Support emerging for FSSAI whistle-blower

Food safety norms often end up benefiting MNCs, alleges former FSSAI director

KOLKATA, JULY 6: 

Even as Pradeep Chakravarty, a former director of the Product Approval Committee at Food Safety and Standards of India, prefers not to say anything about his PIL before the Delhi High Court which alleges rampant corporate lobbying in FSSAI. NGOs and political parties, including some chief ministers, are expressing solidarity with him. Chakravarty would not name them for obvious reasons.

With the public interest litigation petition expected to come up for hearing on September 30, Chakravarty told BusinessLine: “The matter is sub judice and I would not like to comment on it.” Nor does he want the issue politicised.

In his petition, Chakravarty alleged that the food safety norms often end up “benefiting MNCs”. MNCs, he alleges, also get their scientists and technologists on decision-making bodies. The petition alleges that key committees responsible for granting approval have non-technical people. It wants a review of the products approved by FSSAI in the last two years.

In the petition, Chakravarty, now reverted to his home (West Bengal) cadre, also claims that a ‘retaliatory probe’ has been instituted against him for his role in not allowing the import of an energy drink.

According to sources, Chakravarty denied clearance to an Indian importer to market energy drinks produced by a US company because it contained more caffeine than considered safe for Indians (the cap on caffeine content is set lower for Indians because their average body weight is lower than Americans’).

In July 2013, Chakravarty was removed as the head of the Product Approval Committee at FSSAI. Three months later, in October, his successor reportedly allowed the import of the drink. The approval (for import), it is said, was granted before FSSAI’s scientific panel could review the application.

In January 2014, an enquiry was initiated against Chakravarty, and in February this year, he was moved out of FSSAI.Letter to Health Minister

However, Chakravarty did not give up. In March, he along with two other former FSSAI directors — SS Ghonkrokta, and Asim Chaudhary — wrote to Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda on the alleged malpractices. The letter, a copy of which is available with BusinessLine ,also refers to issues relating to the import of the energy drink.

FSSAI withdrew approval for the energy drink’s imports in May but the probe against Chakravarty is continuing.