Food safety certificates for veggies going to other States

Food Safety Officers on Tuesday began issuing licences to vegetable and fruit vendors in the city under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

After reports of pesticide residue in vegetables supplied to Kerala, the Tamil Nadu government decided to issue food safety certification before the produce was sent to the neighbouring States.

R. Kathiravan, Designated Officer of Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety Wing), issued the certificates to 30 vendors on Tuesday.

As many as 242 vendors and traders have applied so far for the licenses, which would be issued after physical verification of the shop and the documents.

A camp to collect applications from vegetable vendors was organised here on Friday by the Departments of Agriculture, Agri-Marketing and Horticulture besides the Food Safety Wing. These departments are also part of a committee formed by District Administration to tackle the issue of excess pesticides in vegetables and fruits.

District Collector Archana Patnaik is the chairperson of the Committee, which has been mandated to conduct awareness among farmers about the adverse effects of using excess fertilisers and chemicals for crops.

As many as 242 vendors and traders have applied so far for the licenses, which would be issued after physical verification of the shop and the documents.