Consumer activists upset over long rope to food business owners

Consumer activists from the city are upset about a government order that gives people running food businesses the time to obtain licences and registrations under Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) up to another six months from February 4, 2015. They say that an extension of around 36 months for the compliance of an act is a clear violation of the rights of consumers.

City-based NGO Anti Adulteration Consumer Society is considering moving to the court against this order issued by the ministry of health and family welfare earlier this month. Food Safety and Standards Act (FSS Act) which came into force on August 5, 2011 though the framing of the laws governing it had been going on since 2006. The businessmen had opposed it vehemently, asking for it to be taken back initially. Food business owners had later asked for some time to be able to adhere to all the rules of the act. This is the fourth time that an extension has been given to the food business owners for ensuring that their establishments comply with the act.

"The act is totally consumer-centric with every little detail has been made with the intention of safeguarding the consumer. The business owners have always been against the provisions made by FSS act. They had earlier got extensions saying that they need time to make necessary changes in their business in July 2012, in 2013 and in 2014. Three years is a long time for them to have made the necessary changes in operations," said president of Anti Adulteration Consumer Society Mohammed Shahid Sharif. He said that by giving the business owners more than three years for compliance of a rule, the government is favouring them over the consumers.

Meanwhile, the society has also brought to light several cases wherein traders have been clearly breaching the FSSA. These include cases of adulterating milk with water, worms and adulteration in food. "We have even caught some officials like those from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) being involved in cases to clear the name of some of the renowned companies who were caught breaking these regulations," said Sharif.