Apr 21, 2015
திருச்சியில் கார்பைட்டில் பழுக்க வைத்த 1 டன் மாம்பழம் பறிமுதல்
திருச்சி, ஏப். 21:
திருச்சி காந்தி மார்க் கெட்டில் கார் பைடு கல் வைத்து செயற் கை யாக பழுக் க வைக் கப் பட்ட 1 டன் மாம் ப ழங் கள் பறி மு தல் செய் யப் பட்டன.
தமி ழ கத் தில் மாம் பழ சீசன் தற் போது களை கட்டத் துவங் கி யுள் ளது. திருச் சி யி லும் மாம் ப ழங் களின் விற் பனை படு ஜோ ராய் நடந்து வரு கி றது.
இதை பயன் ப டுத் திக் கொள் ளும் வியா பா ரி கள் பழுக் காத மாம் ப ழங் களை செயற்கை முறை யில் கார் பைடு கல் வைத்து பழுக்க வைத்து விற் பனை செய்து வரு கின் ற னர்.
இந்த மாம் ப ழங் களை வாங்கி சாப் பி டு ப வர் கள் வயிற்று வலி, அஜீ ரண கோளாறு உள் ளிட்ட பல் வேறு தொல் லை களுக்கு ஆளா கின் ற னர்.
உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை அதி கா ரி கள் எச் ச ரித் தும் வியா பா ரி கள் சிலர் தொடர்ந்து கார் பைட் பழங் களை விற் கின் ற னர். திருச்சி காந்தி மார்க் கெட் பகு தி யில் உள்ள மாம் ப ழக் கடை களில் உணவு பாது காப் புத் துறை நிய மன அலு வ லர் ராம கி ருஷ் ணன் தலை மை யில் உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை அதி காரி செல் வ ராஜ் மற் றும் ஊழி யர் கள் நேற்று அதி ர டி யாக ஆய்வு மேற் கொண் ட னர்.
இதில், 2 கடை களில் கார் பைடு கல் வைத்து மாம் ப ழங் கள் செயற் கை யாக பழுக் க வைக் க ப டு வது தெரிய வந் தது.
இதை ய டுத்து ரூ.50 ஆயி ரம் மதிப் புள்ள 1 டன் மாம் ப ழங் கள் பறி மு தல் செய் யப் பட்டன. இவை வாக னம் மூலம் எடுத் துச் செல் லப் பட்டு அரி ய மங் க லம் குப் பைக் கி டக் கில் நக ராட்சி பணி யா ளர் க ளால் கொட்டப் பட்டு ஜேசிபி இயந் தி ரம் மூலம் அழிக் கப் பட்டன.
Officials raid godowns, seize ripened mangoes
A worker loading the mangoes seized by food safety officials at Gandhi market in a truck on Monday.
Officials of the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department raided fruit godowns in Gandhi Market area here on Monday and seized one tonne of mangoes which were being artificially ripened using carbide stones.
Acting on a complaint, a team led by Designated Officer A. Ramakrishnan and Food Safety Officers raided 12 godowns and seized 1.5 kg of carbide stones kept in one of the godowns.
The carbide stones were kept in the godown ahead of stocking mangoes which were expected to arrive on Monday night, Dr. Ramakrishnan said. The team raided another godown and seized one tonne of mangoes which were ripened using carbide stones kept in several packets. The seized mangoes were destroyed later in the Ariyamangalam compost yard. Dr. Ramakrishnan said a Food Safety Officer had been asked to regularly monitor the godowns in view of the heavy arrival of mangoes in the next few days to check artificial ripening of the fruit.
Carbide stones are used to induce ripening and for better appearance, he said and added that consumption of artificially-ripened mangoes would pose health-related problems.
Fruits merchants cry foul
The campaign against the use of toxic substances to artificially ripen fruits, including mangoes, is part of a conspiracy to stunt the growth of fruits sale by creating a fear psychosis in consumers, the All Kerala Fruit Merchants Association has alleged.
Speaking at a press meet here on Monday, the association office-bearers, who maintained that the people’s fear was completely misplaced, said their members were selling fruits to customers only in complete adherence to all the food safety laws existing in the State.
Loss
State president of the association P. Hamza, who spoke on the occasion, said that the ‘smear’ campaign had cost them around 25 per cent of their annual sale compared to that of last year.
The association members also said that consumers were welcome to take the issue to the Food Safety Commissioner if any such cases were reported from any part of the State.
Hoteliers to move court seeking return of fine
Forum says food safety inspectors collected Rs.18 lakh ‘arbitrarily’
The Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association on Monday said that it would move the High Court to realise the estimated Rs.18 lakh collected “arbitrarily” by the office of the Food Safety Commissioner from hoteliers in the State last year.
In a statement here, association general secretary Moideen Kutty Haji claimed that the High Court had upheld his organisation’s contention that food safety officers had no right to impose fines.
The court had deemed illegal the practice of slapping “improvement notices” and fines on hoteliers at the same time, he said.
He said that the court upheld the association’s argument that as per the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, only the “adjudication officer” could impose fines.
The law bestowed no such authority on food safety inspectors.
Mr. Moideen said the ‘capricious action’ by food safety inspectors had caused huge losses to the hospitality industry and bankrupted hoteliers.
Many establishments burdened by huge fines were forced to shut shop. He said the State was morally bound to pay back the fines it had collected in such a fashion.
DFCO realises Rs. 2.19 lakh as fine from erring traders
SRINAGAR: An amount of Rs. 2.19 lakh was imposed as fine on 21 food business operators under Food Safety and Standards Act for manufacturing/selling sub-standard/misbranded food articles of spices, milk, beverages and sweets. The erring traders were warned not to indulge in such kind of malpractice in future or else their licenses will be cancelled.
Meanwhile, food analyst of Public Health Laboratory Kashmir had declared two samples of Biryani and Chicken Tika unsafe, as synthetic colour was detected in them. The Food Safety Wing of Drugs and Food Control Organization Srinagar warned such hoteliers, restaurant owners and Dhabawalas, who use synthetic colours in the preparation of food to desist from such malpractice otherwise action as warranted under Food Safety and Standards Act will be taken against them which may include closure of their business.
‘Beef ban contravenes Central laws’
Petitioners challenging Maharashtra’s controversial beef ban law told the Bombay High Court that the provision criminalising consumption of beef obtained by the legal slaughter of animals in other States was in contravention of Central laws.
Appearing for the petitioners, senior advocate Aspi Chinoy told the court that Section 5 (d) of Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, which prohibits possession and consumption of meat of cow, bulls and bullocks even if the animals have been slaughtered outside Maharashtra, was in conflict with Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Livestock Importation (Amendment) Act, 2001.
He said whereas the Food Safety Act allowed the consumption of canned meat, the Livestock Importation Act had a category for “live-stock products’ including meat from bovine animals.
“Even though the Maharashtra Bill has got presidential assent now, the Bill was passed in 1995. Whereas these are Central Laws passed by Parliament and came into being much later,” he submitted.
On how Section 5 (D) caused a conflict, counsel said the Act criminalises consumption or possession of meat obtained legally. Also, the clause was not in consonance with the other provisions of a law whose purpose was ensuring the safety of agricultural assets in Maharashtra.
“Meat brought from other States would have no impact on the livestock here but this, in effect, is saying people not to consume beef at all. This, in effect, violates one’s freedom to eat what he or she likes and hence the right to privacy,” he said, responding to an affidavit filed by the government justifying the ban.
Beef ban law is 'reasonable restriction', does not violate fundamental rights: Maharashtra govt to HC
MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government on Monday justified its new beef ban law before the Bombay high court claiming it was a ''reasonable restriction''.
An affidavit of the state animal husbandry department, submitted to the court by advocate general Sunil Manohar, denied that the law, which criminalizes even possession of beef, violates any fundamental rights. ''It cannot be said that simply because the possession of meat of cow progeny is banned so as to give complete effect to the directive principles of the Constitution, the right of citizen under Article 21 (right to life) to have his own choice of food stands violated or stultified,'' the affidavit said.
The state said that the cow, and its progeny were the backbone of Maharashtra's agrarian economy and to protect it and also to prevent cruelty to animals the law was brought into effect. The government also clarified that the ban was only on the slaughter of cows, bulls and bullocks and the possession of flesh of these animals. ''There is no total ban on import of meat or livestock. The only ban is for the possession of meat/flesh of cow progeny within the state of Maharashtra and there cannot be trade or commerce of meat/flesh of cow progeny. All other kind of meat including that of buffalo is permitted to be possessed,'' added the affidavit. ''Though the provision may result in affecting the import of cow progeny flesh, the same is only incidental to the real nature and character of the enactment and hence cannot affect the competence of the legislature to enact (the law),'' the state said.
The government opposed any stay and pointed out that the law had received the President's assent and was ''in public interest''.
The petitioners, who have challenged the beef ban law questioned section 5D of the Act that criminalizes possession of beef and in turn its consumption. Senior advocate Aspi Chinoy, contended that the beef ban law was contrary to central laws like the Food Safety and Security Act and the Livestock Import Act that treats beef as a ''wholesome, and permissible food''.
The division bench of justice VM Kanade and justice MS Sonak has scheduled the case for further hearing on Tuesday April 21, 2015.
In 1976, the Maharashtra government enacted a law banning the slaughter of cows. In 1995, the government makes changes to the law by the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, which banned the slaughter of bulls and bullocks as well. Twenty years later in February 2015, the President of India grants sanction to the law. The Maharashtra government notifies the law in March 2015 and it comes into force across the state.
Food safety is a must for sustainable development
Food safety is a theme having high priority and relevance among governments, civil society, the private sector and intergovernmental agencies across the globe. Changing consumer preferences, changes in production and distribution methods, evolving trade and travel, shifts in climatic and environmental factors, and growing anti-microbial resistance are some of the factors that increase the probability of occurrence of food hazards and food safety incidents. Unsafe food is a major public health issue and restoring food trust with the consumer is now becoming an important area of concern among governments, regulators and enforcement agencies, and large multinational companies.
In India, increasing agricultural exports have long been an integral part of the government's sector-development strategy. However, there have been serious challenges faced by exporters in order to streamline exports with the ever-changing food quality and safety norms of major importing countries. There have been incidences in which Indian export products have not complied with international food quality and safety norms leading to restrictions in market access to the importing countries.
There have been concerns over pesticide residues in horticultural produce (EU's ban on India's mango exports in 2014, Saudi Arabia's ban on India's chillies' export in 2014, the Indian Grape Export Crisis in 2003), aflatoxin contamination and the use of prohibited food colorants in spices' export (Indian dry chili exports faced rejection in Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK due to the presence of aflatoxin in 2004-05, EU banned fish and fish exports from India in 1997 due to salmonella detection).
Sudden changes in the import norms, stringent food safety and quality norms followed by major importing countries have increased challenges for food exporters in gaining access to these markets. Even for large multinational companies disruption in food supply is a major concern for loss of brand value among its consumers.
Apart from dealing with the challenges in getting access to the international market, the food industry has to deal with various intrinsic issues impacting food quality and safety across the supply chain. The existing extension system does not focus on food quality and safety domain as a result of which there is limited awareness among farmers towards these areas. Further, limited training avenues and support infrastructure, coupled with high cost of certification, creates a disincentive for adoption of standard practices by small holders and marginal farmers. This poses serious challenges to product quality standardisation for food companies engaged in cross border procurement and trade.
Further, quality and safety management systems, product certification and standardisation regarding food safety and quality are still in their infancy and need immediate attention. The government should provide an integrated legal framework and platform to facilitate implementation of food quality and safety management systems. To further harness the potential of the agriculture and food industry, robust policy strategies on food quality and safety are absolutely imperative, with emphasis given on a holistic farm-to-fork approach, as an effective means of reducing probable food hazards. In addition, focused approach towards improving areas such as tax incentives, skill development and education programmes, stakeholder awareness campaigns, international cooperation and related policies can improve the level of food safety and quality in India and gain the much-needed Food Trust among consumers.
Concerted efforts are required both by the government and the private sector at policy and implementation levels, respectively. There is a need to go beyond compliance to improve standards and secure greater market access of our food products in the developed markets. Enabling transparent integration of knowledge, technology and information across the food supply chain, coupled with effective risk monitoring, could lead to improved traceability and increased supply chain resilience, ensuring food safety and security at the national level.
PwC considers food safety an important precursor to ensuring food security. Food safety is a vital constituent to achieve sustainable development - it must be systematically assimilated into all policies and interventions to improve nutrition and food security. It is also quintessential for the food value chain stakeholders to assess and mitigate food safety risks throughout the supply chain to maintain trade competitiveness and to ensure sustainability in the long run.
Food Safety Standards Act of India, Training on Statutory & Regulatory Requirements, Food Safety & Quality – Best Practices
Event Description
The Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011, notified in the Gazette of India dated 1st Aug 2011 have come in force since 5th Aug 2011 which subsequently got amended as Food Safety and Standards (Amendment) Act, 2014. It is thus important for all concerned stakeholders to get sensitized on the requirements & challenges they will face, with the enforcement of new Rules and Regulations.
Food processors, Food Service industry, Regulators, Exporters need to immediately start training their workforce for working towards implementation of Basic Hygiene Practices in their processing units and Supply Chain and simultaneously build in-house capability for conducting audits to identify the gaps for improvement.
In Schedule 4 of the Regulations “General Hygienic and Sanitary Practices need to be followed by All Food Business Operators”, the requirements have been detailed in Part II. While the entire document is important for all the Food Businesses Operators, it is this part which provides requirements significantly different from the earlier PFA & where Food Business Operators are most likely to falter if they do not gear up now.
To quote this part of the regulation “The establishment in which food is being handled, processed, manufactured, packed, stored, and distributed by the food business operator and the persons handling them should conform to the sanitary and hygienic requirement, food safety measures and other standards as specified below……………”
With this background, CII is organizing a one day Workshop for the Ready to Eat Sector on Food Safety and Standards: Preparing for the New Regulatory Regime on 22 April, 2015 at Park Hotel, Kolkata.
Date and Venue
Start Date:Apr 22, 2015
Venue: Park Hotel, 17 Park Street, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
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