21 officers withdrawn from food safety wing

The designated officers used to monitor and lead the inspections to check if food items were within the parameters of the Food Safety and Standards Act.

In a move that could affect food safety surveillance, the Department of Health and Family Welfare has relieved 21 senior medical officers from holding the posts of designated officers of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) in the State and repatriated them to the department in respective districts.

The reason: shortage of doctors in the department.

The food safety officers had been asked to look after the affairs of the food safety wing until the posts of designed officers were filled. The department had been entrusted with the task of implementing FSSA in every district.

The decision, according to sources in the department, could slow down the food safety drives since the designated officer used to monitor and sometimes lead the inspections/raids to check if food items were within the parameters of FSSA. The absence of a “team leader” could have a bearing on spreading the importance of food safety.

According to the norms, the post of the FSSA designated officer should be held by a sub-divisional officer or a medical officer who has put in more than ten years in the department or a person with post-graduation in subjects such as chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry with the rank of a sub-divisional officer.

As the department could not get the officers of sub-divisional rank in the organisation, they appointed 21 senior medical officers doctors to the posts in the State, the sources said.

In some places, designated officers were looking after more than one district as the department could not fill all the designated officers’ posts when the Act came into existence.

Now, citing shortage of medical officers, the department has withdrawn the officers without replacing them.

Since January, the food safety wings in the State have been under the control of the food safety officers.

Sources said food safety officers do not have powers to proceed with certain legal matters but can conduct raids. The officers can renew the licences under FSSA but they do not have prosecuting powers in case of food adulteration. Also, they have no power to impose the penalty up to Rs. one lakh in case of food adulteration.

In Mysuru, extensive food safety drives have already taken a backseat following the shortage of food safety officers. As against the sanctioned post of 10 in the district, only three had been appointed.

Food samples for tests are collected based on complaints, suspicion, and random inspection.

It is mandatory to collect four food samples in case of complaints or suspicion. If food is found to be unsafe for consumption, a case is booked against the parties who are liable for punishment and a heavy penalty.

Since the Act came into existence about two years ago, 38 cases had been registered and two had been recommended for prosecution in Mysuru district.