Only 10 food inspectors for a city of 50 Lakh

Surat: With an estimated 40% of Surtis dining out on weekends and during public holidays, quality of food served at roadside eateries becomes utmost important. But the health wing of the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) that is entrusted with the job of ensuring this is severely short-staffed.

To add to the misery, the city with a population of over 50 lakh does not have a state-level food testing and sampling laboratory. The SMC has to send food samples to Rajkot and Bhuj for testing. Moreover, the officials do not have powers to penalise those found violating the food safety norms.

Impediments like these makes it difficult for the SMC health department to conduct checks on thousands of roadside eateries and food stalls that have cropped up all over the city. Out of the 11 sanctioned posts of food inspectors, one is vacant, while SMC has demanded 11 more posts from the state government. As per norm, there has to be one food inspector for population of one lakh.

"It is physically impossible to check all the food joints in the city even once during a year," said a top health official from SMC. "Majority of the food carts do brisk business during the night and we have to constitute a special team and conduct a special drive to go and check these carts," he added.

"Physically it is impossible to be present everywhere with present manpower," said Dr Aashish Niak, chief health officer, SMC. adding, "If we take food samples, we have to send them to Bhuj or Rajkot to get it analysed. If we have a lab here we can take action fast."

He further said with just handful of food inspectors at any given time not more than two teams (with three inspectors each) are out in field checking the food quality. "How can one expect proper food safety standards?" he asked. Moreover, there is no provision of fine against food joint owners for not maintaining cleanliness and hygiene. "They are just issued notices to make them realize their responsibility," added Niak. Food inspectors said that during inspection they check damaged flooring to clothes of cooks and workers, and even their nails.

உண்ணக்கூடிய பேக்கேஜிங்யை அறிமுகப்படுத்துகிறது கேஎப்சி

உணவுப்பொருளுடன் சேர்த்து அப்படியே சாப்பிடக் கூடிய `புட் பேக்கேஜிங் மெட்டீரியலை பரிசோதனை முறையில் பெங்களூர்-ல் அறிமுகபடுத்த உள்ளது கெண்டகி பிரைட் சிக்கன் (கேஎப்சி)

கர்நாடக அரசின் ‘பிளாஸ்டிக் வேண்டாம்’ கொள்கையுடன் இணைந்து, கேஎப்சி இந்த வாரம் பெங்களூர் நகரத்தில் அதன் சோதனையை தொடங்கும். பின் வாடிக்கையாளர்களின் பதில் அடிப்படையில் மற்ற நகரங்களுக்கு விரிவுபடுத்தப்படும்.

முதல் கட்டமாக டார்ட்டில்லா ரைஸ் பவுல் (tortilla rice bowl) மட்டும் ரைஸ் பவுல்களின் விற்பனையை அதிகரிக்க அப்படியே சாப்பிடக் கூடிய `புட் பேக்கேஜிங் மெட்டீரியலை கொண்டு அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்படும் என கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

பிளாஸ்டிக் கிண்ணங்கள் கப்புகள் போன்றவற்றில் இருந்து பேப்பர்-க்கு மாறியுள்ள நிலையில் மேலும் பேக்கேஜிங் துறையில் பிளாஸ்டிக் பயன்பாட்டை குறைக்க இது உதவும் என நம்பப்படுகிறது.

Today in Parliament

Labelling of Food Products 

The Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and labelling) Regulations, 2011 prescribe the manner of marking and labelling of foods under section 23 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. So far, three amendments have been carried out in the said regulations for i) mandatory display of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s logo and license number; ii) declaration of trans fats and saturated fats in hydrogenated vegetable oils; and iii) declaration of Plant Stanols and Trehalose, in packages of certain food products. 

The Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.

FSSAI Act

Random sampling and testing of food products including pan masala etc., is undertaken by the officials of Food Safety Departments of the respective States/UTs to check compliance of the standards laid down under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006 and Regulations thereunder. In cases, where the food samples are found to be non-conforming to the prescribed standards, recourse is taken to penal provisions under Chapter IX of the FSS Act, 2006. Regulation No. 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on sales) Regulations, 2011, provides that Tobacco and nicotine should not be used as ingredients in any food products. No separate data with regard to pan Masala and tobacco content is centrally maintained by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. 

The Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.

Food for thought Rethinking - FSSAI critical, but need central control

Given the egg that the food regulator has on its face after the Maggi misadventure, it is obvious the system needs a complete overhaul. And that, according to a Business Standard report, is also what Ashish Bahuguna who heads the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has advocated. In a note on the issue, he suggested that all powers of enforcement be devolved to the state governments—in this scenario, the central body will have no enforcement machinery and its job will be mostly restricted to setting standards. Bahuguna has also recommended using a lot more private laboratories instead of just relying on government laboratories.

The FSSAI chief later distanced himself from the note, saying that while a complete overhaul of the food regulatory system is called for, the idea of the note was more to provoke people into thinking out of the box. That is a laudable objective and every attempt has to be made to fix the system which had become so oppressive that a central minister was compelled to come out in the open against it at the height of the Maggi controversy. It would, however, be a mistake to delegate too many powers from the centre to the states when it comes to this kind of regulation—indeed, in the Maggi case, the larger part of the problem arose from various state laboratories giving different test results. While the states certainly have to be involved in order to regulate more effectively, it is imperative that the FSSAI’s capabilities be enhanced. This can be done by, for instance, the FSSAI coming out with norms for different foods and various protocols for testing of foods and then using more private laboratories for doing the actual tests—a system of accreditation of laboratories with periodic checks on their quality is the way to go. Indeed, when the drugs regulator cracked down on various combination drugs some time ago, it was found that some of these had been approved of by various state drug regulators—in even the drug regulatory system, there is an overlap between central and state regulators. In the electricity sector, similarly, while the central electricity regulator has done very good quality work over the years, the state level regulators have, by and large, failed to deliver and are in many ways responsible for the mess the sector is in. In the regulatory system, at least, decentralisation of powers doesn’t seem to be a good idea.

SC stay no license for manufacturing adulterated food: HC

CS summoned, impleaded in PIL

SRINAGAR, Apr 28: The State High Court today made it clear that the stay of proceedings by the Supreme Court doesn’t not mean that food processing companies have license to manufacture and process adulterated food.

The Division Bench of Justice MH Attar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey today said that stay granted by Supreme Court in favour of food processing companies in food adulteration case doesn’t give them license to manufacture unsafe foods. “The Act of 2006 is not stayed by the Supreme Court”, court added.

“In the aforesaid circumstances appearing in this case, the staying of proceedings in earlier PIL by the Supreme Court would not prevent this court from taking up the cause of the people of the State, who are continuously made to consume the adulterated food and some of the persons/companies continue to manufacture and product and process adulterated food items”, Court said.

The High Court said: “Court said it is making an earnest effort to ensure that the menace of supplying adulterated food to the consumers by the companies, that produce and process food, is stopped but on the motion of these companies the Supreme Court stayed the proceedings in that PIL and in view of the Supreme Court direction this court could not proceed further.”

Court said after the recent revelation through media report about alarming food adulteration and rise in diseases like cancer in the State, it took cognizance of these reports in shape of fresh PIL on menace of food adulteration.

The bench summoned Chief Secretary before the court and impleaded him, all food processing and manufacturing unit holders as party respondents to the PIL.

Court in order to ensure provisions of the ‘Food Safety and Standards Act 2006’ impleaded Chief Secretary, Commissioner/ Secretary Health, Commissioner Food Safety, Financial Commissioner Finance & Planning and owners of food manufacturing units whose particulars were given by the State to the court.

“In order to ensure that provisions of the Act of 2006 and rules made there under are effectively implemented at the ground level” adding “to further ensure that the menace of producing /processing and supplying adulterated food to the consumers is, at once, stopped”, the Division Bench said while summoning the CS before the court.

Court directed all those food processing unit holders to file affidavits before next date of hearing of the PIL, on how and in what way they are following the provisions of Food Safety Act and rules. “They shall also provide information about the laboratories set up in their units, the equipment installed therein and the number of persons, having expertise in accordance with the Act and Rules, working in such laboratories”, court directed all food processing and manufacturing unit holders.

Court sought information on affidavit on supply of milk per day from the companies and units and the source of procurement of such milk.

Court directed these food manufacturing and processing units to undertake before the Registrar Judicial of the court that they will supply food items to the consumers which are fit for human consumption. “They shall also undertake that in the event it is, prima facie, found that food items are adulterated, then their units may be liable to be sealed”, reads the order.

Court also directed the hoteliers, restaurant owners and shopkeepers to ensure supply of safe food to consumers as the court is guardian and sentinel of rights of the people. It said that it will continue to pursue with all its earnestness for the noble cause.

Court said the status report of the respondents is enough to indicate that the people of this State have been left at the mercy of God as for the checking of adulterated food neither there is effective and adequate number of laboratories nor the requisite equipment. “Even the manpower, in terms of the Act and rules, in its full strength, is not available. It appears that appointments have not been made in accordance with law till date”, court said.

Underscoring the importance of Constitution which the court said has given all the Constitutional, statutory and administrative authorities to hold their positions in trust for the benefit of people. “The constitution has created the institutions for the welfare of those people who gave it to themselves. This court is one such creation of the Constitution”, court added.

Referring to the Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right of life to everyone in all respects and in a pure manner, Court said: “No one has right to manufacture, produce and sell adulterated food as it has direct impact on the human health and every human being has inherent and unchallengeable right to lead a healthy life.”

Court said this right, however, is abridged and shortened by the ‘soulless persons’ by producing, manufacturing and supplying unsafe and adulterated food to the people.

Mentioning its earlier efforts to curb the food adulteration, Court reminded that in 2013 on the report of Food Safety Kashmir (Deputy Commissioner) which revealed that the toned Khyber milk processed by M/S Khyber Agro Pvt Ltd, Turmeric powder manufactured by Avon Agro Industries Pvt Ltd and Saunf Powder processed and sold by Kanwal Agro Food Industries were found unsafe, misbranded and substandard due to presence of detergent, tartrazine(coloring matter) and Carmoisini/Tartrazine in these food items.

Thereafter court said the report and result of these food items was directed to be sent to Director SKIMS to find out the nature of diseases which can be caused by the aforesaid adulterated food products.

Director SKIMS as directed by the court submitted its report about the side-effects and nature of diseases caused by these elements present in the food ” it causes allergic and intolerance reactions, cancer in bladder, damage to many organs causing heart diseases, nerves system disease and cancer etc”, says Director in his elaborated report.

Court in this backdrop had directed all these three companies to show cause why besides the initial direction of depositing of Rs 10 crores each, they shall not be directed to deposit further Rs 10 crores each.

PIL on food adulteration in J&K CS, FC, Com-Sec Health, Food Safety to appear in person

SRINAGAR, Apr 28: The High Court today asked Chief Secretary, Financial Commissioner Planning, Commissioner Secretary Health and Food Safety Commissioner to appear in person on May 4 in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking implementation of Jammu and Kashmir Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006 (FSSA) to check food adulteration in the state.

As the matter came up for hearing, a division bench of the High Court comprising of Justices M.H Attar and A M Magrey asked the government to indicate as how and in which manner the food manufacturing and processing units in the state are complying with the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006.

The court also asked the milk processing units in the State to submit affidavits on how much milk they supply to the markets each day with the source of their milk procurement.

Earlier, the government had filed names of Managing Directors of all food manufacturing and processing units in the state. On April 25, the High Court had said that it appears that people in Jammu and Kashmir are made to consume adulterated food and all those responsible to check adulteration seem to have forgotten to perform their statutory duty.

“There is no testing laboratory worth the name under this Act in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It appears that people of the state are made to consume adulterated food. All those, who are responsible to check this adulteration, probably have forgotten to perform their statutory duty,” a division bench of the High Court comprising of Justices M H Attar and A M Magrey had said, while passing the orders in the matter.

The court had said: “The statement made at bar by learned counsel for the respondents and even by Commissioner Food Safety is enough to shock conscience of every sensitive soul, inasmuch as, there is no paraphernalia available in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with mandate contained in provision of Jammu and Kashmir Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006.”

The court has now asked for adequate information through a fresh compliance report with regard to details on convictions recorded by the court of law on the complaints filed under FSSA of 2006.

On April 21, the Court had asked the state government to produce full particulars of persons who have been convicted and sentenced by the court of law under the FSSA.

The court had observed that that before proceeding further in the PIL, it is deemed appropriate to seek information about the number of testing laboratories and their locations which are available in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

The court had asked the state government to inform it about: “Number of officers/officials, who are required to be posted in terms of Food Safety and Standard Act of 2006. How many such officers are in place? Names and full particulars of all those persons, companies or corporations, which are manufacturing or processing any products in Jammu and Kashmir! How many convictions have been recorded by the court of law on the complaints filed under Food Safety and Standard Act of 2006?”

On April 12, the Court had granted a week to the state government to file objections in the PIL seeking implementation of Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 (FSSA) to check food adulteration in the state.

On March 25, 2016, the high court had taken suo-moto cognizance of media reports regarding food adulteration, rising cancers, and lack of infra structure to check adulteration of food items in the state.

In 2014, the court while hearing a PIL—Sheikh Ayoub Vs State— seeking implementation of Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 (FSSA) to check food adulteration in the state, had issued slew of directions to state authorities.

It had directed Food Safety Officers, Designated Officers and all those involved in implementation of the Food Safety Act, to “pull up their socks, hone up machinery and speed up lifting and analysis of samples and food items, transported, manufactured, stored and marketed in the state without showing any leniency to big players in the market so that food items free from adulteration are made available to consumers.”

The court had also directed the government to submit comprehensive report regarding samples lifted from time to time, indicating number of samples referred to notified Laboratories/Referral Laboratories and the result of analysis and action taken.

The court had also directed all companies to inform general public that the packed milk sold in Jammu and Kashmir is not pure cow’s milk but processed one.

“As there is a general impression that what is sold in the market by various companies is pure cow’s milk, (they) shall inform general public through print media that what is sold by them is not pure cow’s milk but processed milk,” the court had said.

The companies, court had said, shall also notify the source of milk marketed as well as mode and manner in which marketed milk is processed. However, the order was later stayed by the Supreme Court.

On March 25, 2016, the High Court had taken suo-moto cognizance of news reports on food adulteration and rising cancer incidence in the Valley.

The court appointed senior counsel Bashir Ahmad Bashir, as Amicus Curie in the case to assist it. Hearing the PIL, a division bench of Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey issued notice to the government seeking its objections to the petition. Senior Additional Advocate General, N A Beigh, accepted notice on behalf of the government.

While treating the media reports as PIL, the division bench made certain observations, saying “Press has done its job and it is now the constitutional duty of the court to initiate action for protecting the human life.”

Underscoring its constitutional duty, the court observed: “This court being the guardian and sentinel of the rights of the people is duty-bound to respond to the alarming situation that is created by the life-threatening diseases and non-availability of infrastructure to tackle the same.”

“The causes have to be known as to why a large section of population is afflicted with the life-threatening diseases. Simultaneously, the remedial measures and necessary infrastructure have to be provided,” the court observed. “We are duty bound to enforce the fundamental rights of the large population.”

“The importance of human life is accepted and recognized by Article 21 of the Constitution of India. For leading a meaningful life, a human being has to be healthy,” the court observed, adding, “It is said that Health is Wealth. It is only a healthy person who can accomplish the purpose of life to its full.”

HC seeks compliance of Food Safety Law

Manufacturing, processing units to file affidavits on safety of their products

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Thursday directed owners of food manufacturing and processing units to file affidavits indicating the manner in which they follow provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Hearing a Public Interest Litigation against food adulteration, a division bench comprising Justice MuzaffarHussain Attar and Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey also directed the owners of food processing units to file affidavits indicating that the food items they supply in the market are fit for human consumption.

While the bench directed the owners/MDs of food manufacturing and processing units to file by next date of hearing affidavits indicating as to how and in which manner they follow the provisions of the Act of 2006 and rules there under, they were also asked to provide information about the laboratories set up in their units, the equipment installed and the number of persons having expertise in accordance with the Act of 2006 working in such laboratories.

“The owners of units who deal in different kinds of milk to indicate in their affidavits as to how much milk they are supplying each day, the sources of procurement of such milk,” the court ordered.

The Court also directed owners of these units to file undertaking before its Registrar Judicial satisfying that they will supply food items fit for human consumption to consumers. “They shall also undertake that in the event it is, prima facie, found that food item are adulterated, then their units may be liable to be sealed.”

It directed the hoteliers, restaurant owners and shopkeepers to ensure that adulterated or unsafe food is not supplied to the consumers.

Meanwhile the court arrayed state government through its Chief Secretary, Commissioner Secretary, Health and Food Commissioner Food Safety, Financial Commissioner/ Commissioner Secretary Finance & Planning as party respondents in the PIL, besides owners and MDs of food manufacturing and processing units.

The court directed the Chief Secretary and the aforementioned authorities to remain present before it on next date of hearing.

Observing that the status report filed by the government attests how bad the state of affairs are, the court said the respondents in the compliance report have stated that how only two Food Testing Laboratories - one at Dalgate here and another at Patoli Jammu - are completely outdated and equipment installed in these labs is dysfunctional.

It said according to the report there are only two food analysts and at present there is only one analyst available as the other has been attached following the directions of a Budgam Court. 

Observing that the latest status report filed by respondents is sufficient to indicate that people of the state have been left at the mercy of God, the court said for the checking of adulterated food there are neither effective and adequate number of laboratories available nor the requisite equipment.

“Besides this, even the manpower, in terms of the Act 2006 and Rules made there under, in its full strength, is not available. It appears that appointments have not been made in accordance with law till date,” the court observed. 

“In the aforesaid circumstances in this case, the staying of proceedings in PIL 01/2012 by Hon'ble Supreme Court would not prevent this Court from taking up the cause of the people of the State, who are continuously made to consume the adulterated foods and some of the persons/Companies continue to manufacture/produce adulterated food items,” the court said while referring to directions in PIL of 2012.

“Staying of proceedings by the Apex Court would not mean that people would be asked to consume unsafe and adulterated food. Neither that order of the Apex Court would be deemed to have given license to such manufactures/producers of food items to process and manufacture adulterated food. The Act of 2006 is not stayed by Hon'ble the Supreme Court,” the court said.

FCO relies on ‘ill-equipped’ lab

No sample sent to accredited laboratories

While the J&K Food Control Organization has swung into action following directions of the High Court and announced a crackdown on milk adulteration, it has however once again banked on inadequately equipped Food Safety Lab here for testing samples instead of ensuring fool-proof scrutiny of samples outside the State.

As the state health machinery embarked on the ‘special drive’ to check the menace of adulteration in milk and milk products, the exercise seems to be headed nowhere. The samples lifted during the drive have been sent for testing to the Food Testing Laboratory in Srinagar, a facility with poor infrastructure and manpower. The department, as per the officials, is ‘following the rules’ in doing so.

Two days back, the High Court in a PIL on Food Safety said it was ‘shaken’ by the statement made by food commissioner that there is ‘no paraphernalia available in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the mandate contained in provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.’

However, the department has put all its faith in this rickety lab and entrusted it with testing of milk samples lifted during the drive. The blatant violation of court directions as well as apathy to public health can be gauged from the fact that samples of packaged milk lifted as per directions of Judicial Magistrate Budgam were also sent to Srinagar lab for testing while bypassing the Court order which directed that Commissioner Food Safety will ensure that samples of milk and milk products, as well as other edibles are sent to ‘Referral Lab Kolkata for opinion and action as warranted under law.’

Assistant Controller JK DFCO, Irfana Ahmed said that the FSSA did not permit that food samples to be sent directly to an accredited or referral lab for testing. “We are following the statutes of FSSA 2011. It says that a sample can be sent to a lab other than the state lab only if the officer concerned is not satisfied with the test report,” she said.

Healthcare experts have expressed concern over JK DFCO resorting to what they called ‘turning a blind eye’ regarding the lack of infrastructure to check milk safety. “The officials, despite being aware of the limitations of the Srinagar Food Testing Lab, have not pre-empted that the reports will be ‘misleading’ and turned a blind eye towards the need of the hour,” said a senior specialist in GMC Srinagar.

He added, “Desperate times should have called for desperate measures but for the organization has started taking refuge in rules.”

JKDFCO said that during the three days of special drive that commenced from April 25th 2016, 105 samples of milk were lifted and sent for testing. These samples were taken from milk suppliers en-route to various urban areas. Earlier, this month, as per the court directions, 46 samples of packaged milk and milk products were sent for testing.

State has only 2 outdated food test labs, HC told

Health Dept steps in to check milk adulteration in Jammu

Sets up nakas at entry points of city to prevent supply of poor-quality milk

Jammu, April 28

As the urban local bodies across the state have failed to check milk adulteration, the Health Department has decided to launch a comprehensive campaign to check supply of poor-quality milk to the residents of the state.

The Health Department has decided to set up nakas at various places across the state to ensure that only unadulterated milk is supplied to people.

The Health Department has taken the initiative following directions of Health Minister Bali Bhagat, who has received complaints about supply of poor quality and adulterated milk across the state.

According to official sources, teams of the Drugs and Food Control Organisation (DFCO) have set up nakas on the entry point of Jammu city. Nakas have been set up at Bhagwati Nagar bridge, Canal Head, main road, Barnai, and Purmandal Morh. Not only teams of the DFCO have set up nakas at the entry points, but some teams are also conducting random checking of milk being supplied in the city.

There was a proposal to purchase mobile testing labs to check milk adulterations in the city, but due to paucity of funds the authorities could not purchase these labs. Due to the delay, there is no check on the sale of contaminated and poor quality of milk products.

As reported earlier the proposal to purchase mobile labs was mooted more than four years ago after an alarming report by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) in January 2012 that 83 per cent of milk sold in the state is not safe for consumption.

The FSSAI had taken 18 samples from different areas of the state as part of its nationwide study and had found that most common adulteration in the state is glucose and skimmed milk products (SMP), mixed with intention to earn profit at the expenses of the heath of the common man.

States can notify excise officials to act as food safety officers: FSSAI

New Delhi

The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has mandated that state governments can notify excise department officer to act as food safety officer (FSO) so as to ensure quality of alcoholic drinks. This has been done after a series of discussions and deliberations that took place between food safety officials of states and FSSAI in recent times.

"The objective was to reduce the overlapping of duties in the two departments," explained Pawan Kumar Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI, adding, “The state food safety commissioners have to take a decision for the same. A letter in this regard has been written earlier in April. The aim was to bring the two departments closer to avoid overlapping of work.” However, he clarified, “But there is an embargo as it depends on the qualification of the excise inspector which should be at par with that of FSO.”

Currently, for quality purpose, the FSO under the state food safety commissioner, has the responsibility to collect samples of the liquor for the purpose of testing whereas the excise inspector has a responsibility to check the shops selling alcohol for revenue purpose. But many a times, this was seen as interference in the excise department functioning when FSO comes in to collect samples.

Agarwal comments, "The decision will give freedom to state government to notify the excise department official to work as FSO for the purpose of sample collection for quality purpose."

Meanwhile, reactions on the move seem to be positive with fewer concerns. A N Panchal, FSO, food department, Rajkot Municipal Corporation, said, "FSSAI has offered powers of a food safety officer as to avoid delay in the functioning. This is regards to speeding up the process. Food safety officer can also collect samples to ensure safety and can submit it to the lab for testing, if required."

Particularly for the purpose of import, this would be a great help he feels. "Earlier it consumed time as excise officer handed it to the concerned food safety officer to take the process ahead. But now due to the eased procedure, time consumed in the import process will be saved," he added. MPFDA officials also welcomed the move. 

Meanwhile, UPFDA officials stated that when the food safety regime moved from PFA to FSS Act, it was meant that department of food safety as a uniform body should carry out such an exercise with respect to food and beverages while earlier, there used to be different offices from municipality to state level that were involved.