New Delhi:
Health minister turns down Chandramouli's request for term extension, will invite fresh applications for post
K Chandramouli, chairman of the country's food regulator, is unlikely to continue at the helm of the controversy-ridden Food Safety and Standards Authority of India despite seeking an extension of his term that ends in January , two officials said.
“He (Chandramouli) is unlikely to be given aterm extension. It has been denied by health minister Harsh Vardhan,“ said an official in direct knowledge of the development.
The person cited various controversies plaguing the food regulator including nonclearance of consignments of food and liquor worth several crores and intermittent delays in new product approvals, as one of the key reasons why the chairman's term may not be extended in January.
A senior food ministry official confirmed that there was a request from Chandramouli's office to extend his term, but added that the health minister has decided to advertise the post and invite fresh applications instead. The person said Chandramouli will turn 65, the retirement age, in a year-and-a-half, but added that he is free to apply for the post again. “We are not ruling out his re-appointment.“ Chandramouli, an IAS officer of the 1975 batch and former union health secretary, had succeeded former chief PI Suvrathan as chief of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in January 2012.
There was no official reaction from the ministry of health and family welfare on extension of his term. ET could not reach Dr Harsh Vardhan for comment. Chandramouli, on his part, wouldn't comment.“Please ask them (health ministry). I have no idea about this,“ he told ET.
As reported by ET last month, ` . 65-70 crore worth of imported liquor have been held up at the country's ports since February for not meeting the regulator's new labelling rules that required bottlers to declare ingredients in a drink. While the bottlers have sought waiver from this rule arguing it's not required in Europe from where they are imported, the regulator has stuck to its ground. The clampdown has resulted in the world's two biggest liquor firms, Diageo and Pernod Ricard, suspending shipments to India. The decision also affected festive season plans of firms such as Bacardi, William Grant & Sons and Brown Forman.
Last month, in an unprecedented move, heads of top food and beverages firms including GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, Coca-Cola, McCain Foods, Kellogg, Cargill, Mother Dairy and Ferrero Group met Chandramouli and expressed concern over the pace of new product approvals.
Last year, FSSAI denied clearance to consignments of more than 200 tonnes of imported gourmet chocolates including brands such as Godiva, Guylian, Lindt and Mars, because instead of making new labels importers had pasted stickers on top of existing labels to declare ingredients.
In April this year, the food regulator had blocked a consignment of syrups meant for Tata Starbucks, which led the coffee chain to approach the Bombay High Court for relief. Earlier this year, the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association and Maharashtrabased firm Vital Nutraceuticals had filed a petition in the Bombay High Court against FSSAI for having issued an advisory which required prior product approval for dietary foods and health supplements already licensed and existing in the market. The High Court ruled in favour of the drug firm.
Health minister turns down Chandramouli's request for term extension, will invite fresh applications for post
K Chandramouli, chairman of the country's food regulator, is unlikely to continue at the helm of the controversy-ridden Food Safety and Standards Authority of India despite seeking an extension of his term that ends in January , two officials said.
“He (Chandramouli) is unlikely to be given aterm extension. It has been denied by health minister Harsh Vardhan,“ said an official in direct knowledge of the development.
The person cited various controversies plaguing the food regulator including nonclearance of consignments of food and liquor worth several crores and intermittent delays in new product approvals, as one of the key reasons why the chairman's term may not be extended in January.
A senior food ministry official confirmed that there was a request from Chandramouli's office to extend his term, but added that the health minister has decided to advertise the post and invite fresh applications instead. The person said Chandramouli will turn 65, the retirement age, in a year-and-a-half, but added that he is free to apply for the post again. “We are not ruling out his re-appointment.“ Chandramouli, an IAS officer of the 1975 batch and former union health secretary, had succeeded former chief PI Suvrathan as chief of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in January 2012.
There was no official reaction from the ministry of health and family welfare on extension of his term. ET could not reach Dr Harsh Vardhan for comment. Chandramouli, on his part, wouldn't comment.“Please ask them (health ministry). I have no idea about this,“ he told ET.
As reported by ET last month, ` . 65-70 crore worth of imported liquor have been held up at the country's ports since February for not meeting the regulator's new labelling rules that required bottlers to declare ingredients in a drink. While the bottlers have sought waiver from this rule arguing it's not required in Europe from where they are imported, the regulator has stuck to its ground. The clampdown has resulted in the world's two biggest liquor firms, Diageo and Pernod Ricard, suspending shipments to India. The decision also affected festive season plans of firms such as Bacardi, William Grant & Sons and Brown Forman.
Last month, in an unprecedented move, heads of top food and beverages firms including GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, Coca-Cola, McCain Foods, Kellogg, Cargill, Mother Dairy and Ferrero Group met Chandramouli and expressed concern over the pace of new product approvals.
Last year, FSSAI denied clearance to consignments of more than 200 tonnes of imported gourmet chocolates including brands such as Godiva, Guylian, Lindt and Mars, because instead of making new labels importers had pasted stickers on top of existing labels to declare ingredients.
In April this year, the food regulator had blocked a consignment of syrups meant for Tata Starbucks, which led the coffee chain to approach the Bombay High Court for relief. Earlier this year, the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association and Maharashtrabased firm Vital Nutraceuticals had filed a petition in the Bombay High Court against FSSAI for having issued an advisory which required prior product approval for dietary foods and health supplements already licensed and existing in the market. The High Court ruled in favour of the drug firm.
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