Dec 6, 2017
Tobacco products worth Rs 8L seized
Coimbatore: The food safety department on Tuesday seized tobacco productsworth Rs 8 lakh from a private bus that arrived in the city from Bengaluru and detained a person in connection with it.
The officials also seized the bus, as this was the second such offence by the private bus service provider in the past four months.
The seizure was made based on a tip that the tobacco products were being brought to the city in No 1 Travels. "I received the information from a source around 3.30am. We tracked the bus and followed it. Since there were about 10 passengers in the bus, we did not stop it on the way," said the food safety officer, Vijaya Lalithambiga B.
The bus was stopped near its shed closer to the Ramakrishna electric crematorium. "The bus had tobacco products worth Rs 8 lakh. When we questioned the driver, he said the box contained vegetables," she said.
The private bus service provider, however, said they did not have details about the person who booked the parcel or delivery details.
The food safety department has detained a person in connection with the case. "We are trying to trace the person who was to collect the consignment. We have collected samples and sent them to the lab for tests. The report will be submitted before the court, which will then take a call on disposing it of," Vijaya said.
Following the incident, the food safety department has instructed parcel service providers and omni bus operators to collect identity proof from customers, who drop parcels at their offices. "This will create a fear among the people trying to send prohibited products to the state. Also, this will prevent parcel service providers to indulge in such crimes," Vijaya said
The official said action would be taken on the private bus operator, who was caught second time carrying tobacco products.
FSSAI hints mandating food safety supervisor, MSMEs say it might add to input costs
FSSAI hints mandating food safety supervisor, MSMEs say it might add to input costs
New Delhi, Dec 5 (KNN) In response to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) CEO Pawan Agarwal hinting towards the authority mandating food safety supervisor for the enterprises involved in the food sector, the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) fear that if made mandatory, it might add to the overall inputs costs of production.
Talking to KNN, Sagar Kurade, Past President of All India Food Processors' Association (AIFPA) voiced concern over the latest development.
Kurade said that while the step on an overall note is a welcoming one, but it might not be very well for the unorganized sector.
“While the organized and established sector would not find difficulty in employing a food safety supervisor to their team, the MSME units involved in the business might experience added burden on the overall input costs”, he said.
Kurade informed that at present in most of the MSMEs, the person in charge of the management or the person in charge of the quality control is assigned the task to inspect the food safety.
Kurade said that instead of making it mandatory, FSSAI may recommend the same, leaving it unto the capacity and capability of the units whether or not they can hire a food safety supervisor for their production process.
Earlier, FSSAI CEO Pawan Aggarwal in a press interview said the authority is considering making it mandatory for all food businesses to employ food safety supervisor. The move would be a game changer and reduce compliance burden, he further said.
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