every year resulting insubstantial costs to individuals, health care system and the country. To regulate the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import of food item, and ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have been constituted which will lay down science-based standards for food items. This new Food Safety and Standards Act has repealed different Act and orders such as, the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, the Fruit Products Order, 1955, the Meat Food Products Order, 1973, the Vegetable Oil Products (Control) order, 1947, the edible oils packaging (Regulation) Order, 1998, the Solvent Extracted Oil, De Oiled Meal, and Edible Flour (Control) Order, 1967, the Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992 and any other order issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (10 of 1955) relating to food.
Shri Harphool Chander Kalyan, the Chief Guest appreciated the role of Consumers Association Chandigarh in awarieng the consumer about their rights and settling the Complaints. Emphasizing the need for educating more and more people about the Food Safety Act., he said that this will certainly help in improving the health of the people. Annual-2014 of the Association was also released on the occasion.Earlier in the day Shri R.K. Kaplash Chairman of the CAC briefed about the activists of the Association. CAC is working in the Chandigarh since 1979, much before the enactment of Consumer Protection Act, is also brain behind the Apni Mandi Concept. It operated consumer awareness cum sale counters in different sectors of Chandigarh to sell good quality daily need items at competitive rates in directly controlling the price line. Shri R.K. Sharma, President Complaints, CAC apprised the participants about the procedure of handling the consumer complaints. He told that more than 10,000 complaints have already been settled by the association till date and that too without charging any fee out of court settlement.The Chairman presented the memento to Chief Guest and. Food Safety Officer. Sh. H.S. Aulakh was honored with a Life Time Achievement Trophy for his sincere honest and continuous services for over twenty years. Sh. A.S Ahuja Convener Sector 23 was also honoured. Brig. J.S. Phoolka, Advisor to the Chairman CAC passed a vote of thanks. He also thanked the media, Health Department U.T. Chandigarh, media and participants for making the World Consumer Day a great success.