Pesticide 'thali'

A 2010 study by Consumer Voice found that Delhi's fruits and vegetables contain high levels of pesticide residue. Despite the High Court getting involved, not much has changed since. 

 

Toxins are used as ripening agents in vegetables 

One doesn't have to look far to find pesticide contamination in food and water in India. Remember the classic Pepsi case where Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi based NGO, found high levels of toxic pesticides in soft drinks? It isn't just water alone but the entire food chain that is increasingly becoming the primary source of pesticide contamination putting the health and safety of people at risk. 

Consumer Voice report 

In 2010, Consumer Voice, a Delhi based consumer rights NGO, had published a report based on vegetable samples collected from wholesale and retail shops in Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata. The sample vegetables and fruits were tested at Arbro Analytical Division, which was accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories. 

Bhindi (ladies finger) contained captan, a toxic pesticide to the extent of 15,000 parts per billion (ppb) while the European Union’s accepted standard is just about 20 ppb. Fruits weren't spared either. 12 fruits including bananas, apples and grapes among others also had high amounts of pesticides such as endosulphan, captan, thiacloprid, parathion and DDT residues. The report alleged that the levels of pesticides found in their samples was upto 750 times the European standards. 

Apart from pesticides, toxic colours and hormones like oxytocin are also being used indiscriminately to ripen vegetables and fruits. Pesticide dealers were advising wrong doses to the farmers. In addition, farmers also do not observe the prescribed waiting periods and apply pesticides incorrectly. 

How can pesticides harm you? 

“These pesticides can leave adverse effects on the nervous system. Harmful pesticides can also cause several hazardous diseases like cancer, liver, kidney and lung damage. Pesticides can also cause loss of weight and apetite, irritability, insomnia, behavioral disorders and dermatological problem”, the Consumer Voice report says. 

Consumer Voice had reported this to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and had asked for strict monitoring from government agencies to check the manufacture, import and use of banned pesticides. It also insisted that the pesticide residue limits be reviewed given that no reviews had been done in the last 30 years. 

Delhi High Court takes action

The Delhi Government conducted tests to check residue in fruits and vegetables at four laboratories approved by the NABL and the Department for Science and Technology. They showed that pesticides were present in just 8 of the 31 samples collected but these were within the maximum residue limit prescribed by the Central Government under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act. 

There was a media outcry following the Delhi Government’s watered down report submitted in November 2013 (Consumer Voice blog). The Court has since directed the Delhi Government to do surprise checks of wholesale and retail markets and conduct routine tests to ensure that the residue of pesticides in vegetables and fruits sold are under permissible limits (Daily Mail UK). 

The Government has further been asked to look for definite ways to curb the use of harmful pesticides by February 5, 2014. Errant traders will be prosecuted if contamination is found, the Bench said. The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act stipulates that traders selling contaminated produce can be jailed up to six years and fined up to Rs. 5,000. 

Is our food contaminated with chemicals? 

ToxicsLink, a Delhi based NGO, recently organized a panel discussion represented by Consumer Voice and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to debate the issue threadbare. Not much has changed since 2010, according to Prof. Shree Ram Khanna of Consumer Voice. While rules mandate that samples from each wholesale vegetable and fruit market be checked on a daily basis to test chemical residues, Consumer Voice argues that Food Inspectors are corrupt and barely do that. 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and the government have taken no action against the parties involved in pesticide cases either. Meenakshi Singh of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, asserted at the lecture that the Authority strives to “ensure establishment of standards and practices that fully assure consumers interest and adhere to the highest degree of integrity possible”. 

The way ahead 

Taking cues from international standards, the pesticide residue limit must be reduced and continuously monitored at the seller-level. Carrying out the threat of fines to errant traders is only one part of it. The more pressing need is to encourage and incentivize farmers to alter their farming practices. Using techniques such as crop rotation and using bio-pesticides among other practices, must be brought back.

Farmers' produce will not be bought, say grain merchants

Indore: Opposing their inclusion into the Food Safety and Standards Act, the city foodgrain traders have announced not to buy farmers’ produce if it fails to meet up with the norms laid down by the act.

These traders are arguing that they buy and forward the foodgrain to processors so they should not be brought into the ambit of this act, which could subject them to penal provisions once the act comes to force.

There are around 2,000 foodgrain traders in the city who would be buying only the ‘standard’ produce and the task of deciding these standards would rest with the mandi samitis, said ex-president of Anaj Tilahan Vyapari Sangh Sukumal Sethi.

It’s a state wide protest and all the associations representing foodgrain merchants are supporting it, he claimed. 

Significantly, the merchants are protesting their inclusion in the act for the last one week, as the act is expected to come to force from February 4.

“We have been brought into the ambit of the act so we would only purchase standard produce which adhere to the act’s norms, as we don’t want our members to face legal action,” Gopaldas Agrawal, president of MP Anaj Dalhan Tilhan Vyapari Mahasangh told dna.

He added that the traders would ask the mandi committees for laying down the parameters specified in the act for standard foodgrain so that the traders could buy proper produce.

He added Indore is a mega fodograin market and selected purchase might affect foodgrain supply chain, if runs for stretched duration.

Certification haze hits nutraceutical exporters

The Union commerce ministry has recently taken up the matter with the health ministry, which supervises the food standards Authority , on the immediate need to sort out the issues relating to export licences.

HYDERABAD: The lack of clarity on the certification process for their products has dealt a serious blow to Indian exporters of dietary supplements and nutraceuticals, who are now unable to ship newer products abroad or renew licences for older ones. 

Since 2011, when India, which merged many Central Acts of various ministries to form the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India—there has been confusion on which authority is responsible for issuing the export certificates for supplements and nutraceuticals. Earlier, the export certificates were granted by various local authorities under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act. 

Some 500 Indian companies, who collectively export about. 3,000 crore worth of products, are now finding the going increasingly tough as hundreds of licences issued before the new regime have expired and many dozen licences are set to lapse by the year end.

The Union commerce ministry has recently taken up the matter with the health ministry, which supervises the food standards Authority , on the immediate need to sort out the issues relating to export licences. 

PV Appaji, director general of Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil), said the nutraceutical companies need a "Certificate of Nutraceutical Product" and free sale certificate for exports, especially to regulated markets. India reported exports of . 79,500 crore ($14.5 billion) of pharmaceuticals, including dietary supplements and nutraceuticals , in 2012-13 .

"There has been a lot of uncertainty over the licensing authority , which is hampering our exports significantly. Some of our licences have already expired," said Akkshay G Mehta, managing director of Mumbai-based leading nutraceutical firm Mission Vivacare. 

Mehta said his company suffered a steep fall in export revenues over the past two years. He said the sector is growing at some 20 per cent a year now as against the potential of some 50 per cent. "The Indian nutraceuticals sector has a potential to reach exports of . 10,000-12 ,000 crore over the next five years." Though nutraceuticals sector is still evolving in India, globally it has an attractive market size of over $70 billion.

Formalin Found in Fish Samples from Other States: Government to HC

The state government has informed the Kerala High Court that the samples of fish brought from the neighbouring states and ice used as preservatives had the presence of formalin. 

The state government has informed the Kerala High Court that the samples of fish brought from the neighbouring states and ice used as preservatives had the presence of formalin.

The report was filed in response to a writ petition filed by advocate Basil Attipetty seeking a directive to restaurants and eateries in the state to sell food in terms of the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act and Rules.

The state pointed out that a communication was sent to the food safety commissioners of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Goa to immediately take necessary steps to prevent such actions. The government said that it had ordered the closure of 18 ice plants across the state for not maintaining necessary standards. The officials of the food commissionerate had intensified inspections across the state. The commissioner of food safety had issued certain guidelines for hotels, bakeries, fast food units, drinking water suppliers and drinking water tanker lorries. Besides, special drive was conducted to ensure quality of drinking water and vegetables sold in the state.

As part of a special drive conducted during Onam season, two tanker lorries suspected to be carrying cheaper oils for adulterating coconut oil was confiscated and the license of the consignee firm was suspended.

The report said that the absence of scientific slaughter houses is a cause of concern, as the state is a major consumer of non-vegetarian foods.

DINAKARAN NEWS

SMC accuses Radio Kashmir of breach of conduct

'Profiles tainted companies for vested interests’

Srinagar: Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has accused Radio Kashmir Srinagar of breach of conduct as it has broadcasted a program sponsored by a tainted company which was fined by the High Court in the case of food adulteration here recently.

After the program was broadcasted by Radio Kashmir on January 14, the Health Officer, SMC has written a letter to the registrar Judicial of the JK High Court pleading to take serious note of the ‘breach of conduct’ of a sub- Judice matter.

The corporations pleaded before the court that the action of the authorities of Radio Kashmir levelled wild allegations against a government institution in the said program with an intention to jeopardize the government stand in the matter.

In a letter to the high court the corporation has alleged that the Director General, Radio Kashmir Bashir Arif seems to have taken some extra personal interest in broad casting the programme as according to the corporation, the director has personally visited the field for interviewing.

Demanding action against the authorities of the Radio Kashmir, SMC said the authorities at the helm of affairs of the prestigious Station is most unfortunate and deplorable and speaks about the functioning of the Radio Kashmir which is supposed to honour and highlight the genuine Public concern of the masses.

It is to mention here that High Court besides fining three companies, had also directed government to give wide publicity in the print and electronic media about the suspected food items so as to create general awareness in the public for non use of these food items.

On January 14, RK broadcasted the program at 9:30 pm sponsored by Kanwal Agro Food Limited-one of the companies which was fined by the High Court in the case of Food adulteration.

On Dec 23, JK High Court had directed three food companies to deposit an amount of 10 crores each with Director Sher-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura within two weeks.

The directions came after petitioners Advocate Sheikh Muhammad Ayoub and TH Khawaja submitted before the court that some spices and milk has been found unsafe by the Central Food laboratory, Kolkatta.

The matter was hear in reference to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding food safety which is already in the court seeking directions to the state for enforcing Food Safety Standards Act, 2006 and rules made there under with reasonable promptitude.

However the apex court stayed the order of JK High Court for four weeks after the companies pleaded that they were not party to the case.

To issue licence, FDA goes door-to-door

THANE: The Food and Drug Administration, Konkan Division, has started camps as well as door-to-door drives for on-the-spot registration and licencing to help traders enlist themselves under the standard Food Safety Act by February 4. As per the government directives, the traders will be penalised if they do not get themselves registered before the deadline.

The state has directed all traders and shops dealing in food items to register themselves under the act by February 4. This will also be applicable for shops that require food license. Failure to procure registration number and license will result in fines and penalty.

The FDA has launched the registration and licensing drive with the support of NGOs, various trading associations and volunteers to reach out to more traders to achieve its target before February 4.

The camps are being held with the help of representatives of trading wings and volunteers under the supervision of food officers and FDA assistant commissioners. However, lack of manpower and machinery delayed the process and left many unregistered.

With this fresh initiative shop owners are given faster mode of registration and obtain of license at their doorstep.

While most traders are happy with the initiative, it has not gone down well with a few who raised their voices for being charged extra.

"We charge Rs 100 per year for registration and Rs 2,000 for licence on a yearly basis. For five years registration, one has to shell out Rs 500, and Rs 1,000 for licence for the same period for which we issue receiptsto the tune of Rs 10, 000 for which FDA issues receipts. We don't charge anything additionalWe tend to provide registration and license at the doorstep which is why the camps are being held," said S K Shere, joint commissioner of FDA, Konkan Division.

"I was asked to shell out Rs 50 extra for which no receipt was issued.

I paid Rs 500 for five-year term registration fees and Rs 300 for tatkal charges as I participated in the camp. I got the receipts for Rs 800 but didn't get the receipt for Rs 50. This is unfair. In the name of tatkal you can't fool people," said a vendor.

But others were happy to have the licence and registration certificate on the spotwithout running from pillar to post along the FDA corridor. "We are glad that we could procure spot certifications. Money is not an issuesince the volunteers are putting in a lot of effort to get the work done," said Manish Chhada, a businessman.

Clearing the air about extra charge, Pradip Raut, assistant commissioner, FDA, said, "The NGO and volunteers charge Rs 300 for the processing of documentation like filling forms, xerox and issuance of certificates, licences and loading the data online. The volunteers charge Rs 50 extra for doing all thisfor collecting the files, forms and documents from applicant's shop at their own risk and delivering the certificates and licences."

Hotels in a fix over new law

Under the new rules, hotel staff must handle food wearing gloves and use food-grade materials and utensils

Just two weeks from now, all hotels and eateries have to register under the union ministry of health. But they are hoping the HC stay will be extended

Raghavendra Cherkady, who runs the Ganesh Bhavan hotel in Hanumanthnagar, is one of the thousands of hotel owners who are rushing towards an inevitable deadline. All hotels and eateries in the state have to register under The Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) by February 4, 2014 — a deadline set by the High Court of Karnataka. Once registered, hotels come under the new law and apart from the food they serve being subject to lab tests, they have a long list of guidelines to follow. These include all those who handle food to wear gloves and use food-grade materials and utensils.

Cherkady says, "This is inevitable. But if the law is implemented from day one, 90 per cent of food outlets in Bangalore will have to shut down."

Under FSSA, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been established. All food business operators, which include hotels, have to obtain a licence and register with the authority. Hotels will stop being under the purview of the local bodies like BBMP and come directly under the central government.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Hotels Association has once again approached the HC against this. Chandrashekar Hebbar of the association, said, "The case is being heard on January 23. Let us see what happens. The new law is too harsh,complex and difficult to follow. Prosecution and jail term is prescribed for so many things. If the vegetables we purchase turn out to be bad, we can be jailed.

"If people take food parcels and eat it hours later and find they had turned bad, a case can be filed against the hotel. Laws should be simple and penalty harsh. But if the law is complex and difficult, it will lead to corruption."It is not just hotels, but caterers, canteens (in educational institutions and offices), snack bars, and even food service at religious places that will come under the new law. Says Hebbar, "Where will all hotels get a lab technician? Else the food has to be tested in the authority's labs. But there are only four labs for Karnataka, including two in Bangalore."

The All India Hotels Association is planning a nation-wide strike on January 27. But the FSSAI is in no mood to extend the February 4 deadline. Cases have been filed against a few hotels already. But the hotels have decided to pay the fine instead of fighting the cases in court. Hebbar, said, "The old law has been repealed. But they are using the old law to file cases. Hotels will win if they go to court. But they did not want to complicate things and paid fines." Cherkady, says, "Large food processors and big hotels will not have a problem. The small hotels and eateries will feel the pinch. But no one will bother with road-side eateries."

Food contamination

Adulteration is a big issue in hotels. A hotel owner, says, "While a kg pepper costs Rs 500, pepper powder is available for Rs 300. This is nothing but adulterated stuff. Ajinomoto is another highly adulterated ingredient. Bush colour has to be used in proportion of 0.001 but you will find cooks just splashing it from the carton. There are hundreds of such things in the hotel industry and there is no doubt everyone is afraid." The Hotel Association's Hebbar, however, says, "There are always reports of people falling ill eating mid-day meals and in wedding feasts. But there is no single case of any person falling ill or dying from eating food in hotel."

The New guidelines

Here are a few samples of the several dozen guidelines under the new law:

All food handlers shall keep their fingernails trimmed, clean and wash their hands with soap, or detergent and water before commencing work and every time after using toilet. Scratching of body parts, hair shall be avoided during food handling processes.

Fridge should be cleaned at least once a week to remove stains, ice particles and food particles. The temperature in the fridge should be in the range of 4°C - 6°C.

Doors shall also be made of smooth and non-absorbent surfaces so that they are easy to clean and wherever necessary, disinfected.

A display board mentioning dos & don'ts for the workers shall be put up inside at a prominent place in the premise in English or in local language for everyone's understanding.

A well-equipped laboratory for testing of food materials /food for physical, microbiological and chemical analysis shall be in place inside the premises.

Air should not be blown into any tissue of animals slaughtered for food (air is blown into lungs of sheep).

Changing facilities and toilets compulsory in all hotels.

Everyone working with food products should get a medical certificate.

Separate knives, cutting boards and dishes should be used for meat products.

Surplus and unused thawed food to be discarded.

Personal hygiene of food handlers should be ensured.

Food-safety hazards in pork chain

 

RECENT RESEARCH PAPER HIGHLIGHTS HEALTH IMPLICATIONS 

A recent research paper on laboratory testing of pigs and pork in Nagaland for a range of infectious and non-infectious hazards to consumers has revealed substantial microbial contamination (accidental introduction of infectious material like bacteria or virus) as well as antibiotic residues (potential threat to direct toxicity in human). The study has also identified several important pathogens for the first time in the state. 

The descriptive pilot study published last month (December 24, 2013) in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) has also claimed it is the first risk-based assessment of food safety in Nagaland.

The paper was co-authored by nine experts and researchers - Anna Sophie Fahrion of Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland; Lanu Jamir and Simon Ao of Department of Veterinary and Animal Health, Nagaland; Kenivole Richa, Varijaksha P. Padmakumar, Ram Pratim Deka and Delia Grace of International Livestock Research Institute, Kenya; Sonuwara Begum of National Research Institute on Mithun, Jharnapani, Nagaland and Vilatuo Rutsa of NEPED, Kohima.

The study was carried out in November 2009 in Kohima district and the samples were taken at two important control points of the pork chain:

(a) Slaughterhouses from where faecal, blood samples were collected and lingual palpation performed on the fresh slaughtered pigs. 

(b) Butchers: 25 pork stalls were chosen by simple random sampling. Blood samples were taken from the vena cava during slaughtering process. 

Adopting a risk analysis framework, the study discussed some of the identified hazards and their proxies to characterize risks for pork borne disease.

The study said that based on questionnaire survey, pork consumers indicated that boiling of meat was the common method of preparing meat. 98% of the respondents cooked pork between 30 and 190 minutes. This meant that pork was well cooked and Enterobacteriaceae eliminated. 

However, there are chances for cross contamination. 57% of consumers reported white, rice grain like cysts in the meat they purchased.

Of the pork samples tested for this study, 4.5% contained traces of antibiotic residues. Heat treatment cannot eliminate the residues and the consumer is not able to mitigate the risk, said the study.

The study considered Enterobacteriaceae to be indicative of important hazards because this family includes Salmonella spp., toxigenic E. coli and other bacteria, which are known hazards. The two hazards chosen (T. solium and antibiotic residues) also have adverse effects on human health. 

The most common health effects of Enterobacteriaceae are gastro-intestinal illness. This is often most serious in young, old, pregnant and immune-compromised people. 

The study found that “levels of contamination with Enterobacteriaceae were unacceptably high at all steps along the value chain.” 

The paper also claimed that Nagaland had the highest density of pigs in India and highest pork consumption levels. 

The study found low microbiological quality. Only 25% of the samples had a satisfactory low level of total aerobic bacteria indicating poor handling and poor hygiene. 

However, the study also documented a number of practices that reduce risk including long cooking duration and typical consumption of pork within 12 hours of slaughter.

This study was the first to report Listeria spp., B. suis and Fasciola spp. eggs from swine and pork sampled in Nagaland. Infection with Listeria monocytogenes, an important food safety hazard and only pathogen in the genus Listeria spp., can lead to severe disease such as neurologic symptoms, meningitis, abortion and stillbirth. Listeria spp. are ubiquitous in the environment and are psychrotroph bacteria, said the research paper. 

The study found that slaughter places were an important source of contamination with faeces, lack of adequate water and waste disposal and poor practices by slaughterhouse workers. 

The research paper recommended training of slaughterhouse workers and butchers using peer-to-peer methods, in combination with improving consumer practices. 

The study was undertaken by International Livestock Research Institute and financially supported by Ratan Tata & Navajbai Ratan Tata Trust.

IMC carries out surprise checks in city food joints

Indore: A mobile court of Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) on Saturday paid surprise visits at city hotels and restaurants to check compliance of food safety norms. 

The food safety officers and other employees of the IMC, under the directions of municipal magistrate checked kitchens and also served challans to 22 prominent hotels and restaurants of the city. 

The chief health officer of IMC, Dr DC Garg said that sudden inspection was planned in order to check hygiene and quality of food items being served to the customers. The inspection was carried out at the hotel and restaurants at Sarvate Bus Stand and in its vicinity. 

The major lapses noted by the food safety officers include adulterated and stale food items, negligence on maintaining hygiene in kitchens, unable to show license, improper water drainage system etc. 

The team destroyed a total of 250 kg adulterated food items on the spot during the inspection at various food joints. The prominent hotels and restaurants, where food safety officers swooped down include Hotel Gurukripa, Sri Gurukripa, Madni Restaurant, Indore Hotel, Shreeleela Hotel, Madni Darbar Hotel, Madni Hotel, Shree Leela Chaat House, Vijayshree Restaurant, Jain Puri Bhandar, Bhagat Ji Hotel, Nazar Hotel, Sai Prasad Bhojnalaya, Apna Hotel, Shri Jagdamba Restaurant, Shri Chaurasia Tea Stall, Jain Tea Stall, Manpasand Bhojnalaya, New Ghamandi Lassi and Tea Stall, Neelkamal Bhojnalaya, Sammaan Tea Stall and Shiv Kripa Bhojnayalaya. 

Dr Garg also said that on the directions of central zone of National Green Tribunal, food safety officers of the corporation has carried out campaign in different areas, including Gauri Nagar, Bhagirathpura etc to check use of sub-standard polythene bags. The teams seized nearly 25 kg sub-standard polythene and were adviced not to use them. "We have been raising awareness among the shopkeepers, fruit and vegetable vendors not to use sub-standard polythene bags, as they lead to deaths of innocent animals," said Dr Garg.

SMC flouted rules, lied about sample testing?

Food adulteration row

SMC flouted rules, lied about sample testing?

Srinagar: Srinagar Municipal Corporations high flying and controversial Health Officer, Dr.Shafqat Khan is likely to face music over his role in the food adulteration row involving leading spice and milk brands of the valley. The documents accessed and in possession of The Kashmir Monitor show that SMC had issued contradictory statements about the seizure of samples and had overt stepped legal procedures while dealing with the matter.

In one document the SMC’s Health Officer has mentioned that the sample of Sounf powder was lifted from a Kiryana Shop at Nowshara Srinagar on 31/10/2013 while the seizure memo of the same sample shows the date of lifting as 30-09-2013,thus raising serious questions marks over the entire process of sampling.

Moreover, the document lying with Kashmir Monitor reveal that the report of the Food Analyst of the SMC in his report dated 10-10-2013 cleared the same sample as fit for consumption. If SMC had cleared the sample as OK then what was the need to go for retesting to Kolkatta?

Last Month, Srinagar Municipal Corporation had appealed people to refrain from using or consuming Saunf powder manufactured by M/S Kanwal Agro Food Industries calling it unsafe and hazardous for health.

So far none of the two companies have been served a formal notice by the government except public notices issued in local newspapers. Also so far there is no formal letter of complaint against the two companies on record and the SMC seems to have taken action unilaterally.

In a reply to SMC’s report, the manufacturer had blamed Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) for trying to malign the image of the company. “The department has violated the norms as under section 47 (1) (a) which directs the concerned officer to serve the notice on Form VA to the manufacturer for lifting of the food samples,” Director Kanwal group of industries, Farooq Amin had said.

The group says that the sample has been mishandled while transferring it for the lab test. “Public Analyst Kashmir had termed it fit for consumption. But the SMC later sent the sample to a Kolkata based laboratory for further testing and during this time it was found adulterated. We are sure something is fishy”, the reply states.

Various reputed laboratories like ARBRO, FICCI Research and Analysis Centre and Shriram Institute for Industrial Research have given clean chit to Sounf powder.

Under section 47(1) (b) and rules of 2.4.1(10) (i) and (ii) the Food Safety Officer is required to lift the four parts of the sample, whereas the concerned food safety officer has collected only one packet of Sounf powder weighing 500gms for which payment has made, which is again in contravention of provisions of Food safety and Standards Act 2006 and rules that under as he was required to lift four packets of Sounf powder having same batch number.

While justifying the discrepancies in the reports, Health Officer SMC, Dr Shafqat Khan said that the said spice brand should approach to the court rather than complaining to the media. “There could be some clerical error but the laboratory report has mentioned that the powder is unsafe and hazardous for health that is more important,” he said.

“The matter is sub-judice in the HC; it is the wastage of exercise by publishing in the newspaper as it won’t help them,” Khan said.

FBO asked to comply with food safety rules

Dimapur, January 19 

In pursuance to the Food Safety and Standard (packaging and labeling) Regulation 2011, Chapter 1 of sub-rule 1.2 (1.2.1), the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare (Food Safety) has directed all local food products/ home made food for sale, store, distribution for sells to properly seal their products in food grade plastic container or polythene.A press release issued by the Principal Director and Additional Food Safety Commissioner, Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Neiphi Kire, said all concerned that such products should carry information on Name of food; Date of manufacture or packaging; ingredients used or added; Net weight/ volume/ number; lot number/ batch number/ code number; Best before; and Use-by date/ expiry date.

He said the information on the package should be duly printed and not through a sticker and registered their business under Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006, and Rules and Regulations, 2011. It stated that non compliance to the directive would be an offence, punishable under the said Act and Rules.

Further, all Food Business Operators (FBO) in the State irrespective of urban and rural based food business operators are directed to obtain License or Register their food business under the said Act and Rules before February 4. It informed that application forms for licensing/ registration and other details could be obtained from the designated CMOs of the district on all working days. It said operating food business without a license or registration would attract penalty upto Rs 5 lakhs and imprisonment upto 6 months under Section 63 of the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006.

Registration of food outlets made mandatory in Himachal

Sunday Jan 19, 2014, Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to make online licensing and registration of all food business establishments in the state mandatory from February 4 this year, an official spokesman said here.

“All food business operators including pansari shop, dhaba, restaurant, hotel, guest house, canteen, stall owners, meat shop owners, civil supply shop, wine shop, canteens of railway, airport, military and para-military, government and semi-government establishments, would have to register their businesses, besides getting online licence by February 4,” the spokesman said. He said those failing to register their establishments by February 4 would be imposed a fine of Rs 100 per day under the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006.

HP Govt made mandatory Registration of Food Business Establishments

SHIMLA: The online Licensing and Registration of all Food Business Establishments in the State had been made mandatory by 4th February, 2014. 

A spokesman of the State Government said here today that all Food Business Operators including Pansari shop, Dhaba, Restaurant, Hotel, Guest House, Canteen, Stall owners, Milk and Egg shop owners, meat shop owners, Civil Supply shop, Store, Depot, Wine shop, Agriculture and Horticulture store/ depot, Railway, Airport, Military and Para Military food store/depot, Government and Semi Government and hospital Canteen and Catering business operators should register their business establishments besides getting online license by 4th February, 2014. 

He said that the food business operators who would not register their establishments by 4th February, 2014 would be fined Rs. 100 per day under Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006. He said that for more information one can contact in the office of District Health Officer and Food Security Officer in their respective districts.