DINAMALAR NEWS

List of Hotels closed after issuing improvement notices in the State of Kerala

List of Hotels closed after issuing improvement notices in the State of Kerala in
the inspections conducted as per the directions from the Commissioner of
Food Safety, Kerala.
Thiruvananthapuram District:
1. Devi Hotel, General Hospital Jn.
2. Lakshmi Hotel, General Hospital Jn.
3. Meera Hotel, General Hospital Jn.
4. Hotel Ananthapuri, Kesavadasapuram
5. Hotel Radhakrishna, Medical College
6. Hotel Maloo, Kazhakoottam
7. Chicken Corner, Kazhakoottam
8. Coffee Bar, Medical College
9. Medical College Hospital Canteen 1
10. Medical College Hospital Canteen 2
11. Medical College Hospital Canteen 3
12. Hotel Ansari, Neyyattinkara
13. KSRTC canteen, Neyyattnkara
14. Hotel Subhash, Neyyattikara
15. Hotel Aryas, Nedumangad
16. Hotel Bismi, Vizhinjam
17. Thripthi Hotel, Vizhinjam
18. Surya Fast Food, Mukkola
19. Hotel Bismi, Balaramapuram
20. Immanuel Hotel, Mukkola
Pathanamthitta
1. Hotel Arya Bhavan, Near KSRTC, Pathanamthitta
2. Evergreen continental, College Road, Pathanamthitta
3. Hotel Ambika, Kozhencherry, Cherukol Road
4. City Bakery
5. Kavungal Hotel, Adoor, Kadavumgal
6. Aditya Hotel, Panappilly
Ernakulam
1. Hotel Nalanda, Near South Railway Station, Ernakulam
2. Hotel Saphire, Opp.Airport
3. Hotel Rolex, Opp.K.S.R.T.C
4. Hotel paradise, Edappally
5. Taza Taste, Palarivattom(Shawarma)
6. Hotel Malabar, Anakamaly
Thrissur
1. Hotel Priya, Ayyanthole
2. Hotel Royal Palace, Aswini Hospital Jn.,
3. Hotel Welcome, Choondal
4. Hotel Kanishka, Guruvayoor
5. PV’s Plaza, Thrissur
6. Panicker’s Hospital canteen, Kodungallur, Thrissur
7. Anupama Hotel, Mala
8. Flower Hotel, Mala
Kozhikkode
1. Brothers, Puthiyangadi
2. Hotel Highway, Chemanchery
3. Hotel ‘D’ Chandra, Kozhikkode
4. Super Hotel, Kunnamangalam, Kozhikkode
Palakkad
1. KSRTC Canteen, Palakkad
2. Malabar Spicy, Palakkad
Kollam
1. Hotel Plaza, Near KSRTC Bus stand , Kollam
2. Hotel New Arya Bhavan, Near KSRTC Bus stand , Kollam
3. Hotel Chix, Kollam

Compulsary registration for food outlets soon

Compulsary registration for wayside food outlets and those selling food items prepared from homes will be implemented soon. It would be as per the new rule in the Food Safety Act. As per the government order, registration should will be made mandatory by August 4. As per the new rules, food selling outlets are classified into two sections, one where the annual sales is more than Rs 12 lakh and the second below Rs 12 lakh. With this, not only hotels, fish, meat stalls, cool drink shops, wayside shops all would come under the rule.

The aim is to include all under the Food Safety and Standards Act. Registered food outlets should display the registration number on the cover of the food item being sold. Registration would be given only after examining the surroundings where food is prepared and examining the hygiene. Medical certificates along with registration is needed for those who prepare the food

MINUTES OF THE 8th CAC MEETING

EXTENSION OF SCIENTIFIC PANELS

AHAR members to get lessons in hygiene

There is perhaps nothing as important in the food industry as food safety and hygiene practices. Which is why DNA, in association with Equinox Labs, is organising a session to educate over 200 members of AHAR — Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association and students from its catering college about the importance of maintaining a hygienic kitchen and serving safe and healthy food.
No matter how tasty the food, if it is not prepared in a hygienic and healthy manner, it’s sure to destroy the business and reputation of any restaurant or hotel. Customers patronise a food establishment with the implicit trust that they will be served food prepared in a clean and hygienic way and it’s extremely important for restaurants to abide by this trust.
In the session, hoteliers and restaurant owners will be made aware of the hygiene norms established by the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) and will also be guided on how to comply with these norms effectively.
The responsibilities that members of the food industry have in providing health and hygienic food will be emphasised as will the penalties for not adhering with the rules set by the FSSAI. Any questions that the participants might have will also be answered by the experts present at the session.
Given that the monsoon in Mumbai comes with its share of gastrointestinal illnesses, food safety and hygiene gains even more importance during the rainy months. Hence, they should be at the top of the list of priorities for all members of the food industry.
Through this latest event under the Hygiene for Kitchens campaign, DNA aims to make it safer for all Mumbaikars to go out and enjoy the gastronomical delights the city has to offer, no matter what time of the year.
This Hygiene for Kitchens session will be conducted on Thursday between 4pm and 6pm at Hotel Krishna Palace Residency in south Mumbai

Now, VTA sends letter to FSSAI seeking extension to licensing deadline

With August 5, 2012, the last date for compliance with Licensing and Registration under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR), 2011, just around the corner, industry groups are urging the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the country's apex food regulator, to extend the deadline. In fact, one of them, the Nagpur-based Vidarbha Taxpayers' Association (VTA), has called them pro-FDI regulations, which could bring the Inspector Raj back, and expressed hope that the deadline is extended by at least a year.

Tejinder Singh Renu, honorary secretary, VTA, and Nagpur Residential Hotels Association (NRHA), has sent a letter titled, "Appeal for extension to one year deadline expiring on August 4, 2012, as stipulated under Regulation 2.1.2 of Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011."

It was addressed to Dr Manmohan Singh, prime minister; Sharad Pawar, minister of agriculture and food processing industries; Ghulam Nabi Azad, minister of health and family welfare; K Chandramouli, chairman, FSSAI; and Mahesh Zagade, food safety commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, Maharashtra.

"We welcome the repealing of various Central Acts such as the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954; Fruit Products Order, 1955; Meat Food Products Order, 1973; Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order, 1947; Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation) Order, 1988; Solvent Extracted Oil, De-oiled Meal and Edible Flour (Control) Order, 1967; Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992; etc. after the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which came into force across the country on August 5, 2011," the letter said.

It stated, "However, on close scrutiny of the Act, Rules and Regulations of the Food Safety and Standards, we found that the provisions mentioned therein are in favour of foreign direct investment (FDI), and are literally meant to shut down small- and medium-sized food business establishments and clearly support only multi-national corporations (MNCs)."

The letter criticised FSSAI for its failure to strike a balance between the existing procedures followed and surprisingly making the same provisions from farm to fork. "That means a petty dhaba and a seven-star hotel will have to comply with the same norms, as no parameters or gradation is described in the FSSA, 2006," it said.

Although FSSAI was incorporated to lay down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption, the letter states, "Without studying the Indian market, agricultural procedures and other parameters, the Act has been enacted, which we feel has been done in haste and the FSSAI has not given the stakeholders a lawful opportunity."

564 water units have no ISI certification, State tells court

The State government on Tuesday informed the Karnataka High Court that 564 mineral and packaged drinking water units in the State were functioning without the ISI certification and only 224 such units had ISI certification from Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

This information was given to a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice Aravind Kumar during the hearing on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition complaining that a large number of such units are operating in the State without the mandatory ISI certification.

Government counsel R.G. Kolle told the Bench that the authorities had issued notice to 491 units and had closed down 27 units that had no ISI certification.

In Bangalore urban district, there are 69 units operating without ISI certification as against 96 with the certification.

Meanwhile, some of the manufacturers disputed the position of law on mandatory requirement of ISI certification from the BIS after enactment of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which became operative from 2011. Counsel for some manufacturers pointed out that there was insufficient number of laboratories of the BIS to test water.

After hearing the contentions, the Bench asked the State Commissioner of Food Safety to be present in the court on Friday while directing the government to file an affidavit on the steps proposed for testing water supplied by such units to ensure safety of drinking water.

DINAKARAN NEWS

Food supplements makers in TN to move court seeking amendment to FSSA rules

Technical and legal hurdles in obtaining product approval certificates, which are mandatory for getting the new FSSA licence, are forcing the newly formed Tamil Nadu Food Supplement Manufacturers and Traders Association (TFSMTA) to launch a legal battle over the issue, it is learnt. According to Thomas Philip, the advisor of the Association and the managing director of Stamin Millennium Nutraceuticals, the stringent norms in the Food Safety and Standard Act (FSSA) 2006 obstructs the growth of the industry and creates problems to the manufacturers. He argues that there is no need of product approvals and the provision should be quashed. “Our Association will approach the court seeking amendment to quash the provisions demanding product approvals. Government is now insisting product approvals (PA) for even ordinary products like milk protein, whey protein etc., which have been in the market for decades. Previously, Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) licence was enough for manufacturing food products. PFA licences were issued by the district health officials. Now for getting FSSA licence, we have to submit PA certificates for which we should approach the Delhi FFSA office,” he told. As per the Act, if a new ingredient is added in the product, the product has to be subjected to toxicology test, heavy metal test and microbial test before applying for product approval. For each test, an SSI unit has to spend more than Rs.8,000. Most of the small scale units bring out more than one hundred products also. “So, the provision of product approval certificate has to be withdrawn and it is unwanted,” he opined. Fortius Mohan, the president of TFSMTA said all the manufacturers are in a quandary now in respect of the PA. He said ten members from his Association applied for the FSSA licence in last March because of the expiry of PFA on March 31. But nobody was given the licence so far despite several trips were made to New Delhi. From April this year onwards, the health department has stopped issuing PFA licence. Currently the Association is confining in Chennai district only, but the activity will be expanded to all the states soon by increasing the membership. There are over 300 food supplements manufacturers in Tamil Nadu, some of them are members of CIPMMA. But after getting registration for the Association, TFSMTA will join the Tamil Nadu Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, he added. Meanwhile, the implementation of FSSA has also created embarrassment for the medical retailers as the act mandates every trader who sells packed food items to obtain food licence from the State Food Commissionerate. Food items come under dietary supplements such as Bournvita, Farex, Amul, Complan, Boost etc. and are being sold through medical shops. Therefore, separate licence is required to sell these items. The state chemists and druggists association (TNCDA) approached the Commissioner of FDA requesting him to exempt the drug traders from taking separate licence for selling dietary supplements. When contacted, G Selvaraju, the drugs control director, said as per the act, every manufacturer or trader who has an annual turnover of Rs.12 lakh has to obtain PA or food licence from FSSA office and those whose turnover is less than Rs.12 lakh has to register with the Commissionerate. In Tamil Nadu the FSSA 2006 came into force on August 8, 2011.

Waiter! What’s that wriggling in my soup?

The Hindu FOOD FOR THOUGHT: A BBMP councillor said of the surprise inspections: ‘No hygiene was maintained and vermin were having a field day.’ File photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Don’t you just wish you could see what’s going on in the kitchens of even the poshest eateries in the city?

Ramanujam Krishna (name changed), a working professional, does not eat out often. He has a good reason. He still shudders at the memory of falling seriously ill after grabbing a quick bite at a famous eatery in Jayanagar 4 Block.

“I had roti and some subzi. Within minutes I had severe stomach cramps. It got so bad I left work early and went straight to the doctor, who diagnosed it as severe food poisoning. I wanted to complain about the hotel but didn’t know whom to approach,” he said.

The ubiquitous bug

Anirudh Mavanoor, who frequents a popular coffee chain, was shocked to see a cockroach traipsing over a sandwich kept at the display counter.

“When I pointed it out to the manager, he removed the cockroach but kept the sandwich back. It was only when I insisted that he throw it that he grudgingly did so,” he said.

These two cases are not surprising as the frequent raids by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Standing Committee for Public Health have caught several renowned hotels and eateries serving inferior quality, sometimes even stale food.

Heavily spiced

However, citizens say that random raids serve no purpose. Kumar G. (name changed), who used to work in the food industry, says mid-segment eateries routinely procure rotten vegetables and meat of poor quality at half the price, and marinate them in heavy spices to mask the taste. “Rice is also recycled. Rice made in the afternoon is washed thoroughly to separate the grains and is then turned into fried rice. Whatever is left over becomes curd rice,” he said.

If this has curdled your stomach, there’s more. Mr. Kumar said meat is salvaged from the gravy and washed, and becomes kebabs the following day. “The small eateries are not the offenders here. As they lack storage space, they plan properly and ensure there’s no leftover food. Big hotels, restaurants and eateries are the major offenders. To save money, they procure bad quality vegetables and meat, thereby risking the health of customers,” he said.

Rotten meat

S. Venkatesh Babu, chairperson of the BBMP Standing Committee for Public Health, told The Hindu that during a recent surprise inspection, he was shocked to see rotten meat stored in refrigerators, unwashed utensils being used in the kitchens and liberal quantities of food colouring and monosodium glutamate (ajinomoto). “In some places, the washing and cooking areas were adjacent. No hygiene was maintained and vermin were having a field day,” he said.

He has received nearly 60 complaints, both oral and written, from citizens about poor quality of food served in the many hotels and eateries across the city. “The committee will look into all these complaints by raiding the eateries. The drive is to ensure that they maintain cleanliness and don’t risk public health,” he said.

However, BBMP’s Opposition Leader M.K. Gunashekar said these raids serve no purpose. “One of the obligatory duties of the BBMP is to maintain public health. However, it lacks the requisite manpower and thus has not been able to monitor quality, ensure prescribed standards, and enforce the Food Safety and Standards Act. I feel that the BBMP is not taking this issue seriously enough,” he said.

Any follow-ups?

As per the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act 1976, the BBMP has the powers to inspect and close down places that serve stale or inferior quality food, besides cancelling their trade licence. “The Standing Committee is only levying penalties and issuing notices. What happens next? Have there been any follow up inspections?” Mr. Gunashekar asked.

Mr. Venkatesh Babu said that after the notices are issued, the establishment is shut down. “We will permit it to be opened only after the owner comes back with a report on the changes. Only after this is ascertained, the owner is allowed to start business again,” he said.

Inspectors’ shortage

BBMP Commissioner M.K. Shankarlinge Gowda conceded that there was shortage of food inspectors in the BBMP to enforce the Food Safety and Standards Act.

He said that owners of hotels and eateries must take the onus and ensure that their premises are kept clean and public health is not put at any risk. “The new Act is much more stringent than the previous Act (Prevention of Food Adulteration Act). We have urged the government to allow the BBMP to recruit more food inspectors,” he added.

Health and safety: New food laws brings back license raj

Millions of food sellers across the country could go out of business from the night of August 4 when a new licence-inspector Raj - in the garb of food safety regulations - comes into force.
Anybody engaged in selling anything edible - roadside tea stalls, dhabas, fruits and vegetable hawkers, grocery shops, milk vendors, canteens, caterers, restaurants, hotels, food processors - will have to obtain a new food safety licence by August 4.
Even trucks and other vehicles engaged in transporting food will have to obtain licences.

Dictatorial: The new laws will affect all kinds of eateries including street food dhabas

'Unlicensed food businesses will become illegal after August 4,' the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has declared.
Food safety licence is in addition to all existing licensing requirements from different government agencies.
Those who fail to get a licence will have to either close down their business or shell out heavy penalties ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 10 lakh if they continue without licence or registration. In Kerala and Maharashtra, where the governments have already begun enforcing the new regulation, several hundred food vendors and petty restaurants have been ordered to close down. In Delhi, the registration process is yet to begin.
The Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations 2011, under which the August 4 deadline has been fixed, would particularly hit millions of street vendors and petty food businessmen.

High market restaurants such at the Moti Mahal in Delhi (pictured) will not be exempt from the laws

Several food operators Mail Today spoke to in the Capital on Monday had not even heard of the new requirement. 'The regulation is impractical, undemocratic and dictatorial.
'We don't know if it will ensure food safety, but it will certainly breed corruption and harassment at unprecedented levels,' Shyam Bihari Mishra, head of the Kanpur- based Bhartiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal, said.
'The regulation is a mere copy of food safety laws prevalent in developed countries, completely overlooking ground realities here.'
The National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) said though the process would help vendors get some kind of legitimacy, it would open doors for widespread harassment.

'It is supposed to ensure street food vendors observe better hygiene standards, but the deadline is unrealistic. Failure to obtain registration certificate would entail closure of operations,' Arbind Singh, national coordinator of the association, said. In order to get registered or licensed, food business operators will have to fulfil many safety, hygiene and sanitary conditions.
While conditions set for street vendors are designed to ensure hygiene and safety in general and would be welcomed by most consumers, implementation poses problems. Food businesses with an annual turnover below Rs 12 lakh will have to get themselves registered while those with a turnover of Rs 12 lakh and more will have to obtain a licence.
The procedure for both categories is elaborate and timeconsuming. Documents from a list 18 will have to be submitted depending on the nature of business

New food safety regulation could force many to close shop

Millions of food sellers across the country could go out of business from the night of August 4 when a new licence-inspector Raj - in the garb of food safety regulations - comes into force.
Anybody engaged in selling anything edible - roadside tea stalls, dhabas, fruits and vegetable hawkers, grocery shops, milk vendors, canteens, caterers, restaurants, hotels, food processors - will have to obtain a new food safety licence by August 4. Even trucks and other vehicles engaged in transporting food will have to obtain licences.
"Unlicensed food businesses will become illegal after August 4," the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has declared.

Even posh restaurants will need to get the licences if they want to stay open.

Food safety licence is in addition to all existing licensing requirements from different government agencies. Those who fail to get a licence will have to either close down their business or shell out heavy penalties ranging from Rs.25,000 to Rs.10 lakh if they continue without licence or registration.
In Kerala and Maharashtra, where the governments have already begun enforcing the new regulation, several hundred food vendors and petty restaurants have been ordered to close down. In Delhi, the registration process is yet to begin.
The Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations 2011, under which the August 4 deadline has been fixed, would particularly hit millions of street vendors and petty food businessmen. Several food operators Mail Today spoke to in the Capital on Monday had not even heard of the new requirement.
"The regulation is impractical, undemocratic and dictatorial. We don't know if it will ensure food safety, but it will certainly breed corruption and harassment at unprecedented levels," Shyam Bihari Mishra, head of the Kanpur-based Bhartiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal, said. "The regulation is a mere copy of food safety laws prevalent in developed countries, completely overlooking ground realities here."
The National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) said though the process would help vendors get some kind of legitimacy, it would open doors for widespread harassment. "It is supposed to ensure street food vendors observe better hygiene standards, but the deadline is unrealistic. Failure to obtain registration certificate would entail closure of operations," Arbind Singh, national coordinator of the association, said.
In order to get registered or licensed, food business operators will have to fulfil many safety, hygiene and sanitary conditions. While conditions set for street vendors are designed to ensure hygiene and safety in general and would be welcomed by most consumers, implementation poses problems.
Food businesses with an annual turnover below Rs.12 lakh will have to get themselves registered while those with a turnover of Rs.12 lakh and more will have to obtain a licence. The procedure for both categories is elaborate and timeconsuming. Documents from a list 18 will have to be submitted depending on the nature of business. Fee for one-year registration is Rs.100, while that for licence ranges from Rs.2,000 to Rs.7,500. Some categories of food operators will also have to file annual returns to the food regulator.
Others in the food business such as grocery stores, smalltime manufacturers of 'ghani oil' and cottage bakeries which cater to roadside vendors are also apprehensive of the new rules. "What is the logic of including grains and spices, which are not processed, under the regulation. Already we are burdened with a plethora of licences and have to deal with so many agencies," Daryaganj Kirana trade leader Vijay Prakash Jain said.
More than food safety, the regulations seem to be designed to promote packaging of products in order to help large manufacturers, traders pointed out. For instance, the rules virtually ban selling of any unpacked edible oil. Similarly, biscuits and cookies from all bakeries will have to be "properly wrapped/packaged".
The number of street vendors engage in food business is estimated to be over one crore. The number of traders dealing with grains, edible oil, sugar and spices who will need to be licensed is about 3.5 crore.
Q&A
What is the logic behind the new regulation?
The regulation has been notified under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 which covers a gamut of food safety issues and supersedes earlier laws such as the Food Adulteration Act. In order to enforce basic hygiene and sanitary conditions at all installations handling food, the authority feels all food businesses need a licence so they can be made to follow set norms and can be punished in case they don't do so.
Who will be affected?
The licensing regulations notified under the Act covers the entire food chain: manufacturers, packers, wholesalers, distributors, sellers, importers, transporters, processors and food storage establishments. All street food vendors, fruit and vegetable sellers, roadside tea shops, dhabas, sweet shops, hotels, restaurants, canteens, caterers, religious places distributing food, milk dairies, grocery stores, food malls, bakeries and edible oil units will either need a licence or registration.
What is wrong with the system?
The licensing and registration procedures will drive millions of street vendors and food sellers out of business. The law empowers state food authorities and inspectors with powers to order units and impose heavy penalties with a minimum of Rs.25,000.

Licence deadline for food business operators

DIMAPUR, July 23 – Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has set August 4, 2012, as the deadline for food business operators to obtain food licenses from respective local health authorities, but with the Nagaland government yet to issue any notification or authorisation for implementation of the same, food product distributors, wholesalers and traders alike are in a fix.
Shopkeepers and dealers/distributors of food products here have reportedly been told by the office of the Local Health Authority, Dimapur, that it cannot issue the FSSAI license since the State government is yet to notify the office on the matter.
As per the directives of the central Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, all businesses related to food will become illegal without the FSSAI license after August 4.
In Nagaland, besides few cottage industries and processing units, the food business is pre-dominantly wholesalers, distributors and sellers. Those in the food supply chain told by the FSSAI to obtain the license include food importers, hotels, restaurants, clubs/canteens, caterers, transporters, storage establishments, processing units, etc. One of the objectives of the enforcement is to ensure that registration/licensing provisions are fulfilled and food items are safe, hygienic, wholesome and free of contaminants.
The Health Ministry had already notified all state governments in April 2011 for commencement of the FSSAI 2006 Act under the Second Schedule and had given a three-month room as transition period.
Sources maintained that the authority concerned in the State had been reminded of the matter time and again but said no response has been forthcoming.
Mandatory statutory authorities that need to be positioned as per the Food Safety Act include Designated Officers (DOs), Food Safety Officers (FSOs), Adjudicating Officers and Food Safety Appellate, Tribunals etc, all of which, sources say, are yet to be implemented.
Local health authorities, when contacted, admitted that they are yet to receive any notification from the higher-ups for issue of the license and that no licensing authority has been appointed either for which reason they cannot issue the license although the deadline is drawing near.
Barring the PFA Act, the central government had repealed the enactment and orders in the Second Schedule of the Food Safety & Standard Act 2006 and amalgamated them under one Act. The licensing authority for most of the Food Acts is now vested upon the State health authority. Earlier, such licenses could be obtained only from the Centre.
The FSSAI, in its directive, categorically states that no person shall commence or carry on any food business except under a License under section 31 of FSS (licensing and registration of food businesses regulations 2011).
This has understandably got food dealers (distributors, exporters and traders) seriously worried as they stand to lose their businesses and investments. They say that no food company would be willing to supply their products if they (distributors) are unable to furnish the FSSAI license.
And, at the end of the day, it will be the consumers who will bear the brunt of the situation as a disruption in the supply of food products will trigger a chain of consequences leading to a steep price hike in essential food items.

Deadline for Food Business Operators to Obtain Licenses, But Nagaland Yet to Issue

Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has set August 4, 2012, as the deadline for food business operators to obtain food licensesfrom respective local health authorities, but with the Nagaland government yet to issue any notification or authorisation for implementation of the same, food product distributors, wholesalers and traders alike are in a fix. Shopkeepers and dealers/distributors of food products here have reportedly been told by the office of the Local Health Authority, Dimapur, that it cannot issue the FSSAIlicense since the State government is yet to notify the office on the matter. As per the directives of the central Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, all businesses related to food will become illegal without the FSSAI license after August 4.

In Nagaland, besides few cottage industries and processing units, the food business is pre-dominantly wholesalers, distributors and sellers. Those in the food supply chain told by the FSSAI to obtain the license include food importers, hotels, restaurants, clubs/canteens, caterers, transporters, storage establishments, processing units, etc. One of the objectives of the enforcement is to ensure that registration/licensing provisions are fulfilled and food items are safe, hygienic, wholesome and free of contaminants. The Health Ministry had already notified all state governments in April 2011 for commencement of the FSSAI 2006 Act under the Second Schedule and had given a three-month room as transition period. Sources maintained that the authority concerned in the State had been reminded of the matter time and again but said no response has been forthcoming.

Mandatory statutory authorities that need to be positioned as per the Food Safety Act include Designated Officers (DOs), Food Safety Officers (FSOs), Adjudicating Officers and Food Safety Appellate, Tribunals etc, all of which, sources say, are yet to be implemented.

Local health authorities, when contacted, admitted that they are yet to receive anynotification from the higher-ups for issue of the license and that no licensing authority has been appointed either for which reason they cannot issue the license although the deadline is drawing near. Barring the PFA Act, the central government had repealed the enactment and orders in the Second Schedule of the Food Safety & Standard Act 2006 and amalgamated them under one Act. The licensing authority for most of the Food Acts is now vested upon the State health authority. Earlier, such licenses could be obtained only from the Centre.

The FSSAI, in its directive, categorically states that no person shall commence or carry on any food business except under a License under section 31 of FSS (licensing and registration of food businesses regulations 2011). This has understandably got food dealers (distributors, exporters and traders) seriously worried as they stand to lose their businesses and investments. They say that no food company would be willing to supply their products if they (distributors) are unable to furnish the FSSAI license. And, at the end of the day, it will be the consumers who will bear the brunt of the situation as a disruption in the supply of food products will trigger a chain of consequences leading to a steep price hike in essential food items.

FOOD MAP OF INDIA

PIL seeks ban on sale of tobacco products

Cancer Patient Aid Society, a Mumbai-based NGO recently moved the Karnataka High Court seeking a ban in Karnataka on sale, storage and distribution of gutka, paan masala and all other forms of chewing tobacco containing tobacco and nicotine as ingredients. The PIL has been filed as per provisions of Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales), Regulations, 2011.

The petitioner also sought implementation of notification issued by Union ministry of health and family welfare on August 1, 2011. The PIL states that non-implementation is a clear violation of Right to Life under Articles 21 and 47 of the Constitution.

A division bench presided by Chief Justice Vikramjit Sen on July 16, 2012 issued notices to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and Karnataka State Anti-Tobacco Cell.

Under-15 kids smoke, chew gutka

BANGALORE: About 50% children below the age of 10 in rural Karnataka have experimented with smokeless tobacco (like gutka and khaini) or smoking tobacco, imitating parents, grandparents and other elders in the family, says a recent study by Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. As per the 2010 Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 40% males and 16% females above the age of 15 years use tobacco in Karnataka, and 37% of them are exposed to passive smoking at public places. As per the Global Youth Tobacco Survey, 8% boys and 2% girls in the 13-15 age group are tobacco users, while 47% are exposed to passive smoking outside their homes.
Yet, a year after the Centre asked all states to ban sale of smokeless tobacco products like gutka and khaini, the Karnataka government is yet to get going. On August 1, 2011, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, of the ministry of health and family welfare, had issued a notification stating that tobacco and nicotine should not be used as ingredients in any food products. It also said that all smokeless tobacco products such as gutka and khaini be banned.
BAN UNDER CONSIDERATION
"The commissioner of food safety recently sent a proposal to the health and family welfare department, recommending a ban on gutka and smokeless tobacco products in Karnataka, which is under consideration," said Dr EV Ramanna Reddy, secretary, health and family welfare department.
So far, only five states, including Kerala and Maharashtra, have banned the sale of gutka. On July 12, 2012, Maharashtra took a step forward and also banned the sale of paan masala.
Karnataka is in a vulnerable position as far as the ban on gutka and smokeless tobacco products is concerned. Neither has it taken any remedial steps in this direction.
"There is no governance in Karnataka to take care of this issue. Sale of chewing tobacco and its accessibility to young children is harming our society. Oral cancer is spreading fast in India. As a specialist, I see at least one oral cancer patient a day in the age group of 30-32 years. This shows that tobacco products are easily accessible to the youth," said Dr US Vishal Rao, leading oncologist and director, Cancer Prevention Project, at the Institute of Public Health.

Times View

It's been a year since the ministry of health banned tobacco products like gutka and khaini, but there is little evidence of it in Karnataka. The state government has not taken any steps to end the menace, though the effect of tobacco on public health is known. While five states, including Maharashtra, have ensured stringent measures, Karnataka is yet to wake up. Tobacco products are freely available and children are falling prey to the addiction. Eventually, it is up to the people to spread awareness on tobacco's killer effects

ADDC Doda compounds fine of Rs. 4000/-

Doda:- Additional District Development commissioner Doda compounded a fine of Rs4000 to food business operators in four cases of misbranded/sub standard food articles under FSS Act-2006 and rules 2011.these food articles were lifted by food safety officers of district Doda from various blocks for analysis and same were declared misbranded/ substandard by Food Analyst Jammu.

DINATHANTHI NEWS

Ramzan will see more raids on hotels

With the beginning of the Ramzan season, the Corporation is planning to intensify their raids and inspections on hotels and restaurants in the city.
A majority of the floating population and bachelors depend mainly on restaurants in the city to break the day-long fast. And the civic body is keen on making sure that the busy hours are not exploited by the hoteliers.
It was last week that the health wing officials of the Corporation launched raids on restaurants and eateries in the city. It also issued orders to close down the restaurants found to be functioning in unhygienic conditions.
Though the massive raids conducted by the Corporation invited strong protests from the Hotel and Restaurants Association, the authorities are of the opinion that they would go ahead with inspections to make sure that only healthy food is served by the hotels.
“The Kerala Hotels and Restaurants Association has come up with a new argument that the municipalties and Corporations are not the authorised bodies to conduct the raids.
They are citing the Food Safety Act to substantiate their argument. But we are conducting raids under the clause included in the Kerala Municipal Act. As per the clause, any officer appointed by the Corporation secretary can conduct the raids to ensure that quality food is supplied to the public,” said Corporation health standing committee chairman T K Ashraf.
Ashraf stated that in a majority of cases where the closure notice was issued to hotels, the problem was related to hygiene.
“The preparation of food under hygienic conditions is equally important as the quality of the materials used for cooking. A majority of hotels that were served with closure notice were unhygienic and stinking. In some hotels, the drainage system was faulty and food was kept uncovered in the kitchen while in some other hotels the gutter and the sink were  overflowing with dirty water. We cannot allow this,” he said.
Iftar squads
Ashraf further added that considering that public in-flow will be high in these hotels during the evenings during Ramzan, the Corporation will entrust a special squad to conduct raids after 7 pm in the evening.

CAIT writes to FSSAI chairman, demanding extension to August 5 deadline

In a letter addressed to the chairman of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), titled, "Registration/Licensing of Food Business Operators before August 4, 2012: Extension thereof," Praveen Khandelwal, secretary-general, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), has enumerated the issues that CAIT seeks to be redressed by the government or FSSAI.

"None of the food testing laboratories in the public sector are accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). The online licensing system was introduced to ensure uniformity, easy accessibility and transparency. However, it hasn't been effectively implemented in a number of states, including Delhi," he said.

Khandelwal added, "Public laboratories functioning in states require attention. The 'upgradation' of public laboratories is still not up to the mark. It is necessary to have a larger network of laboratories which are conforming to minimum standards in the public sector."

"Training for different categories of regulatory staff needs to be looked into. The regulatory staff needs advanced training on the subject. Though efforts are being taken to train the staff, it still needs intensive training," he said.

"Awareness generation amongst food business operators (FBOs) is the need of the hour. After all, this (the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006 - which came into force from August 5, 2011, replacing the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954) is a new law. A lot of promotional activities need to be undertaken to make people aware of the Act," Khandelwal said.

He explained, "There are many parameters in starting food business, people have to be made aware of these and clarifications with respect to the online and manual licensing and registration system. All the material concerning the Food Act has to be translated into various regional languages."

"In fact, a number of states, including Delhi, Nagaland, Odisha and Tripura, are yet to start licensing and registration under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. And then there are others, where the percentage of FBOs holding valid licences and registrations is very low," informed Khandelwal.

Commenting on the extension to the August 4, 2012, deadline for licensing and registration, Khandelwal said, "Even after almost a year since the Act was brought into effect, the teething troubles are far from over. In fact, there are huge gaps in licensing and registration and the transition period between conversion of the licences from the preceding Act to the current one."

"Many FBOs are still unaware of the procedures and the requirements for food safety and standard licenses/registrations. A number of court cases are pending in High Courts across the country. Due to this, far fewer licences have actually been issued than the expected number. Keeping these facts in mind, CAIT urged FSSAI to consider extending the deadline," he said.

Inspection triggers power struggle between agencies

KOCHI: The continuing raids on restaurants across the state have triggered a power struggle between two agencies.

The raids conducted by the local bodies have angered the commissionerate of food safety, which maintained that it was the only agency empowered to conduct the inspection.

The raids were necessitated following an incident of food poisoning in Thiruvananthapuram, which claimed the life of a youth. Following the incident, the authorities, including local civic bodies, have been conducting raids on restaurants. Several eateries were closed down after they were found offering stale food.

With the authorities seemingly competing with each other in conducting raids, food safety officials, citing the implementation of the Food Safety and Standard Act(FSSA), 2006, claimed that the local bodies were stripped off powers to seize stale food and order restaurants to shut shop. The officials claimed that only they have power to ensure hygiene and good sanitary conditions in hotels and restaurants.

"Even as the local bodies were deprived of their power to seize food from hotels with the implementation of the Food Safety and Standard Act, many local bodies have violated this in the recent days and seized samples. We can't reach the conclusion that food items kept in freezers are stale without proper examination," said Biju Prabhakar, food safety commissioner.

He added that while collecting samples from hotels, off1icials were required to follow certain guidelines. Several hoteliers had complained that officials from local bodies were collecting samples without following the stipulated norms.

Differing with the food safety commissioner, T K Devarajan, chairman of the Maradu municipality claimed that the Kerala Municipality Act, 1994, empowered them to raid hotels and even issue closure orders, if necessary. "We raided hotels and fined them for serving stale food as the Municipality Act permit us to do so," he said. The Maradu municipality had conducted raids on several hotels, including up market ones.

"The provisions in the Municipality Act enable us to impose fine and take action on hotels for serving stale or adulterated food," said Dr D Sreekumar, health officer of the Thiruvananthapuram corporation.

The raids conducted by the local bodies have angered the commissionerate of food safety, which maintained that it was the only agency empowered to conduct the inspection.

Hotels issued notice after stale meat, idlis seized in raids

The HInduStale food seized from different hotels kept at the Maradu Municipality premises. 

 

During the search conducted by Maradu Municipality, five hotels were found to have violated the rules. This included four main hospitality players in the city.

Local bodies have intensified their drive against unhygienic conditions in hotels and against those serving stale food, this time netting some big players too.

During the search conducted by Maradu Municipality, five hotels were found to have violated the rules. This included four main hospitality players in the city. During checks at the Food Court of Abad Nucleus Mall, Le Meridien, BTH Sarovaram, Wyte Fort and Kitchen Castle, municipal authorities found old food refrigerated for periods longer than is allowed.

“Out of these hotels, BTH Sarovaram was found to be committing the offence repeatedly and so notice was issued for cancelling their permit. Wyte Fort was detected to have violated the rule for the second time and was fined Rs.6,010. Both Le Meridien and Kitchen Castle at Nettoor were first time offenders and were fined Rs.4,510 each. The case of Abad Nucleus Mall food court is under study and a decision will be taken on Saturday,” said S. Jayakumar, municipal secretary.

In hotels that served non-vegetarian food, the authorities detected fried chicken, fish curry, vegetable curries, noodles and other food material that was kept in cold storage past permissible amounts of time. Authorities spotted small idlis that were kept refrigerated for a long period, besides different types of chutney and dal curry among material seized and destroyed from BTH Sarovaram.

Aluva municipal authorities conducted checks at 13 different hotels within Aluva town limits and closure notices were issued to nine of them. The hotels that were served notices were Hotel Ceylon, Best Hotel, Hotel Sapphire, Hotel Navratna, Shenoy Hotel, KSRTC canteen, Vinayaka Hotel, Hotel Breeze and Kamala Vilas Hotel.

All these hotels have been given 15 days’ time to respond to closure notices issued after invoking section 447 of the Municipality Act of 1994. Most of the hotels searched were found to be reusing cooking oil beyond allowed limits. Other stale food seized from these hotels included beef, chicken, fish curry, curd, fungus-infested quail meat, sour dough for dosa, and porotta.

However, the Kochi Corporation restricted its searches to primary checking with 21 circles. “After the search was extended to the late hours on Thursday, only primary checking was done on Friday. During the search, Sannidhi Café at T.D. East Sannidhi road was found to be violating rules and was hence closed down by around 2 p.m.,” said T.K. Ashraf, chairman of standing committee for health.

The searches will continue after the hotels and restaurants reopen after the strike called Kerala Hotel and Restaurants Association on Saturday, he said.

A threat to the favourite toxin on the menu

Benoy is a worried man these days. The trouble started last week when one of his favourite dishes, shawarma, was swept off the menu. He could empathise with a hapless youth for taking a liking for the Arabic food item though he thought it was a cruel fate that decreed the youth pay with his life for eating a dish, however unhygienic. Over the business part of the week began those raids on restaurants across the state that ended in restauranteers hitting back by voluntarily downing shutters. As some of his favourite joints began closing shop, Benoy swore at the media for throwing light on dead lizards and mice in refrigerators.
“How many of us have actually taken an inventory on the insects that are dead in refrigerators at home?” he was heard asking a friend in a plaintive tone. Benoy had another reason to be unhappy as his folks, like many in Kerala, had as good as abdicated the need for home cooking, day in and day out. When his wife Rani said, “Think how dreary it is to remain cooped up in the kitchen seven days a week,” Benoy couldn’t have agreed more.
He was prodded into action when he visited some of his elderly neighbours and found one old couple a nervous wreck. The reason — they were afraid that marauding food safety inspectors would start a scrutiny of one food item which in their opinion no Keralite can live without. After a hot debate on what the ‘national’ food of Kerala was, Benoy decided to find the answer himself.
He started off by posing questions to a cross section of his acquaintances. The choice drink of most varied from chaaya and kaapi to butter milk and bonjie (a sherbet peculiar to southern part of the state). True, he could arrive at this mix of Kerala’s favourite beverages only by studiously ignoring the spontaneous and common answers that came thick and fast — rum, brandy and toddy.
When probed on their choice food item and the answers, he found to his surprise, mostly had one uniform element. Stoutly stated along with a smattering of rice, tapioca, fish curry and beef-olathiyatu was the undeniable king of the Malayali palate — parotta, a take-away that is rumoured to have caught the attention of burger and pizza makers in the US.
As more and more kitchens pack up their once onerous duty it is the unassuming parotta that rules the roost. Such is the popularity of this roti-like contraption (it has ingredient dollops of animal fat of untraceable lineage) that hundreds of units have sprung up across the state to manufacture this unique food item for instant takeaways. The vegetarians frown at those who gobble down parottas dipped in oily meat curries, opting to close their eyes and taste buds to the animal fat that lends that ever-so-inviting smell and flavour to the bread of their choice.
On behalf of his elderly neighbours who represent a cross-section of the Malayali household, Benoy is now praying hard that the food inspectors spare the good old parotta, and thus keep Kerala off instant starvation.

Slow peddling on licences

Even while health concerns of Kochiites over the unhygienic food has reached breaking point with the recent raids, a majority of the restaurants and hotels in the city have failed to obtain their licences under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2011. As per the official count, less than one third of the joints have gone in for the registration.
With barely half a month to go for the deadline of the registration for the licences (August 5, 2012), most of the food joints in the city now face the threat of penal action against them. “As per our estimates there are over 30,000 food joints in the city with an annual  turnover of more than 12 lakhs. All of these must obtain their licences before August 5. But as of now only 9000 restaurants have registered for the licences,” said the Ernakulam District designated Food Safety officer, K Ajith.
The Food Safety and Standards Act 2011 came into force in August last year. But the central government had given a relaxation of one year for the food joints concerned to obtain their licences. While small scale way side eateries could obtain the licences after submitting the necessary details and a sum of Rs  100, larger food joints with a turn over of more than 12 lakhs are supposed to produce the concerned documents and pay an amount of Rs  2000. It is this latter section that has mainly failed to submit their registration papers.
The officers allege that the reluctance to obtain the licences is mainly die to the pressure from the unions. “The Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi has even put up circulars asking their members not to go in for the registration. They have been spreading rumours that the Act will get repealed and hence there is no need to go for the licence. But the Food Safety Wing will take strict action against all the food joints which fail to send in their applications for registrations before August 5,” said the Food Safety officer. The failure to get the license can invite a penalty of upto 6 months imprisonment and a sum of Rs  5 lakhs.
Meanwhile the Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi denied the charges. “We have not prevented our members from taking licences. It is due to the endless procedures and absence of adequate staff in the Food Safety that the process is getting delayed. There are not even registration papers to give in the applications. Besides there are some 12 documents that we have to obtain including test reports of food samples. All this is delying the process,” said the State President of the Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi, T Nazeerudin.

NHRC closes the can on milk adulteration

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has closed the case of milk adulteration across the country after receiving reports from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and the Department of Prevention of Food Adulteration, Government of Delhi, stating that appropriate steps have already been taken by both the departments to curb the rampant milk adulteration.
Earlier, the NHRC asked for an action taken report (ATR) from the Chairman, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India over the issue on a petition filed by Supreme Court advocate and human rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy as to what sort of action has the authority taken to ensure the quality of milk across the country.
The NHRC has also issued notice to the Chief Secretary, Delhi government over another petition filed by R H Bansal with regard to the quality of milk sold in Delhi.
The petitioners urged the NHRC to urgently intervene in this matter as the country’s food safety regulator found most samples collected either diluted or adulterated with products including fertiliser, bleach and detergent. The study, conducted by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, found the milk adulterated with skimmed milk powder and glucose or more shockingly with hydrogen peroxide, urea and detergent.
Hydrogen peroxide is used in bleach, while urea is commonly used in fertiliser. Consumption of milk with detergent may cause health hazards and indicates lack of hygiene and sanitation in the milk handling, Tripathy pointed out. In its report dated February 27, 2012 the Prevention of Food Adulteration Department, Government of Delhi, informed the NHRC that it had collected 446 samples of milk between 2009-2011.
And, of the 446 samples, 379 samples were found fit for human consumption and 67 samples below the quality for consumption. However, no urea or detergent was found in the samples. It had also informed the NHRC that a strict vigil has been kept over the issue.
On the other hand, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India informed the NHRC that it had made an exercise in 2010-11 and taken 1,791 samples of milk across the country and found the objectionable materials as mentioned in the samples. The main aim is to make the consumer aware about milk consumption across the country, it stated.
Subsequent to the findings of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, directives have been issued to the Commissioner of Prevention of Food Adulteration of all the states to be alert over the issue. While this is the case with the NHRC, the Supreme Court had issued notices in the month of May this year on identical petition filed over the same issue and the case is pending.

State yet to implement FSSAI licensing directive

Food distributors, traders in a fix as deadline draws near

DIMAPUR, JUL 22: Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has set August 4, 2012, as the deadline for food business operators to obtain food licenses from respective local health authorities, but with the State government yet to issue any notification or authorisation for implementation of the same, food product distributors, wholesalers and traders alike are in a fix.
Shopkeepers and dealers/distributors of food products here have reportedly been told by the office of the Local Health Authority, Dimapur, that it cannot issue the FSSAI license since the State government is yet to notify the office on the matter.
As per the directives of the central Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, all businesses related to food will become illegal without the FSSAI license after August 4.
In Nagaland, besides few cottage industries and processing units, the food business is pre-dominantly wholesalers, distributors and sellers. Those in the food supply chain told by the FSSAI to obtain the license include food importers, hotels, restaurants, clubs/canteens, caterers, transporters, storage establishments, processing units, etc. One of the objectives of the enforcement is to ensure that registration/licensing provisions are fulfilled and food items are safe, hygienic, wholesome and free of contaminants.
The Health Ministry had already notified all state governments in April 2011 for commencement of the FSSAI 2006 Act under the Second Schedule and had given a three-month room as transition period.
Sources maintained that the concerned authority in the State had been reminded of the matter time and again but said no response has been forthcoming.
Mandatory statutory authorities that need to be positioned as per the Food Safety Act include Designated Officers (DOs), Food Safety Officers (FSOs), Adjudicating Officers and Food Safety Appellate, Tribunals etc, all of which, sources say, are yet to be implemented.
Local health authorities, when contacted, admitted that they are yet to receive any notification from the higher-ups for issue of the license and that no licensing authority has been appointed either for which reason they cannot issue the license although the deadline is drawing near.
Mention may be made that, barring the PFA Act, the central government had repealed the enactment and orders in the Second Schedule of the Food Safety & Standard Act 2006 and amalgamated them under one Act. The licensing authority for most of the Food Acts is now vested upon the State health authority. Earlier, such licenses could be obtained only from the Centre.
The FSSAI, in its directive, categorically states that no person shall commence or carry on any food business except under a License under section 31 of FSS (licensing and registration of food businesses regulations 2011).
This has understandably got food dealers (distributors, exporters and traders) seriously worried as they stand to lose their businesses and investments. They say that no food company would be willing to supply their products if they (distributors) are unable to furnish the FSSAI license.
And, at the end of the day, it will be the consumers who will bear the brunt of the situation as a disruption in the supply of food products will trigger a chain of consequences leading to a steep price hike in essential food items.

Food safety authorities to intensify drive

The Hindu Hotels and restaurants across the State remained closed on Saturday in protest against the raids by officials to seize stale food. Scene in Kochi city on Saturday. Photo: K. K. Mustafah 

Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association threatens indefinite strike

Stepping up vigil against the rampant sale of stale food across the State, Food Safety Commissioner for Kerala Biju Prabhakar has said that the intensified drive will continue till the hotels and restaurants comply with the 30-point guidelines issued to ensure the quality of food items sold by them.

“We have formed ten squads and at least eight of them will be on the field at any given time after adjusting leaves and holidays of squad members. They will conduct raids everyday in eight towns across the State simultaneously. They (hoteliers) can comply with guidelines and continue with their business or else it will be a question of whether they should close down the firms on their own or we should do it for them,” Mr. Prabhakar told The Hindu on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA) has threatened to go on an indefinite strike by closing down eateries unless various agencies put an end to what they perceive as victimisation of the industry.

KHRA State general secretary Jose Mohan said that the association representatives will meet the Chief Minister, Health Minister, and Food Safety Commissioner next week with a three-point agenda. “The raids should be conducted in compliance with the FSS Act (Food Safety and Standards), the government should make clear the competent authority authorised to undertake raids, and stop closing down hotels without giving a notice period to rectify and improve the shortcomings,” he said.

The association, he said, will go for the extreme step of indefinite strike by closing down hotels if these demands are not met. He complained that now multiple agencies including local bodies, Health authorities, and food safety officials were conducting raids in hotels.

Mr. Prabhakar, however, clarified that Food Safety officials are the sole authority to take action related to the quality of any food items or food outlet operators. “Hoteliers can easily approach the court about their complaint of raids by multiple agencies,” he said.

Since the local bodies are a licensing authority under the Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, they can at best look in to aspects like hygiene while the Health inspectors have no authority whatsoever to intervene in matters related to food items.

On the association’s contention that advance notice should be served before the raid and 15-days notice period to rectify anomalies before ordering closure of hotels, Mr. Prabhakar said that such a protocol is usually followed in normal circumstances and not in extraordinary situations like the present one involving the death of a youngster attributed to low quality food. He said that food safety officials have not resorted to highhandedness during raids and have even videographed the entire operation.

Mr. Prabhakar said that the deadline for acquiring food safety license under the FSS Act cannot be extended from August 4 unless so decided by the Union government under a statute. “It’s an Act passed by the Parliament and we can do nothing about extension. Firms operating without the food safety license will be fined from August 5,” he said.

Mr. Mohan said that an extension of six months during which the authorities pointed out the deficiencies to be plugged would have been ideal for small and medium operators.

Food safety law to come into force from Aug 4

PATNA: Senior officials of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) here on Saturday informed traders, food processors and industrialists of the state that Food Safety Standards Act (FSSA) would come into force from August 4, 2012, under which everyone in the food production and supply chain has to be registered and seek license from the local area authorities, state and central government as per turnover and business.
At a programme organized by the Bihar Industries Association (BIA) on its premises, the joint director, FSSAI, Kolkata, D P Guha, said everyone in the food supply chain, including small traders, hawkers, itinerant vendors, dhaba owners, roadside snack and tea stalls, apart from other small and big producers, traders and suppliers will have to get registered under the Act before August 4.
He said the process of registration and getting license has been made simple, with the minimum registration fee for hawkers and small traders being Rs 100. The FSSA has enabled creation of self-compliance regime in which continuous correct operation and quality food supply would not invite inspection, but any complaint would lead to the FSSAI chasing the erring ones in the food supply chain, Guha said.
Before this meet, the BIA had informed its members and others about the importance of FSSA, for which awareness at the national level was being created for about a year. The BIA had invited food producers, traders and also the avid consumers for the meet.
Guha said all the Acts, Regulations and Orders for maintaining quality and standard of food items and services in the supply chain management had been amalgamated in the FSSA.
Making a power-point presentation, FSSAI's consultant, Shridhar, said the FSSA has made exhaustive safety, sanitary and hygienic conditions mandatory for registration/licensing. He said the State Food Controller can designate any local area licensing/registration office at the municipal and panchayat level for registration and licensing. He said that even the 'prasad' offered and distributed at temples must be of standard and safe for human consumption and this has also been brought under the purview of FSSA, even though it's a non-profitable activity.
He said FSSA provided for maintaining safety and standard at any stage of manufacture, processing and packaging of food products. He enumerated the provision of fees, as per the turnover of food processors and others in the food production and supply chain, to be realized as registration/licensing fees by the state and central licensing authorities. License of the food producer, supplier and others in the food supply chain would be suspended or cancelled on non-fulfilment of FSSA provisions for making the food safe and maintaining its standard, he said.
The former state food controller and presently expert, Food Analytical laboratory, J K Singh, said 38 ADMs of the state have been trained in enforcement of FSSA to ensure that registration/licensing provisions are fulfilled and food items are safe, hygienic, wholesome and free of contaminants.

Gutka, paan masala ban: 127 sachets seized on Day 1

On the day the year-long ban on the sale and consumption of gutka and paan masala in the state came into effect, authorities of the food and drug administration (FDA) started a crackdown from their own backyard.
FDA authorities began a ward-wise inspection from Bandra — where their office is situated — and Colaba on Friday. “On the first day of the crackdown, a team of six assistant commissioners and 20 food inspectors was deputed to randomly pay a visit to pre-identified roadside stalls and shops in Bandra and Colaba to inspect whether the vendors were illegally hoarding and selling gutka and paan masala,” said FDA commissioner Mahesh Zagade.
Till late evening, the FDA had raided 14 shops in Bandra. A total of 127 sachets of gutka and 72 sachets of paan masala, worth over Rs1,000, were seized, said FDA joint commissioner (food) Suresh Deshmukh.
Errant vendors are being booked under sections 2.3.4 and 3.1.7 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulation, 2011 and section 30 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Over 200 food inspectors in 35 districts have been deputed to enforce the ban.