IGI Airport
Taking A cue from recent outbreak of diseases like swine flu and Ebola, the Union health ministry has placed Indian airports and airlines on radar for sanitisation and quality of food and drinks they serve.
The ministry has come up with the Indian Aircraft (Public Health) Rules 2015 that would soon be notified in the Indian Gazette. The rules will be forwarded to all the airlines and airports.
The central government will designate a National International Health Regulation (IHR) focal point for the implementation of these stringent health measures. A task force to deal with public health emergency of international magnitude or any other infectious disease would also be constituted.
The ministry has brought airports within the fold of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The move would ensure that the airport health officer would not only carry out health screening of travellers, but also supervise hygiene levels in the premises.
The health officer at the airports would supervise and coordinate with the concerned agency to ensure that facilities used by the travellers are hygienic. The office would ensure safety of potable water supplies, cleanliness of public wash rooms, appropriate liquid and solid waste disposal facilities. It would also ensure infectionfree surroundings," said Anshu Prakash, a joint secretary in the Union health ministry.
"The supervisor will also provide technical guidance to the concerned agency for disinfection and decontamination of baggage, cargo, containers, aircraft or conveyances, facilities, goods and postal parcels and human remains as appropriate," he said.
Health Minister JP Nadda
The rules will also be applicable to the airlines who will have to provide, prior to arrival, passenger manifest and information regarding illness or death on board and any health measures applied on board. A strict inspection of all the aircraft containing hazardous material will be subject to inspection.
"At the airport, the buildings, places used by travellers shall be required to be equipped with suitable equipment and all the necessary measures shall be taken to maintain the public places free from all kinds of vectors, including mosquitoes," said Prakash.
The ministry has clearly said that all the food outlets within the airport or flight kitchens will have to get licence by the airport health officer or such other appropriate authority in accordance with the provisions contained in The Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
"Drinking water and food provided at the airport or on the aircraft must be maintained in hygienic condition. Service provider will have to ensure mandatory microbiological testing of drinking water quality at the source and submit regular reports to the airport health officer. The airport health officer will verify such reports to ensure the safety of water," said Prakash.
"Food suppliers from outside airport premises will be required to submit a copy of Food Safety Licence in respect of the outlet from the concerned designated officer of the outlet to the airport health officer," he said.
The food which is found unhygienic, adulterated and unsafe for human consumption will be discarded. The authorities may also order for closure of any such food establishment and drinking water source.
There are penalties under the rules too. Whoever contravenes any provision of these rules, or disobeys, or fails to comply with any order given in pursuance of these rules, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or with fine which may extend to Rs.10,000 or with both.
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