Aug 12, 2016
One week FSDA anti-adulteration drive to keep an eye on Rakshabandhan sweets: FSDA commissioner
Meerut: Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) has instructed its officials to form teams and start a week-long drive to keep an eye out for sweets being sold in the market. The move is aimed at checking adulteration in the food items conidering the festive season. The drive, which started on Wednesday, resulted in the officials taking samples from two city-based sweet shops, both situated in Jagriti Vihar. With Rakshabandhan just a week away, FSDA officials are keeping a close eye on sweets, namkeens and milk-made products.
"Rakshabandhan is just around the corner. I have instructed officials in all districts to make teams to carry out anti-adulteration drives till August 17. All suspected food items must be immediately sent for tests," read the circular issued by Murli Manohar Lal, FSDA commissioner, Lucknow to all the district magistrates in Uttar Pradesh.
"A five-member team of the food department is conducting regular checks. Suspicious food items are being sent to the laboratory for various tests. Stringent actions will be taken against those found flouting rules set by the department," said said J.P Singh, chief food safety officer.
Though samples of the suspicious food items will be sent to Lucknow's food testing lab to avert any manipulation at the city-based lab, those suspected of being highly adulterated will be sent to the city-based lab for immediate reports. "The reports from the city-based lab can be proccured in 48 hours. Officials can take the call of action against the producer or seller of the relevant food item soon after the reports are out, without waiting for the same from the Lucknow-based testing lab," added Singh.
HC intervenes in FSSAI case
Pune: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued an interim clarification that the Bureau of Indian Standard's ISI certification mark is not mandatory for packaged natural spring water until standards for the same are finalized.
The clarification by FSSAI's assistant director (enforcement) on August 4, was brought to the notice of the Bombay High Court on August 5 during the hearing of a plea by Luthra Water Systems Private Limited, a natural spring water bottling plant in Mulshi. The applicant-plant alleged harassment by FSSAI officials in the name of action against unauthorized packaged drinking/mineral water.
In June, FSSAI officials had raided the plant and issued a show cause notice. The plant sought a stay on the notice. The bench of Justices Ranjit More and Anuja Prabhudesai held, "The responsible authorities are bound to consider the applicant-plant's reply to the show cause notice in the light of the (FSSAI's) interim clarification."
The action against the bottling plant was part of a larger drive spurred by an April 27, 2016 FSSAI notification which stated that no person shall sell or exhibit for sale, packaged drinking water and mineral water except under the Bureau of Indian Standards' certification mark. The notification then directed officials to strictly enforce standards related to packaged drinking/mineral water.
Lawyer Ravi Bhardwaj, representing the applicant, argued that packaged natural spring water is distinct from packaged drinking or mineral water, as it falls under the proprietary food products for which the standards are yet to be finalized. He submitted that such proprietary food product is considered safe for consumption when sold under FSSAI product license or a provisional no objection certificate (NOC). Despite having the requisite NOC, the FSSAI officials issued the show cause notice.
Among other things, the applicant-plant had sought the court's direction to FSSAI to make an amendment/modification in the April 27, 2016 notification by mentioning an exemption for packaged natural spring water which can be sold without ISI mark. It also sought a stay on the show cause notice issued on June 7, 2016.
In view of FSSAI's interim clarification, which was addressed to the applicant-plant, the latter did not press for amendment/modification of the impugned notification. Regarding the stay, the bench observed that the applicant-plant was at liberty to reply to the show cause notice and responsible authorities were bound to consider the reply in light of the clarification.
Bharadwaj told TOI, "Bottled water in India is broadly classified into two categories, i.e. packaged drinking water and natural mineral water, and there are standards for only these two categories whereas the standards for packaged natural spring water have not been finalized."
In the past, the bottling plant had to approach the Bombay High Court after its plea filed on September 5, 2012, for a product license was kept pending for a long period by the food regulator. The high court on September 5, 2013, ordered the regulators to consider the product license plea following which a provisional NOC was issued by the FSSAI to the plant on October 3, 2013.
FSSAI puts draft of standards on making instant noodles in public domain
Minister of State for Health Faggan Singh Kulaste said the standards specify the raw materials that can be used for manufacture of noodles and seasoning provided with the noodles.
The draft of standards regarding manufacturing of instant noodles specifying the ingredients used, quality and safety parameters have been put in public domain by the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI), government told the Lok Sabha on Friday.
Minister of State for Health Faggan Singh Kulaste said the standards specify the raw materials that can be used for manufacture of noodles and seasoning provided with the noodles along with the quality and safety parameters of the final product.
“These can be prepared from wheat flour and/or rice flour and/or flour of any other cereals, millets, legumes and water as the main ingredients, with or without addition of spices,” he said during question hour.
Kulaste said starches, dried fruits and vegetables, nuts, edible protein and egg powder may be added, if required. The standards also provide that the product shall be of good characteristic colour, appearance, texture, aroma and taste and shall be free from added colour, undesirable taste, dirt, insect’s larvae and impurities or any other extraneous matter.
“The limits for moisture, acid insoluble ash and acid value have also been specified in these standards,” he said.
The Minister said in case of any violation of labeling requirement, action as per provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and regulations there under shall be taken by the state authorities concerned.
Comments are being sought on this draft, he added.
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