Mumbai: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) asked the state enforcement authorities to review pending cases registered against food business operators (FBOs) during the regime of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA), 1954 and other acts specified under Schedule 2 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
C S Gohil, food safety officer, Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA), Gujarat, said, “We have pending cases which need to be reexamined or reviewed. If these pending cases are not of any significance, they will be settled as per the procedure prescibed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, calling the FBO involved.”
“Several states have such cases pending which are under the purview of different orders - milk, oil, etc. These cases will be studied at the state level. Depending upon the intensity of the issue, the state authority will take further action,” he added.
The food safety commissioners of all states and Union Territories may like to examine all pending cases against FBO under the provisions of various enactments and orders repealed upon the enactment of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and take a view on withdrawal of the same, if considered appropriate. The results of this exercise may be shared with FSSAI from time to time.
According to a source from FSSAI, the initiative of examining the cases will decrease the burden on FSSAI. He added that the cases pending against FBO caught under PFA and other orders needed a review, and that the rules and regulations which are currently operational had undergone several amendments.
Gohil stated, “All the state commissioners will be part of this exercise at their respective offices. The reports will be furnished at regular intervals. They will be brought to the state commissioners’ notice, following which they will hold a meeting to initiate further actions.”
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