ரூ.30 ஆயிரம் புகையிலை பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல்

ஈரோடு, ஆக. 14:
ஈரோடு மாநகரில் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பான்பராக், குட்கா, புகையிலை பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்வதாக மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் கருணாநிதிக்கு பல்வேறு புகார்கள் வந்தன. இதையடுத்து ஈரோடு பஸ் ஸ்டாண்ட், கொங்காலம்மன் கோவில் வீதி, மணிக்கூண்டு போன்ற பகுதிகளில் 100க்கும் மேற்பட்ட கடைகளில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் கருணாநிதி, பாதுகாப்பு ஆய்வாளர்கள் பூபாலன், முத்துகிருஷ்ணன் ஆகியோர் சோதனை நடத்தினர்.
அப்போது தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பான்பராக், பான்மசாலா, குட்கா போன்ற புகையிலை பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்து வந்தது கண்டறியப்பட்டது. மொத்தம் ரூ.30 ஆயிரம் மதிப்புள்ள புகையிலை பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது.

Chiefs of Food Cos Lobby for Faster Approvals

NEW DELHI

Call on regulator to settle issues that delay product approvals and lead to differences of opinion

The heads of a bunch of food companies met the food safety regulator last week, in what seemed like a high-level lobbying aimed at settling issues that delay product approvals and lead to skirmishes between the firms and authorities.

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare managing director Zubair Ahmed, Coca-Cola India president Venkatesh Kini, Kellogg MD Sangeeta Pendurkar, Cargill India MD Siraj Chaudhry , Mother Dairy MD S Nagarajan, Ferrero Group India head Luigi Oddone and McCain Foods MD Vikas Mittal were a part of the delegation that met Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Chairman K Chandramouli and other officials.

The meeting that saw so many heads of companies coming together indicates the importance of product approvals for these companies at a time when they are seeing signs of a turnaround in the market after a two-year slump.

The meeting was kept under wraps until now, with the companies unwilling to discuss the topic on record because of the sensitivity of matters over food regulations and product approvals. Chandramouli confirmed the meeting.

“It was an exchange of ideas and information ... everyone had suggestions and points of view. I had not met many of the CEOs earlier, so they came to meet me. Product approval was one of the issues discussed,“ he told ET.

Usually, the corporate affairs representatives of these firms meet FSSAI officials to settle issues.

“We are implementing the food safety standards on a huge scale for the first time in the country. It is a big challenge and there are also litigations, but ultimately, it is for the benefit of the consumer,“ he said, explaining the reasons for delayed approvals.

One of the officials with direct knowledge of the discussions said while various aspects were discussed, emphasis was on allowing the companies to quickly take their new products to the market.

“The India heads also wanted to assure FSSAI that they are aligned with the food regulator in addressing food safety and quality,“ this person said. “There's an urgent need for quick approvals at a time when product innovation gives a huge competitive edge,“ another official said. “A lot of investment goes in research and development, which companies want to fast track, but are stuck at the regulator because clearances are taking too long.“

The relationship between food and drug firms and FSSAI hasn't always been smooth, with frequent conflicts over new product approval as well as imports and new labelling rules.

In April this year, FSSAI blocked a consignment of syrups meant for Tata Starbucks, which led the coffee chain to approach the Bombay High Court for relief.

Last year, on the eve of Diwali, consignments of leading gourmet chocolate importers such as Mars, Godiva, Guylian and Lindt were stopped by the regulator.

FSSAI had said the imported products didn't contain India-specific labeling, and that the importers had merely pasted local stickers on products that were supposed to sell in overseas markets.

Maharashtra-based Vital Nutraceuticals and the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association had filed a petition saying that FSSAI didn't have the power or authority to issue advisories as it amounted to amending regulations framed under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.

The Bombay High Court called FSSAI's advisory unlawful and gave a verdict in favour of the drug firm, which the regulator has challenged in the Supreme Court.

A couple of months ago, FSSAI told importers of canola oil not to import the edible oil under the brand name, stating that every container must be labelled “imported rapeseed-low erucic acid oil“.

Food Safety Commissioner appoints Designated Officer for Food Safety Act

Port Blair, Aug 13: Following the Calcutta High Court Judgement on the proper and efficient implementation of Food Safety Act, the Commissioner Food Safety/DHS A&N Administration yesterday appointed Whole-Time Designated Officer / Licensing Authority under the Act. The Designated officer will be placed under the Deputy Commissioner of each District as per the provision of the Act.

The public interest litigation WP 640/2012 was filed by Island Protection Forum and the Judgement came on 5th June 2014. For proper implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, the Act stipulates whole-time-regular machinery both at the State level and District level, for which Whole-Time Commissioner Food Safety, Whole-Time Designated Officers/Dist Food Safety Officers, Whole-Time Food Safety Officers, Adjudicating Officer and Food Analyst needs to appointed, but the present setup is adhoc and proper structuring have not been done.

For the past 4 years the Administration simply sat on the files to create and finalizing the RRs of various required posts of Commissioner to Food Analysts, which is resulting in lack of officers for monitoring and sampling to ensure food free from adulteration. Now food samples are sent to some pvt recognized laboratories for testing samples, but it takes 2 days to reach the samples as a result certain parameters that have to be checked within 24 hours of sampling cannot be done.

Advocate K.Sabir appeared for Island Protection Forum in the PIL, the Food Safety Authority of India supported the WP and in the case the Administration didn’t file reply. The judgement gave strict directions to both state and Central govt to comply with the provisions of the Act and appoint required statutory post immediately.

For the post of Food Safety Officer a master in Chemistry or a degree in Food sector eg Agriculture, Veterinary etc are required. For Food Analyst post any one with masters in Chemistry needs to pass Food Analysts examination conducted by FSSAI. The PIL opened up scope for job for Islanders having above qualifications, but it all depends how many more years it will take to create post and finalize RRs.

Now it is the responsibility of the respective Deputy Commissioner to proper monitoring to ensure Food Safety.

Have not shut down testing lab in Ghaziabad: FSSAI to HC

The Delhi High Court was today informed by the Centre and Food and Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) that it has not closed down its Central Food Laboratory (CFL) inGhaziabad as alleged by an NGO. 

The submission was made before a bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Siddharth Mridul which had on July 9 sought an affidavit from FSSAI indicating whether it has closed down its lab. 

Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, appearing for the Union Health Ministry and advocate Mehmood Pracha, appearing for FSSAI, told the bench that the lab has not been shut down as contended by the NGO, Lok Jagriti. 

"We have not closed down the testing lab in Ghaziabad," they said. 

Pracha also submitted that the reason for less number of cases being referred to the lab for testing is due to the fact that it deals only with appeals of cases where a food sample has already been tested by a primary testing facility.

He denied the allegation, of the NGO, that the less number of referrals to the Ghaziabad lab is because the authority is outsourcing the testing work to private labs. 

He also said that he had already filed his affidavit on the issue as per the court's direction on July 9 but the same was not on record due to some objections raised by the registry. 

The court, however, listed the matter for further hearing on August 27 after advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, sought time to go through the report. 

The NGO had dragged the ministry and FSSAI to court alleging they had closed down the lab and are outsourcing testing work to private entities. 

It had also challenged the appointment of the then Chairman of FSSAI, K Chandramouli. However, this issue has become infructuous with the appointment of a new chairman on August 5, 2013.

Indian food exporters complying with EU norms: Minister

Indian food processing exporters are adhering to the safety standards set up by European Union countries, said Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Tuesday.

"Food safety standards set up by EU countries, are based on risk assessment and all exporters are mandatorily complying with these standards for export of products which are administered through APEDA," Badal said in a written reply to the lower house of the Parliament.

"Testing of such products is done in APEDA approved laboratories," she said.

The minister added that the sector has been growing at a rate of around 8.6 percent during the last 5 years ending 2012-13.

"During the last 5 years ending 2012-13, FPI sector has been growing at an Average Annual Growth Rate (AAGR) of around 8.6 per cent as compared to 3.8 per cent in Agriculture and 6.6 per cent in Manufacturing," she said. 

The food processing sector forms an important segment of the Indian economy in terms of its contribution to GDP, employment and investment and it contributes, she added. 

In a developing economy like India, where growth with equity is a primary policy thrust, the optimum development of the food processing sector will contribute significantly in tackling several developmental concerns such as rural poverty, food security, food inflation, improved nutrition, prevention of wastage of food, etc, she said.

"By serving as a bridge between Agriculture and Manufacturing and by dealing with the basic needs of all Indian citizens-the assured supply of healthy and affordable food at all locations in the country, this sector has the potential to be a major driver in India’s growth in the coming years," the minister added.

A network of food testing labs is required to ensure compliance with food standards, she said, adding that there are 151 Food Testing Laboratories under the purview of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for testing food products as per standards prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Rules/Regulation, 2011.

The standards for imported food products are prescribed in Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011 & Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants Toxins and Residues) Regulation, 2011.

Further, FSSAI is in the process of harmonizing the existing Indian Standards with Codex Alimentarius(International Food Standards), the minister said.

Minister reviews arrangements for Sabarimala pilgrim season

Exclusive queues will be ensured for women, senior citizens and the differently-abled at the Sabarimala hill shrine from this festival season.

The virtual queue facility of the police will be strengthened, too, according to VS Sivakumar, Minister for Devaswoms, who briefed newsmen about the decisions of a meeting held here to review preparations.Medicated water

Special Astha lights will be installed at the wild meadows of Pullumedu which witnessed a tragedy some years back. The Forest Department will set up a 24-hour control room there.

Barricades will be set up along the Swamy Ayyappan Road and urinals provided. The sewerage treatment plant at Sannidhanam will be commissioned in November.

Medicated water will be provided to the pilgrims. Bottled water will not be permitted as part of a decision to enforce a plastic ban in the precincts.

More oxygen parlours will be set up. Special arrangements will be made for distributing ‘prasadam’ coupons to prevent heavy rush.Hotels under scanner

Hotels in and around the shrine will be put under the constant scrutiny of the Food Safety Department.

The Motor Vehicles Department will execute its ‘safe zone project’ this year too. A control room will be set up at downhill Nilakkal and a coordination room at Pamba.

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation will put into operation a fleet of 200 new buses for operating services to Sabarimala.

The Kerala State Electricity Board will set up a 33 kv sub-station at Nilakkal-Thriveni. A special fund has been sanctioned to the local bodies near Sabarimala for providing basic amenities to the pilgrims.

‘Animal’ Tag for Rabbits Dismays Farmers

PALAKKAD: The Animal Husbandry Department will urge the Central Government to make necessary changes to the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and registration of food Businesses) Regulation, 2011, in which ‘rabbit’ has been inadvertently classified under the ‘animal’ category, said Animal Husbandry Department Director Dr N N Sasi.

Dr Sasi told ‘Express’ that since the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, was framed at the national-level, the regional tastes and preferences were largely not incorporated.

The government would write to the Centre to make the necessary changes at the earliest. Food Safety Commissioner T V Anupama said that their office will also seek necessary amendments in the Act it had serious ramification on the rabbit-rearing sector.Scores of rabbit farmers in the state were dismayed after the Food Safety andStandards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a circular banning the culling of rabbits, dogs, camels and cats for meat purposes.A number of schemes has been mooted by the Agriculture Department and the Animal Husbandry Department to promote rabbit rearing in the state. Financial assistance has also been routed through agencies like NABARD.Kudumbashree state programme manager Dr Saleem said that in districts like Idukki and Thrissur, there were many farmers who had taken up rabbit farming. Kudumbashree has also evinced keen interest in devising special schemes to promote rabbit farming to produce and sell value-added products like burgers and cutlets through its food outlets.

Former Animal Husbandry Department deputy director Dr N Shudhodhanan said that broiler rabbits reared in Kerala were different from the wild hare. He said that broiler rabbits were usually reared in Kerala and Haryana.

A similar issue had affected the quail farming in the state when the Forest Department had banned the rearing or culling of quails by classifying these birds under the Wild life Act.Subsequently, the state government had taken up the matter with the Centre, contending that Japanese quails were being reared by the farmers, which was exempted from the purview of the Act. He said that ‘Soviet Chinchilla’ breeds were reared in Kerala, and it was promoted to counter protein deficiency among the people. Rabbit rearing was also promoted as self-employment ventures.

There are livestock management training centres of the Animal Husbandry Department in every district, he said.