The Minister acknowledged that strict regulations regarding food safety existed but there was laxity in their enforcement due to infrastructure shortcomings and official apathy.
Government has admitted that there was laxity in implementation of the food safety laws due to some constraints and released funds for strengthening of the food testing labs in Jammu and Kashmir. In reply to a question by legislator Mubarak Gul, that sought government to explain the steps being taken to ensure access to safe food and drugs, Bali Bhagat, Minister for Health and Medical Education, said that government was on the job and funds for augmentation of the food labs were released. “We have released Rs 7.75 crores for the labs. Of this, Rs 3 crore each will be spent on food testing labs in Jammu and Srinagar and Rs 1.75 crore will be spent on mobile testing vans,” Bhagat said.
The Minister acknowledged that strict regulations regarding food safety existed but there was laxity in their enforcement due to infrastructure shortcomings and official apathy.
He added that JK Medical Supplies Corporation had been given the charge of procurement of equipment for the labs, based on the specification of the instruments required for upgradation of the lab.
He further said that 25062 inspections had been conducted to check quality of food items in 2015-16 and 2866 samples were lifted for analysis out of which 419 samples were found adulterated and 282 samples were found misbranded. He said 729 prosecutions were filed during the year and 602 cases were decided by adjudicating officers. The Minister also said that a week-long special drive regarding milk and milk products had been conducted in April 2016 and 13472 liters of milk and milk products were destroyed on spot while 419 samples were lifted for analysis. He said 127 samples were analyzed out of which 41 samples were found substandard while 2 samples were misbranded. About Rs 56.91 lakh was imposed as fine regarding food adulteration during the last year by the Drug and Food Control Department.
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