FDA finds 77 meat shops sans licence in raids across state

PANAJI: The Food Drugs Administration (FDA) conducted a special inspection of meat stalls and shops across the state and found 77 shops operating without a food safety licence.

Owners of the errant meat shops have been issued notices and given 10 days to obtain necessary permission from local bodies, an NOC from the health department and a licence from the FDA. During this period, the meat stall owners have been asked to suspend activities and undertake corrective measures.

FDA officials directed Dastagiri Saab Bepari, owner of a meat stall in Merces, to shut operations, though Bepari could prove where he had obtained the meat from and also produced a certificate to that effect. As he failed to produce a food safety licence, which is mandatory, he has been asked not to bring further consignments of meat until he obtains a licence.

The officers found 50-60kg of beef at Bepari's stall which he claimed to have procured from Belgaum. Also, 31 tins of animal fat were found stocked by him. He had a fitness certificate for the animal obtained from a Belgaum-based veterinary officer. The officials of animal husbandry and veterinary services, Goa, had inspected his consignment and certified it to be fit for consumption. Despite this, the FDA drew samples of the animal fat at his shop, which will be tested for quality at its Bambolim laboratory.

FDA director Salim Veljee said that they carried out a special inspection of 58 meat shops in South Goa and 17 in North Goa. In North Goa, markets in Panaji, Porvorim, Merces, Bambolim and St Inez were inspected and in South Goa, the SGPDA market and markets at Margao, Rawanfond, Gogol, Vasco and Sanguem were inspected.

Veljee added that he would take up the issue with municipal/panchayat bodies to ensure that minimum facilities and proper sanitation and hygiene is maintained at meat shops.

In the next few days, FDA inspectors will inspect meat stalls at Mapusa, Bicholim, Pernem, Valpoi, Quepem, Canacona and other places.

The FDA will also conduct a special workshop and training programs to generate awareness among meat stall vendors so that they comply with provisions of the Food Safety and standards Act, 2006.