Manipur raises nearly Rs 7 lakh as penalty for violation of food safety standards

Manipur collected a revenue of Rs 6,89,000 as penalty for violation of food safety standards in as many as 12 cases in the financial year 2018-19.

Manipur has the highest amount raised in the form of penalty for violation of food safety standards in the Northeast. This was reflected in the state-wise report of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on annual public laboratory testing reports 2018-19.

However, the report released through the Press Information Bureau (PIB), revealed that no one was convicted in the 12 cases in which penalties were imposed. It is learnt that 18 cases were taken up by the state government of which most of the cases were civil.

The report further said that the FSSAI received altogether 388 samples from Manipur for analysis of which 56 were found to be non-conforming, 28 found with labelling defects and 28 more substandard ones.

Of all the Northeastern states, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura could not raise any revenues as there was no case in which penalty was imposed as per the report.

Meghalaya raised second highest amount with Rs 1,93,700 in three cases including one criminal case.

While Assam moved seven criminal cases, penalties were imposed on five cases only raising Rs 77,000 only including 14 civil cases. Arunachal Pradesh also moved one criminal and seven civil cases and raised Rs 2,100 .

In terms of non-conforming samples, Manipur has the highest number followed by Nagaland with 202, added the report.

The PIB report stated that the implementation and enforcement of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 primarily rests with the state/UT governments. FSSAI has been impressing upon the states/UT the need for strengthening regulatory infrastructure at state/UT level, including the need for addressing shortage of regulatory staff and placement of full-time officers, improvement in sampling and testing facilities among others, through quarterly meetings of central advisory committee, regular video conference with officials of food safety departments of concerned states/UT, it said.

Moreover, it pointed out that the FSSAI has released a sum of Rs 269.69 crore for the upgradation of 38 state food testing labs in 29 states/UTs by way of improvement of physical infrastructure, purchase of high end equipment and setting up of microbiological laboratories.

In addition, 54 mobile food testing laboratories, called Food Safety on Wheel, have also been delivered to 32 states/UTs, it added.