In Agra, FSDA seizes over 6,000 litres of adulterated cooking oil

AGRA: More than 6,000 litres of pungent-smelling adulterated cooking oil was seized by team of Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) on Tuesday in Agra.

A team of nine members of FSDA, led by designated officer Vineet Kumar conducted a surprise raid at a private plant and godown (Maa Gauri Oil) in Barauli Ahir of Shamshabad road and found large quantity of adulterated cooking oil being dispatched to different districts of Uttar Pradesh such as Mathura, Firozabad, Etah, Agra and others.

According to food safety officer Sarvesh Mishra, "We have seized over 6,000 liters of adulterated cooking oil, which will now be send to laboratory for examination. We had been receiving complaints, about adultrated cooking oil been sold in and around Agra."

Official source claimed: "The oil plant and godown in Barauli was caught blending low-grade refined soybean oil with high-end branded mustard oil. For several weeks they were selling the adulterated oil bottles in market under their brand name (Maa Gauri Oil).

It may be mentioned here that located on the outskirts of Agra city, local food-processing plants and dairies have earlier been involved in supplying adulterated/synthetic items to various districts. During festive periods, such activities becomes more prevalent.

According to FSDA officials, "If the seized sample of cooking oil fails in laboratory test, then an FIR will be lodged against the plant owner. If found guilty, the accused may have to serve sentence of up to 3 years."

FSSAI moves amendment to legally validate licensing and regn timeline

After extending the licensing and registration deadline for food business operators (FBO) by two short terms of three months each from February 4, 2016 to August 4, 2016, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) moved an amendment for legally validating the timeline.

In total, since August 4, 2011, 60 months have passed since the exercise, meant to be for the conversion of licences from the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act, 1954 to the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, commenced.

On July 26, 2016, the apex food regulator released a draft amendment note for the validation of 60 months in the rules and regulations for licensing and registrations under the FSS Act. This was done to give legal vetting to the timeline and avoid any legal challenge to the notices for various extensions to the licensing and registration deadline.

It is pertinent to mention here that since the implementation of the FSS Act, 2006, across India in August 2011, an initial period of twelve months was given to complete the conversions, but it was later extended by six months from August 2012 to February 4, 2016.

According to sources privy to the licensing and registration process, as on August 1, 2016, the total number of state licences was 7,08,814, the total number of Central licences was 26,907 and the total number of registrations was 28,31,703.

However, neither the ministry not FSSAI has given any indication about an extension yet. Also it had, in its notice dated May 30, 2016, mentioned clearly that this was the last extension.

Meanwhile, when contacted, a senior FSSAI functionary said that FSSAI officials would hold a meeting to review the situation and after an assessment, the apex regulator would take a decision.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) - who stated that the real problem lay in the fact that the rules and regulations of the FSS Act, 2006, remained unchanged - demanded a further extension.

“The definition of FBO needs to be reviewed. Nothing has been done to address this problem despite so many extension. And we will certainly raise this issue before the health minister again,” said Praveen Khandelwal, secretary general, CAIT.

Drive against sale of loose spices, edible oil in Jaipur

Jaipur: Sale of edible oil and powdered spices without proper packaging is not allowed under the provisions of Food Safety and Standard Act (FSSA). However, several shops in the city are selling loose edible oil and powdered spices. They have no mention of expiry date, manufacturing date or contents. To prevent sale of such food items, the health department will launch a campaign from August 15.

Markets known for selling loose powdered spices in the Walled City area will be on the radar of health authorities. However, as per the health department, initially, no strict action will be taken against the traders. "We will counsel them first to not sell food items like edible oil and powdered spices without packaging. If they continue to do so, we will give them time to stop it. Even then, if they carry on flouting norms, we will take strict action against them," food commissioner, Rajasthan, Dr BR Meena, said.

Dr Meena said that under FSSA, there are provisions which say that powered spices and edible oil should be packed properly following all norms, before being sold.

On July 23, the health department officials had conducted an inspection in the Walled City markets. They had collected five samples of powered chilli, turmeric and coriander, which were being sold without proper packaging as per FSSA norms.

Officials said that customers go to such shops and buy powdered spices. No one knows what it contains. If packed properly, one would know the contents.

Food inspectors have been directed to collect samples of powdered spices and edible oil across the state.

Moreover, as Raksha Bandhan is round the corner, the health authorities will collect samples of sweets and other eatables. "It is seen that during festivals, demand for sweets goes up. There are chances of food adulteration. Collect samples of sweets from August 15 to August 20 to keep a check on adulteration," says an order issued by the health department on August 12 for health officials across the state.