Dec 28, 2017
Traders demand extension of FSSA deadline for licence
Trichy: The deadline of December 31, 2017 to apply for registration and license under Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) has irked the traders in Trichy, where the compliance of the food business operators (FBOs) to the Act was meagre.
Citing Trichy collector K Rajamani's warning of action against the traders a couple of months ago, Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peramaippu expressed its displeasure over the deadline and demanded it be extended till March 31, 2018.
"Our association has been protesting against the FSSA act resulting in the postponement of implementation of the Act a few times. The committee formed to remove the unrealistic rules and regulations from the Act is yet to consider our demands. Yet, the deadline for coming under the purview of the Act is set to be over in few days. So, we demand the government to extend the deadline for three months," said state general secretary of the association Ve Govindarajulu in a statement on Wednesday.
Out of the 20,000 FBOs including government run institutions like public distribution system, TASMAC that is to be covered under the Act, only 6,000 traders have turned up for registration and only 800 have applied for licenses according to their turnover.
Designated officer of food safety department in Trichy Dr R Senthilkumar said that the call on the demand for extension of the deadline can only be taken by the government. " One thing FBOs should know is that the Act will give protection to their business if they come under the purview," he added.
Get food items tested for adulteration, government will pay
The Centre has decided to invite members of the public to get any food item tested for unsafe ingredients after it emerged that not a single complaint has been filed with country’s top food regulator under a special Act introduced 11 years ago.
As per the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Act, if food purchased by a person is established as adulterated, the cost of getting it tested is reimbursed. “In a recent FSSAI audit by the CAG, it emerged that there has not been a single complaint received under the Act and therefore, we have decided to widely advertise the provision,” an official in the Union health ministry said.
“Any individual can get suspicious food products tested at FSSAI laboratories. But since it’s a time-consuming procedure, most people shy away from doing so,” he said. “The process costs between Rs 2,000 and 5,000, depending on the food product.” FSSAI sources said thousands of tests are done at its labs. “None of them are done on complaints by consumers. Public participation is must to enhance food safety standards,” an official said.
Soon, more officers for food safety in every district
Aiming to tackle the lack of food safety authorities in states, the Health Ministry has sought appointment of Sub-Divisional Officers as "designated officers" for the purpose in every district, apart from the food inspectors.
The decision has been taken in view of the lack of food safety authorities in districts and also to give general public an option for grievance redressal.
"The Commissioner of Food Safety may, with the previous approval of the state government, appoint Sub-Divisional Officer of the area on additional charge basis as designated officer," said a Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry notification.
The amendment is part of Food Safety and Standards (Second Amendment) Rules, 2017. The notification also says that the Sub-Divisional Officers appointed as Designated officers will not be required to undergo such training.
It adds: "Where the Collector or District Magistrate considers necessary, he may delegate the powers exercisable by him... to an Additional Collector or Additional District Magistrate or a Sub-Divisional Officer of the area." IANS
No check on vendors selling ‘unhygienic’ food in Srinagar
SRINAGAR: A video showing adulterated food being openly sold in Srinagar went viral on Facebook. In the video, a customer was seen showing a packet of parathas which was unfit for consumption. That video raised alarm among netizens who commented how the lack of checks on street food was endangering the lives of city residents.
However, even as the video created an uproar on social media, the practice of selling adulterated and unhygienic food has far from stopped.
In the congested Amira Kadal area, scores of makeshift stalls sell biryani, kebabs, fried fish, and snacks in the open.
At on one such stall, customers wait their turn to have fried fish while the vendor serves them without using gloves.
He also served food to another customer who eagerly had it without noticing that he was eating off an unhygienic plate, for the vendor had served him without cleaning his plate.
This unhygienic practice, according to Dr Rubeena, former health officer at Srinagar Municipal Corporation, has had an adverse impact on people’s health.
“We should firstly take care of personal hygiene, we should make people aware about proper food hygiene and ways of selling street food. This unhygienic food can cause food poisoning, which can lead to a person’s death. We can’t stop this selling of street food because it has became a part of our culture, but we should make these food vendors aware about the ill effects of this unhygienic food.”
A vendor Parvaiz Ahmad selling snacks at a stall near Lal Ded Hospital, however, denied that street food was poisonous.
“We use the best quality of ingredients such as P Mark flour and refined oil for snack preparation. We also use clean water,” he added.
Assistant Commissioner Food Safety, Srinagar, Hilal Mir told Kashmir Reader that they have acted against street vendors selling unhygienic food.
“We have filed 150 cases this year so far,” he said, citing an example of a vendor who was fined Rs 10,000 for using adulterated oil to prepare delicacies in Srinagar.
“We are appealing to these street vendors to cover all food items with a cloth or paper and not to reuse mustard oil,” he said.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)