Artifical ripening now a criminal offence

Calcium carbide generally ripens fruit within 2.5 days, gives it appealing hue

FDA makes strict IPC Section 328 with a poisoning charge applicable against traders using calcium carbide to get fruits market ready; no bail for offenders.

Taking into consideration the slew of unpredictable weather situations over the last few months, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) is stealing a march on traders likely to artificially ripen fruits using calcium carbide to keep up with market demand. While this practice is already banned, the authority has observed instances of culprits wriggling out of legal proceedings by obtaining bail, and in a stringent move, has henceforth denoted any such attempt as an offence under Section 328 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Orders were issued in this regard on Monday to all state FDA units, to follow with immediate effect. A diktat was also issued by the state to implement this new addition in the concerned law immediately.

Now, the use of calcium carbide or any such chemical to artificially ripen fruit will be considered a crime — an attempt to destroy the life or impair the health of others by using poison. With this IPC section applied, offenders will be unable to obtain bail from the court after arrest. If guilt is proved by the prosecution in a special court, the accused may face rigorous imprisonment for up to 10 years.

Several traders were found to be using the chemical to ripen fruit like mangoes, bananas and papayas in a neat 2.5 days, so that they can be made available in the market before season starts, to avail of additional profit. The chemical also lends fruits an appealing hue for better marketability.

As per the law, using calcium carbide to artificially ripen any fruit is banned under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, and the Regulations (FSSR), 2011.

Joint commissioner (food) of the FDA's Pune division, Shashikant Kekre, told Mirror, "This year, despite the lack of yield, no cases have been discovered yet, perhaps out of fear of punishment. However, we have decided to make the law more stringent. Many cases are expected to arise with the arrival of the new stock of mangoes in the market."

He added, "Last year, we filed over 100 such cases. Now, it will be a nonbailable offence with IPC Section 328 to be applied in each case. The same section is also applied when other hazardous chemicals are used, like magnesium carbide in banned food items like gutkha, mava or scented tobacco. We have also started imposing a fine of up to Rs 3.5 lakh, which has proved to be a good disincentive."

According to an FDA official, who chose to remain anonymous, consuming such chemically ripened fruits may lead to headaches, dizziness, cancer and heart diseases. "We have suggested to traders that they use ethylene gas centres for this ripening for several kinds of fruits," he said. Another officer from the Mumbai FDA said, "The use of the new section started after a meeting between senior FDA officers, police and traders in February this year. A toll-free number, 1800222365, has also been activated in this matter, to connect all FDA units of the state."

A wholesale mango trader from Gultekdi, Hiraman Raoji Kale, told Mirror, "This is a welcome move aimed at controlling illegal activities. Chemical ripeners are used to earn extra profit with no regard for the lives of those who will consume the fruit. Use of this stringent IPC section is bound to reduce use of chemicals."