Under section 63 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, a case can be registered for violations, and the guilty can be jailed for six months and fined ₹5 lakh
Liquor shops in Barmer district do not have food licences, a violation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, officials said.
The Act has categorised liquor as a drinkable item, making it mandatory for wine shop owners to get food licence.
“Without getting food licence, shop owners cannot sell liquor,” said Hemraj Soni, chief medical and health officer in Barmer.
No liquor shop owner in the district has applied for food licence. In absence of such a licence, adulterated liquor may be sold. In April last year, 19 people, including three BSF personnel, died in the district after consuming adulterated liquor.
“We have asked excise department officials to direct all liquor vends in the district to get food licence,” Soni said.
Excise inspector Bhanwar Lal said, “Food licence is mandatory for liquor shop owners; we have directed all liquor vends to get it.”
Food safety officer Bhuraram Godara said the Food Safety and Standard Authority, in a circular issued on December 2012, directed liquor shop owners to get food licence. “Despite this direction, liquor shop owners are not serious about it.”
The health department has sought from excise officials a list of liquor vends in the district. “We will soon launch a drive to collect liquor samples. In case of adulteration, strict action will be taken,” Godara said.
Under section 63 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, a case can be registered for violations, and the guilty can be jailed for six months and fined ₹5 lakh.
Godara said, “Liquor shops not applying for food licence, apart from violating safety norms, are causing revenue loss; the government can get ₹2,000 on releasing a licence.”
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