Food safety appellate body formed

G.O. issued and rules notified; chairperson identified, says senior official

Almost 12 years after the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, was enacted by Parliament, the Tamil Nadu government has established the Food Safety Appellate Tribunal to hear appeals against the ruling of the adjudicating officer. The government also notified rules governing the tribunal recently.

“The G.O. for setting up the tribunal has been issued and a person has been identified to be its chairperson; steps are on to set up an office for the tribunal,” a senior officer connected with the development said.

As per Section 70 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the Central and State governments are to establish one or more food safety appellate tribunals to hear appeals from the decisions of the adjudicating officer. The one-member panel is to be held by a district judge (the adjudicating officer is in the rank of an additional district magistrate).