FSSAI CEO transfer: Friend informed Yudhvir Singh Malik

NEW DELHI: It was a friend's call through which Yudhvir Singh Malik got to know about his transfer from food safety regulator FSSAI, where he served as CEO for just about a year but brought it into limelight with the Maggi ban. 

Malik, who took charge of his new posting as Additional Secretary at NITI Aayog today, refused to get into the "reasons" for his sudden transfer, but sources said he was not in the know till the night of September 22 - the date on which the orders were issued. 

When contacted, Malik told PTI: "As a civil servant, I should not get into the reasons of my transfer. As soon as I got orders from the government, I moved on to join the new assignment given to me." 

Sources in the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said everyone in the organisation was in dark about Malik's transfer. 

"... none of us were aware about this, infact even Malik himself had no idea. He attended the office on September 22 as any other day," a source said.

"Malik himself came to know about his transfer when one of his friends, a bureaucrat, called him late in the night on September 22 to ask why he was being transferred," the source added. 

Malik, a 1983 batch IAS officer of Haryana cadre known for his upright attitude, was not the favorite of the industry. 

He had also handled the critical issue of land acquisition in Haryana. 

At FSSAI, after the Maggi ban, Malik faced criticism from both, government and the industry. 

Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal had said that the food regulator has created an environment of "fear" in the industry. 

The minister also said that actions taken by the FSSAI were discouraging innovations in the food processing sector. 

Despite all the criticism, FSSAI under Malik continued to remain vigilant regarding food safety issues and keep on issuing advisories. 

During his tenure, the regulator issued advisories for neutraceuticals, issued guidelines to regulate salt, sugar and fat in food products sold or served at eating joints. 

It was during his tenure only that regulator started working on framing the standards for alcohol products including whiskey, among others.

Centre asks TN to curb use of pesticides

Thiruvananthapuram: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued an order asking Tamil Nadu not to use pesticides excessively on vegetables, recognising Kerala’s battle against poisonous vegetables coming from Tamil Nadu.

Following a report from the food safety commissioner of Kerala, the authority conducted its own tests and found out that vegetables from Tamil Nadu contained pesticides above permissible limits, after which it took the action.

The fact that even in tests conducted in Tamil Nadu it was found that pesticides were used excessively on vegetables was a setback to the state, which until now was not willing to accept Kerala’s stand.

An inspection by food safety officials of Kerala in farms in Tamil Nadu had found out that pesticides were used in a big way on vegetables at different stages of farming and even after harvesting them.

Food safety commissioner T.V. Anupama had submitted to the government a report prepared by a committee headed by joint food safety commissioner K. Anil Kumar along with evidence. Though Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar wrote a letter to Tamil Nadu along with this report, the neighbouring state did not act on it.

Following this, the food safety commissioner approached the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India urging it to intervene in the matter. Former minister Binoy Viswam too wrote a letter to the authority with the same demand.

The authority took a stand that it cannot act only on the basis of a report from Kerala, and it assigned Dr K.K. Sharma to conduct a detailed inquiry. Then samples of vegetables were collected from Tamil Nadu and they were scientifically tested at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Coimbatore and Kerala Agricultural University in Vellayani, which confirmed excessive use of pesticides.

Following this, as per sections 20 and 21 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, the authority issued the order to take preventive measures to reduce the use of pesticides in vegetables and fruits.

வெல்ல ஆலை கொட்டகையில் சோதனை 110 மூட்டை சர்க்கரை பறிமுதல் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரி அதிரடி

பர மத் தி வே லூர், செப்.24:

பர மத் தி வே லூர் தாலு கா வில் வெல்ல ஆலை கொட்ட கை யில் வெல் லத் தில் கலக்க வைத் தி ருந்த 110 மூட்டை சர்க் க ரையை உணவு பாது காப்பு துறை அதி கா ரி கள் பறி மு தல் செய் த னர்.

பர மத் தி வே லூர் தாலு கா வில் செல் லப் பம் பட்டி, சானார் பா ளை யம், காந்தி நகர், மீனாட் சி பா ளை யம், பிலிக் கல் பாளை யம் ஆகிய பகு தி களில் 30க்கும் மேற் பட்ட வெல் லம் தயா ரிக் கும் கொட்ட கைள் செயல் பட்டு வரு கி றது. இங்கு வெல் லத் தில் சர்க் கரை கலப் ப தாக உண வு து றை யி ன ருக்கு தக வல் கிடைத் தது. இதன் பேரில், மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுாப்பு நிய மன அதி காரி தமிழ்ச் செல் வன், சண் மு கம் அடங் கிய குழு வி னர், நேற்று 30க்கும் மேற் பட்ட வெல்ல ஆலை கொட்ட கை களில் சோதனை நடத் தி னர்.

இதில், ஒரு கொட்ட கை யில் வெல் லத் தில் கலப் ப தற் காக வைத் தி ருந்த 110 மூட்டை சர்க் க ரையை அதி கா ரி கள் பறி மு தல் செய் த னர். இதனை தொடர்ந்து செல் வ ராஜ், மணி, கார்த் திக் உள் பட 30 பேர் மீது, உணவு பாது காப்பு சட்டத் தில் நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க கலெக் ட ருக்கு பரிந் து ரைக் கப் பட்டது. அதன் படி இன்று(24ம் தேதி) காலை இந்த வெல்ல ஆலை கொட்டகை உரி மை யா ளர் கள் மீது உரிய நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும் என மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி கள் தெரி வித் த னர்.

இதில், ஒரு கொட்ட கை யில் வெல் லத் தில் கலப் ப தற் காக வைத் தி ருந்த 110 மூட்டை சர்க் க ரையை அதி கா ரி கள் பறி மு தல் செய் த னர். இதனை தொடர்ந்து செல் வ ராஜ், மணி, கார்த் திக் உள் பட 30 பேர் மீது, உணவு பாது காப்பு சட்டத் தில் நட வ டிக்கை எடுக்க கலெக் ட ருக்கு பரிந் து ரைக் கப் பட்டது. அதன் படி இன்று(24ம் தேதி) காலை இந்த வெல்ல ஆலை கொட்டகை உரி மை யா ளர் கள் மீது உரிய நட வ டிக்கை எடுக் கப் ப டும் என மாவட்ட உணவு பாது காப்பு அதி கா ரி கள் தெரி வித் த னர்.

FDCA to strengthen online regulatory system to up food safety in Gujarat

In a move to strengthen the overall regulatory system in the state, the Gujarat FDCA (Food and Drugs Control Administration) is soon planning to adopt and implement its renowned IT software and online application system namely the XLN software across its food division, to ensure food safety measures in line with that of drugs. With this move, the state regulators aim to have a more systematic approach towards regulating and controlling over 2 lakh registered food business operators (FBOs) across the state under the Food Safety & Standards Regulations, 2011

It is understood that Gujarat FDCA is already in the last leg of finalising the project, which is expected to go on floors soon, with an investment of Rs 40 lakh for hardware and software development along with skill appraisals and training of food officials for the same. If things go as planned, the regulators hope to see the online food monitoring and licensing system to begin its operation successfully within a year’s time.

Interestingly, unlike NIC (National Informatics Centre), which usually undertakes online or IT application projects for the government agencies, this time the Gujarat Informatics Ltd (GIL) will be doing this project for the state regulators. Dr Hemant G Koshia, commissioner, FDCA, Gujarat, stressed that since NIC was overloaded with additional work from across the country with a surge in e-governance initiatives undertaken nationwide, they decided to get the assistance of GIL.

“Our main purpose is to implement and start the operations of this system at the earliest, so that we can improvise and boost the standard of our food safety initiatives. Like our previous endeavours targeted in safeguarding the health of the citizens through IT intervention and e-governance initiative for the drug safety, we are more than excited to adopt the same for food as well. This is sure to bring in easy and efficient dissemination of all the vital information in time, upgrading our regulatory capacity while bringing in better transparency in our work culture. Most importantly it is targeted to achieve the best consumer safety measure, as health of our citizens is our prior concern,” he added.

Right now all the regulatory and monitoring functions of food related activities are conducted through taluka, corporations and district level offices. Once the IT application or software is linked through it will aid in faster delivery of services with easy access to test results for regulatory purpose and less bureaucratic hurdles for the stakeholders.

Currently out of the 2 lakh registered FBOs, nearly 50,000 are registered as manufacturers whereas the rest of the 1.5 lakh FBOs are registered as wholesalers, retailers or hawkers. It is important to note that Gujarat is a major hub for spices and condiments as well as food processing units, especially with it being one of the major producers and exporters of potatoes and mangoes from the country. In fact, Dr Koshia informed that Gujarat had the country’s largest number of food processing units especially once dedicated to potato chips or fingers, which are manufactured and distributed globally for consumption.

With this project underway, the Gujarat FDCA becomes yet again the first state regulator to conceptualise and implement such a well-planned and structured e-governance initiative in the country for food safety.

China to introduce stronger food safety law from October 1: CFDA official

China is all set to introduce a stronger food safety law from October 1, 2015, according to a senior official from China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA).

Guo Wenqi made the remark at a seminar on food safety and rule of law in Guangzhou, capital city of south China's Guangdong Province.

In April, the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature, adopted an amendment to the 2009 Food Safety Law with the heaviest civil, administrative and criminal penalties yet for offenders and their supervisors.

According to Guo Xiaoguang, head of CFDA Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement, the CFDA has been working with a dozen agencies, including financial institutions, taxation and fiscal departments, on dealing with serious food safety violators.

Enterprises that violate the revised law may face restrictions on loans, taxation, bidding and land use. The CFDA will also provide bigger rewards to whistleblowers.

Hua Jingfeng, deputy head of Public Order Administration at the Ministry of Public Security, said, "We encourage tip-offs from the public and food industry associations."

He said the ministry wants trained police specialised in food crime and so far 21 provincial public security departments have set up food safety teams.

Guan Yingshi from the SPC said people's courts are taking measures to promote public awareness of food safety law. For example, trials of some notorious food crimes will be on live broadcast.

The Supreme People's Procuratorate will take action over neglect of duty in food production as well as safety supervision.

"By analysing the underlying causes of the cases through investigations and trials and drawing lesson from them, the SPP will be able to give advice and help businesses set up regulations and fix loopholes," said Huo Yapeng of the SPP.

Outgoing FSSAI chief Yudhvir Singh Malik kept in the dark about his transfer

Malik, a 1983 batch IAS officer of Haryana cadre, was the man behind the ban of Nestle’s popular noodle brand Maggi for having higher than permissible levels of lead.

NEW DELHI: The outgoing chief of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India(FSSAI) Yudhvir Singh Malik has suggested that he was completely in the dark about his shift to Niti Aayog, the latest in a growing list of bureaucrats to be taken by surprise by sudden transfers. 

Malik, who has been at the FSSAI for just about a year, was transferred late on Tuesday and will take up his new position as an additional secretary in the Niti Aayog on Thursday. 

Asked by ET how he came to know about his transfer, he said: "Never ever in my 30-year career have I been called by someone and asked if I have been transferred. I said, 'I don't know'." 

He declined to comment on possible reasons for his transfer, especially if it was his hardline stance during the Maggi noodles controversy, which cost him his job. 

Malik, a 1983 batch IAS officer of Haryana cadre, was the man behind the ban of Nestle's popular noodle brand Maggi for having higher than permissible levels of lead, and faced opprobrium from the food industry, especially the multinational food companies, for the manner in which the FSSAI went about its business. 

The FSSAI also drew fire from within the government too, with Union Food Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal criticising it for fostering an "inspector raj" that put at risk companies' expansion plans and defeating the Modi administration's Make in India initiative. 

Malik declined to comment when asked if pressure from multinational firms had anything to do with his transfer, only saying he would take up his new role with dedication. 

Representatives of five industry associations CII, FICCI, ASOCHAM, PHD Chamber and AIFPA, whose members include top domestic producers and the Indian arms of international food and beverage makers such as Britannia, Coca-Cola and Mondelez, had raised concerns at a meeting with the health secretary, to resolve the "crisis" sparked by the Maggi ban. It is understood the ministry of food processing, PMO and other ministries wanted issues related to food safety and standards to be resolved at the earliest. 

FSSAI, which comes under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, had banned Swiss-based Nestle's Maggi noodles in June, stating that the snack was 'unsafe and hazardous' after its tests found the presence of lead above permissible limits and flavour enhancer monosodium glutamate. However, the ban was later lifted by the Bombay High Court.

Outgoing FSSAI chief twice asked govt to move SC on Maggi ban

Till now no decision has been taken by the government on approaching the SC on upholding the ban.

Twice in the last 40 days, outgoing Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) CEO Y S Malik recommended on file that the Central government should move a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court’s order on Maggi. The last time was less than a week before his removal from the food safety authority late on Tuesday night. Till now no decision has been taken by the government on approaching the SC on upholding the ban.

The decision to move him to the Niti Aayog came exactly nine months after he took charge of the FSSAI, a tenure during which the authority took on several corporates including the decision to ban nine varieties of the Maggi instant noodles. The ban was lifted by the high court on August 13. Nestle subsequently filed a petition for revision of the order for typographical errors. The revised order was issued on September 4 and uploaded on its website September 16. 

Sources in the FSSAI said that first after the August 13 order, and then again after the September 4 order, Malik noted on the file that the government had adequate ground to move an SLP in the apex court seeking upholding of the ban.

When contacted, Malik refused to comment on the matter. He is due to join Niti Aayog on Thursday. 

Sources claimed that FSSAI’s pro-activeness in the matter of Maggi did not go down well within the government, which apparently viewed the move as one that would spoil the investment climate in India. 

The move to remove Malik on the eve of PM Narendra Modi’s US visit seemed to further indicate the NDA government’s discomfort with “targeting” the MNCs. 

The order to ban Maggi was issued on September 5, minutes before the company held a press conference announcing voluntary withdrawal of the product. The Bombay High Court held that adequate opportunity had not been given to the company to present their case. 

However, sources in the health ministry said that the fact that there were apprehensions about the Maggi case marring the investment climate was informally conveyed to officials in the food authority. Sources added that the government preferred that the HC order go unchallenged. 

In the recent past, there were several other instances when FSSAI turned down applications for new product approvals, including that of a Singapore based company that wanted to introduce what it called a “chocolate compound” with a 61% carbohydrate and 33% fat content. 

It had also rejected a slew of products already on sale by companies like Kellogg’s and Starbucks and also issued repeated instructions to state food safety officials to disallow sale of any products that lacked proper product approvals.

Salem FSDA official complains of harassment

T. Anuradha, Designated Officer of the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department , has preferred a complaint with the City Police Commissioner against a businessman and two others on Tuesday alleging that she was abused and threatened over phone, for banning production of two juices of the company run by the former.

Banned

Official source said that the District Collector received complaints about addition of high amounts of preservatives in the drinks amla and aloe vera juice produced by the manufacturer.

Following the complaints, TNSFDAD slapped a ban on these drinks.

Harmful to health

Official sources said that it has been proved in the tests that these two juices contained high amount of ascorbic acid and benzoic acid, which are harmful to health.

The source said that the details of the ingredients were also not mentioned on the bottles.

Based on the test reports, the officials slapped a ban on the production and marketing of amla and aloe vera juice and notice was issued to the company.

The company was also instructed to destroy the stocks.

Phone calls

Following this action, Ms. Anuradha was said to have received phone calls from R. Sivakumar, managing director of the company abusing and threatening her.

His two other supporters were also said to have threatened her over telephone. Besides, a cable TV was used to spread false reports about the officer.

Health Department

Ms. Anuradha brought this to the notice of the district administration, and also the health department authorities and sought their nod for preferring a complaint against all the three.

She preferred the complaint with the City Police Commissioner on Tuesday against all the three and also against the cable TV.

HC notice to Haryana on tobacco ban

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government's decision to ban sale and purchase of tobacco products in the state, has come under the scanner of the Punjab and Haryana high court. On Wednesday, Justice Paramjeet Singh issued a notice to the state government to file a reply on the issue by October 14.

The court was hearing a bunch of petitions filed by Dharampal Satyapal Limited (DS Group), Trimurti Fragrances Private Limited (producers of Zafrani Zarda) and Smokeless Tobacco Association, a registered body of chewing tobacco manufacturers, traders, dealers and suppliers. The petitioners have challenged the September 3 order, imposing total ban on manufacturing and sale of chewable tobacco in the state.

The petitioners told the high court that the Haryana government order was without jurisdiction in terms of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and also in conflict with the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, which dealt with the provisions of manufacture and sale of all types of tobacco products.

They submitted that while passing the order, the Haryana government had failed to take cognizance of the fact that tobacco in any food was prohibited by the above regulation, which makes it very clear that tobacco was not a food product. The petitioners cannot be punished arbitrarily and be made to close their business of selling and manufacturing of chewable tobacco on the basis of presumption that chewable tobacco caused damage to health of consumers without getting corroborative evidence from any study being carried out by state of Haryana, they argued.

On September 3, state food and drugs administration department had issued notification, under which, sale and purchase of tobacco products was prohibited for one year in the interest of public health. The ban also includes mix of other ingredients such as heavy metals, anti-caking agents, except to the extent of specifically permitted as ingredients, silver leaf, binders, flavours, scents, fragrances, prohibited chemicals or any one of these ingredients.

Haryana's ban on Tobacco products under HC radar

CHANDIGARH: Haryana government's decision to ban sale and purchase of tobacco products in the state, has come under the scanner of Punjab and Haryana high court, which on Wednesday issued notice to state government. 

Justice Paramjeet Singh of the HC has asked the state government to file reply on the issue by October 14 after hearing a bunch of petitions filed by M/s Dharampal Satyapal Limited (DS group), M/s Trimurti Fragrances private limited (producers of Zafrani Zarda) and Smokeless Tobacco Association, a registered body of Chewing Tobacco manufacturers, traders, dealers, suppliers of tobacco and related products. 

Petitioners have challenged September 3 orders through which the Commissioner of Food Safety, Haryana had imposed complete ban on manufacture and sale of chewable tobacco in the state. 

Senior Counsel for the petitioners, Mohan Jain informed the high court that the Haryana government order is without jurisdiction in terms of Section 30 (1) and (2) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and is in conflict with Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 2003, which deals with the provisions of manufacture and sale of all types of tobacco. 

Former additional solicitor general of India, Jain further submitted that while passing the impugned order, Haryana government has failed to take cognizance of the fact that tobacco in any food is prohibited by the above regulation, which makes it very clear that tobacco is not a food product. 

He further submitted that the petitioners cannot be punished arbitrarily and be made to close their business of selling and manufacture of chewable tobacco on the basis of presumption that chewable tobacco causes damage to health of consumers without getting corroborative evidence from any study being carried out by state of Haryana is illegal, without jurisdiction and violative of principles of natural justice. 

On September 3, state food and drugs administration department had issued notification, under which, sale and purchase of tobacco products was prohibited for one year in the interest of public health. The ban also includes mix of other ingredients such as heavy metals, anti-caking agents except to the extent of specifically permitted as ingredients, silver leaf, binders, flavours, scents, fragrances, prohibited chemicals or any one of these ingredients.

Market checking intensified ahead of Eid

SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 23:

At Tangmarg, a team headed by SDM Tangmarg also conducted market checking at Tangmarg and Kunzer markets. During the market checking, a fine of Rs. 15,000 was imposed upon the shopkeepers for violating the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Essential Commodities Act. Two quintals of rotten vegetables were destroyed and 4 kg of Polythene was also seized.

Fine of Rs 70000 imposed in Ganderbal

The Court of Adjudicating officer under Food Safety Act (FSA)-2006, Additional District Magistrate Ganderbal, Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari today imposed Penalty of Rs 70000 on different food business operators, who were selling/manufacturing “misbranded and substandard” food items to the consumers.

Meanwhile, the Additional District Magistrate Ganderbal directed the concerned department to ensure routine market checking in the district, so that quality food is made available to the general public.

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