Dinakaran News

Delay in testing food flayed

The Kalimirch Vyapari Association (KVA) has complained to the Food Safety Authority about the unprecedented delay of over five months in testing black pepper sealed in NCDEX authorised warehouses by the authority on suspection of adulteration with mineral oil.  In a written communication to the commissioner of FSA, Kerala, KVA has alleged that since 2012, FSA has been going very slow in testing of about 6800 tonnes of black pepper valued at over Rs 300 crores.  FSA has appointed Spices Board to test the pepper allegedly contaminated with mineral which is unfit for human consumption.
Spices Board has already submitted the results of testing done for about 1000 tonnes of black pepper so far, but FSA is yet to announce the results.

‘No poisonous ingredients in food samples’

PUNE: Mystery continues to surround the death of two Katraj dairy employees who died after consuming food at the Sagar Dhaba on Mumbai-Bangalore Highway last month.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Pune has found no poisonous ingredients in the collected food samples.

“According to the lab analysis reports, no poisonous ingredient was found in the collected samples. Only the paneer was found to be of sub-standard quality with low fat percentage. Therefore, no food poisoning case will be lodged. However, a complaint was registered against the Dhaba owner for using sub-standard quality of paneer,” said Shivkumar Kodgire, FDA Assistant Commissioner.

On May 18, two employees of the Katraj Dairy, run by the Pune Zilla Sahakari Dudh Utpadak Sangh, were on their way to the milk city, Anand, to attend a seminar on the dairy industry. They died in Gujarat due to suspected food poisoning. The FDA food inspectors then collected samples of paneer, oil, rice and flour from the Sagar Dhaba in Maval taluka, where they had their dinner. The samples were sent to the State Analysis Laboratory. The viscera of the two employees is awaited from the Gujarat police. After the incident, the FDA had undertaken an inspection drive of dhabas on the highways.

Speaking to Sakal Times, FDA Joint Commissioner (Pune Division) SR Kekare said, “The FDA squad checked adulteration of edible items like flour, oil and food quality, hygienic condition of the kitchen, the cook, pest control, medical check up of the dhaba employees etc. In all, 38 dhaba owners have been sent improvement notices.”

After a period of 14 days, verification is done and necessary action would be taken, he added.

FOOD POISIONING WAS SUSPECTED

On May 18, two employees of the Katraj Dairy, run by the Pune Zilla Sahakari Dudh Utpadak Sangh, were on their way to the milk city, Anand, to attend a seminar on the dairy industry. They consumed food at the Sagar Dhaba on Mumbai-Bangalore Highway. They died in Gujarat due to suspected food poisoning.

FDA to train city’s food business operators

PUNE: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Pune is all set to make the city a ‘food safety city’ with the aim of entering into the Limca Book of Records.

Under this ambitious project, all the food business operators in the city will be trained on the sanitary and hygienic practices.

While the experiment by FDA of training the roadside food vendors outside Saras Baug was a failure, it is optimistic about the upcoming food safety projects as it will now have the provision to take legal action against food business operators if they fail in the hygienic practices after completion of the training.

The project will be joint venture of the FDA, Pune and Bindra Hospitality Services Private Limited.

“In a city like Pune that has around 9,000 small, medium and big food business operators, it is difficult to train all of them. Therefore, a phase-wise mass training in food handling and hygiene practices will be given to all the restaurant owners, followed by kitchen operators of various hotels and restaurants and basic food cart owners, home-based mess owners and street vendors,” said S R Kekare, Joint Commissioner (food) of FDA Pune.

The programme is designed as per Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Free training will be given in a phased manner starting from hotel, restaurant owners, managers, waiters and kitchen workers, home-based mess and street vendors. All the operators will be registered and given certificates after successful completion of the training.

“Often, street vendors complain about not being aware of the Act and maintaining hygiene levels. Hospitality experts will train them scientifically and FDA officials will train them on the provisions of the Act,” he added.

The training sessions will comprise of cleaning the equipment and containers, management and supervision, food testing facilities, audit, documentation and records, personal hygiene, managing raw material, drainage and waste disposal and ventilation and lighting. The training will be given in Marathi, Hindi and English languages.

FREE TRAINING

Free training will be given in a phased manner starting from hotel and restaurant owners, managers, waiters and kitchen workers, home-based mess and street vendors.

Govt dispatches 15 teams to test Rajasthan salt's worth

Rajasthan is the third largest salt producing state in India as it produces 1,96,000 tonnes of clean salt
every year which is 8.7% of country's total salt production. But in the inter-departmental meeting recently, there were discussions that the salt manufacturers in Nawa, Sambhar and Phalaudi are under lens for not maintaining proper Food and Safety Act standards.
There are complaints of manufacturers not maintaining standards of iodine salt. To look into the matter, teams of health department have been sent for investigation.
Talking to DNA, Dr BR Meena, health director, said, "During the recent inter-departmental meetings, it came to our notice that salt manufactures in Nawa, Sambhar and Phalaudi are not maintainin
g the standards required to manufacture salt."
There are complaints that iodine is not being used as per the standards prescribed under the Food Safety and Standard Act. For which, around 15 teams have been sent for inspection. Anybody found flouting the norms will be punished under the Food Safety and Standard Act, he added.
There are around 200 salt manufacturers in Nawa and Phalaudi where salt is manufactured and supplied throughout the country.
Flouting norms!
There are complaints that iodine is not being used as per the standards prescribed under the Food Safety and Standard Act
Deficiency of iodine in salt not only impairs thyroid function, but is also linked to increased risks of breast cancer and weight gain
There are around 200 salt manufacturers in Nawa and Phalaudi

DFRL food to fight fatigue

Mysore: After years of rigorous hard work, food scientists at Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) are on the verge of revolutionizing the food industry.

An array of new generation nutraceuticals are being developed by the defence lab, which will help Indian jawans fight anxiety, sleep and fatigue for several hours without food or the minimum food in extreme conditions. In fact, in-house trials done on white mice proved that these foods will enhance performance.

Now, scientists are gearing-up for ‘last-leg’ human trials before seeking necessary clearances from the Directorate General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMC). Dr K. Radhakrishna, additional director, DFRL, told Deccan Chronicle that there is a huge demand from the Indian army for performance enhancing foods.

This was the thrust area for DFRL in the 11th five-year plan and will continue to be in the 12th plan too. Only a few developed countries like the USA have done extensive research in this emerging area of food sciences and India will join the ‘elite’ club shortly.

“Though the products are still at the R&D stage, the in-house trials have already given the desired results”, Dr Radhakrishna said.

These nutraceuticals also have immense potential in the civilian market, both domestic and international. For example, a student can use these products to bust stress and depression during exam time. Importantly, these products don’t have any side-effects and are purely developed using micro-nutrients and anti-oxidants extracted from natural herbs and plants, said a senior DFRL scientist working with the project.

Already, DFRL has developed several appetizers, stress-relieving biscuits, squash rich in anti-oxidants from sea buckthorn, fruits and leaves, low-calorie aloe vera drink for diabetics, cholesterol-lowering food and memory-enhancing chocolates. Microbiological safety and shelf-life parameters were checked as per international standards, Dr Radhakrishna added.

FSSAI testing packaged water samples and preparing database of quality

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) – the country's apex food regulator – has commenced the testing of samples of packaged drinking water from different sources across India for various microbiological and chemical components. It is also working on the preparation of a database of the quality of packaged drinking water.
The Authority has taken these steps following a letter by health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad urging it to ensure checking of units manufacturing packaged drinking water. The minister apprised the body of a spate of complaints about the quality of packaged drinking water being supplied to consumers in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).
A senior FSSAI official said, “We have directed the food safety commissioners to test the quality of packaged drinking water and make the results available to us. The work has already begun. It is expected to take a while to complete. Only then we will comment on the issue.”
“FSSAI, however, will prepare the database upon the completion of the tests. The authority has also decided that the state food safety officers should conduct sampling of the packaged water at regular intervals. However, the duration of the sample collection will be set only after the results of the first phase of sampling are declared,” he added.
He further informed that the FSSAI had hired a legal firm to deal with the legal cases that come to the fore while implementing the regulations, and added that as far as the number of cases filed was concerned, no data was currently available.
“The Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, has a provision to set up tribunals for cases related to food safety and the process has, in fact, begun in the states. Currently the cases are filed in regular courts, but once the tribunals are set up, the hearings  will take place in the tribunals,” he stated.

Dinamalar

Daily Thanthi

பான்மசாலா, குட்காவிற்கு ஜூன் 23 முதல்"குட்பை'

தேனி:பான்மசாலா, குட்கா போன்ற புகையிலை கலந்த போதை பொருட்களுக்கு, ஜூன் 23 ல் இருந்து வியாபாரிகள்,மொத்த ஸ்டாக்கிஸ்ட்கள் அனைவரும் "குட் பை' சொல்ல வேண்டும், என அரசு உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது. தமிழகத்தில் பான்மசாலா, குட்கா போன்ற புகையிலை மற்றும் நிகோடின் கலந்த போதைப் பொருட்களை விற்பனை செய்வது, கடந்த மே 23 முதல் தடை செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. சில்லரை விற்பனை கடைகளில் விற்கப்படும் பான்மசாலா, குட்காவை அதிகாரிகள் பறிமுதல் செய்து வருகின்றனர். அவற்றை, அதிகமாக வாங்கி இருப்பு வைத்துள்ள ஸ்டாக்கிஸ்ட்டுகளுக்கு, நோட்டீஸ் வழங்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது. அவர்கள் ஜூன் 22 க்கு பிறகு, இருப்பில் உள்ள
பான் மசாலா, குட்கா போன்றவற்றை தமிழகத்தில் விற்க கூடாது, என அறிவுறுத்தப்பட்டு உள்ளது. ஜூன் 23 முதல் பான் மசாலா, குட்கா போன்ற புகையிலை பொருட்களுக்கு அனைவரும் "குட்பை' சொல்லி விட வேண்டும். அதன்பிறகு, உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு பிரிவு அலுவலர்கள் நடத்தும் சோதனையில் கண்டு பிடித்தால், அவை பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டு, சட்டப்படி நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும்,என அதிகாரிகள் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர்.

Sustainability code for tea industry from July 11

VADODARA: Tea Board Chairman MGVK Bhanu has said the board will unveil a 'sustainability code' for the industry on July 11, and redefine the way it operates.
Addressing the 24th annual general meeting of the Federation of All-India Tea Traders Associations at Anand, about 40 kilometres from Vadodara, Bhanu said yesterday: "The board will introduce a set of parameters which will redefine the way tea industry works, right from production to certification to labour welfare to maintenance of global safety standards."
Stating that the code will be viable for all the stakeholders, Bhanu added, "the sustainability code is a broad-based package aimed at all-round development of the tea sector."
Being developed by the board in collaboration with four reputed agencies associated with the industry, the code encompasses all aspects of tea production.
"The aim of the initiative is to sustain the tea industry by following the set of codes developed keeping Indian realities and globally accepted sustainability principles in mind to improve the social and economic conditions of the plantations," Tea Board adviser and former Director G Boriah said.
The code will also include parameters to be adopted to boost productivity, introduce labour welfare measures, maintain safety standards in factories and limit use of pesticides in the plantations.
He said the board had evolved a draft code that would be launched on a pilot basis and tested for the next six to nine months.
"The idea is to improve quality compliance, mitigate effects of climate change, ensure ethical sourcing and inclusion of small farmers in the mainstream," he said.
He further said the sustainability code is aimed at ensuring that consumers get a healthy cup of tea, keeping in mind the food safety standards, importance for which is growing globally.

Rotten meat enters city, this time by bus

The meat had been transported from Karnataka and was to be unloaded in Periamet, Vepery and Kilpauk

Food safety department officials on Sunday seized 2.5 tonnes of rotten meat that was transported into the city by bus. Having received a tip-off on Saturday, the officials waited at three locations along Poonamallee High Road at dawn and seized the meat parcels.

The officials found packets of rotten meat which were being smuggled in through buses coming from Karnataka. Soon, the police and officials of Chennai Corporation’s health department reached the spot and analysed the samples. The meat was of inferior quality and was making its way to eateries in the city.

The meat was destroyed in Kodungaiyur dump yard. The food safety officials will create awareness among traders this week on the impact of such trade on public health.

Earlier in September 2012, the civic body had cracked down on business units in the city that had been found smuggling carcasses from Nellore, Vijayawada and Kakinada in trains. Chennai Central and Egmore stations were the hubs of this illegal trade.

So far, over 25 tonnes of rotten meat have been seized in the city.

No business units in the city were sealed on Sunday.

The meat parcels were meant to be unloaded in Periamet, Vepery and Kilpauk.

2,500kg of rotting beef seized from K’taka bus

Chennai: Beef smugglers have found a new mode of transport — inter-state and district buses.
    After facing the heat from raids and seizures from Chennai Corporation and railway officials at Egmore railway station, smugglers seemed to have turned to transport by road. “They seem to have taken to buses because there are fewer checks. Only during the Diwali season are buses checked regularly,” said a corporation official.
    On Sunday morning, based on a tip-off, officials stopped a bus from Vaniyambadi with a Karnataka registration number on EVR Periyar Salai. They found 2,500kg of beef in gunny bags in the luggage compartment. “Small plastic packets of meat were stored in other bags,” said Chennai district food officer S Lakshminarayanan.
    The meat was discoloured, and the bus driver did not have any documents for the beef such as a bill of sale, details of buyers or a veterinarian certificate, said food safety officers. “The corporation’s veterinary officer saw the colour of the meat and deemed it unfit for consumption. Since there were no certificates, we think the meat could have been obtained from unauthorised slaughter houses, and thus can’t be sold,” said Lakshminarayanan. The luggage compartment of a bus is neither airconditioned nor hascoldstorage facilities.
    Bus operators said the meat was from Vaniyambadi and meant for door-to-door sale in Muslim houses. Officials suspect that the meat is from Andhra Pradesh and more than 24 hours old.
    “According to the information we received, it is from outsidethestate,” said an official. “The beef was probably going to be used to adulterate mutton. Large shops and restaurants, which buy in bulk, often purchase mutton mixed with beef,” said Lakshminarayanan. The mix can be 5kg of beef to 30kg of mutton. He said the adulteration is mild and can only be discerned through testing of the meat’s muscle strains.
    Corporation officials said such adulteration could cause health complications. “Hotels who buy in bulk need meat cheap,” said an official. “Serving rotten meat could cause an outbreakof food poisoning,” an official said.
    Last year, railway police and corporation officials seized thousands of kilograms of beef entering the city through Egmore and Central railway stations. They intensified raids on trains coming from Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan.
    The immediate effect of Sunday’s seizure seemed to be a rise in beef and mutton prices in Chintadripet and Periamet. Beef, which became pricier threeweeks ago, was even more expensive became on Sunday afternoon. “The price of beef went up from 150 to 180 a kg three weeks ago,” said Sajan, who runs Kerala Mess in Teynampet.
    “Webuy our Sundaystock by 5.30am,” said Areef Amin, who runs a biriyani outlet on Sydenhams Road. “We needed more mutton and beef around noon, and had to pay 190 per kg of beef,” he said.

Dist health officials issue contradictory statements

Ludhiana, June 16
The district health officer and the food safety officer, it seems, are in a confrontation mode. The former claims that the practice of collecting legal samples started after he joined as the district health officer in Ludhiana, but the latter belies his claims.
Talking to the Tribune, district health officer Dr Avinash Kumar said: “Before I joined, the district health department used to collect quality samples of eatables. The collection of legal samples started during my tenure. In May, we collected 16 samples of eatables, out of which three failed the purity test.”
Refuting his claims, food safety officer, Ludhiana, Harpreet Kaur said: “We were collecting legal samples even before the district health officer joined in Ludhiana. We collected five samples of mid-day meal from the central kitchen situated at Sherpur Kalan last year before Dr Avinash Kumar joined in Ludhiana."
However, taking a U-turn, the district health officer later said: “I was not aware that the legal samples were being collected in the district before my joining.”
3 samples fail test
The district helath officer said: “In May, the health team collected 16 legal samples of mid-day meals from different places, including the central kitchen. The samples of raw rice were found substandard. A case will be filed in the court of adjudicating officer-cum additional deputy commissioner (general). The other samples were of cooked rice, which were found unfit for human consumption. The cases will be filed in the court of the chief judicial magistrate.”
What’s the difference? 

Food safety officer Harpreet Kaur said: “In both cases, we send the samples to a laboratory. In case of a legal sample, action is taken through a court under the Food Safety and Standard Act. However, in quality control samples, a violator is issued an improvement notice.”

Case registered against eight cricketers, including Dhoni and Tendulkar, for misleading ad

New Delhi: A case has been registered against eight Indian cricketers and Sahara-Q shop owner Subrata Roy by the Department of Food Safety, Uttarakhand for misleading advertisement.
The eight Indian cricketers who have been booked in the case are Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, Virendra Sehwag, and Zaheer Khan. Besides them, two Bollywood actors, Hrithik Roshan and Priyanka Chopra, have also been named in the case.
According to a report, all of them have been charged for promoting ‘adulterated’ products after samples of mustard oil, jam and gram flour collected from a Sahara Q-shop in Bahadrabad were tested. The report revealed that the products were indeed contaminated.

Dinamalar & Dinakaran

Soon: no shops, only pushcarts on Marina

The Corporation plans to restict hawkers on the beach in a bid to clean up the sands.

The Chennai Corporation is planning to relocate all hawkers on Marina Beach and permit only pushcarts instead.

As per the proposal, the relocation process will restrict all 1,489 hawkers to the sands near the Triumph of Labour Statue and the Gandhi Statue. The shops will form a pattern perpendicular to Kamarajar Salai.

As many as 960 pushcarts in six rows will extend to a length of 362 metres near the Triumph of Labour Statue and 540 pushcarts will be positioned on the sands near the Gandhi Statue in six rows covering a length of 200 metres.

Each of the pushcarts will be two metres long and 1.2 metres wide. Five pushcarts will be grouped and positioned in blocks stretching 10 metres in dimension. Each block will be one metre away from the other.

The total number of pushcarts on the Marina will be restricted to 1,500. Hawkers with identity cards will be allowed to do business during the prescribed time, with wares in pushcarts only.

The civic body presented a ‘Scheme for regulation of hawkers on the Marina’ to the First Bench of the Madras High Court comprising Acting Chief Justice R.K. Agrawal and Justice M. Sathyanarayanan on Thursday, when a writ petition by K. Balaji, president of the Gandhiji Consumer Forum, came up for further hearing.

The petitioner said the condition of Marina Beach was pathetic. The authorities had allowed hundreds of small shops and vendors all over the beach and . Because of the authorities’ failure to enforce the Food Safety and Standards Act, substandard and unhygienic food was being sold on the beach.

The civic body admitted that hawkers were scattered over the sands and garbage was spread all over the Marina. The regulation and relocation of hawkers was necessary.

Under the scheme, five drop gates would restrict hawker movement. Security personnel would be posted to operate the drop gates. The hawkers would be asked to use dustbins. to prevent garbage accumulation on the sands. The Corporation would levy a charge for the use of the space occupied by pushcarts. on the sands. The civic body would also periodically review the arrangement and modify conditions if necessary. Appropriate action would be taken against violators.

The petitioner’s counsel sought time to file his objections and also to suggest an alternative mechanism to relocate the hawkers. Following this, the Bench posted the matter for further hearing after a week.

Dinakaran News

Laws Governing The Food Industry In India - Revisited

The food processing industry one of the largest industries in India is widely recognized as a 'sunrise industry' in India having huge potential for uplifting the agricultural economy, creation of large scale processed food manufacturing and food chain facilities, and the resultant generation of employment and export earnings.
Laws governing the food industry:
The Indian food processing industry is regulated by several laws which govern the aspects of sanitation, licensing and other necessary permits that are required to start up and run a food business. The legislation that dealt with food safety in India was the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 (hereinafter referred to as "PFA"). The PFA had been in place for over five decades and there was a need for change due to varied reasons which include the changing requirements of our food industry.
The act brought into force in place of the PFA is the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (hereinafter referred to as "FSSA") that overrides all other food related laws. It specifically repealed eight laws which were in operation prior to the enforcement of FSSA:

• The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954
• The Fruit Products Order, 1955
• The Meat Food Products Order, 1973
• The Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order, 1947
• The Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation) Order, 1998
• The Solvent Extracted Oil, De oiled Meal, and Edible Flour (Control) Order, 1967
• The Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992
• Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (in relation to food)

Need for the new act:

FSSA initiates harmonization of India's food regulations as per international standards. It establishes a new national regulatory body, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (hereinafter referred to as "FSSAI"), to develop science based standards for food and to regulate and monitor the manufacture, processing, storage, distribution, sale and import of food so as to ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. All food imports will therefore be subject to the provisions of the FSSA and rules and regulations which as notified by the Government on 5th of August 2011 will be applicable.

Key Regulations of FSSA:

A. Packaging and Labeling:

FSSA provides for separate packaging and labeling regulations known as Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labeling) Regulations, 2011 (hereinafter referred to as the "Packaging and Labeling Regulations") which lay down the statutory and regulatory requirements for packaging and labeling of products. A plain reading of the Packaging and Labeling Regulations, show that there are different kinds of products: Pre-packaged, Proprietary and other specific products as mentioned in the regulations.
Regulation 2.12 of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 defines "proprietary food" as food that has not been standardized under these regulations. Regulation 1 (8) of the Packaging and Labeling Regulations defines "prepackaged" or "pre-packed food", as food, which is placed in a package of any nature, in such a manner that the contents cannot be changed without tampering it and which is ready for sale to the consumer.
The Packaging and Labeling Regulations provide the general requirements for labeling of food products prescribed under the FSSA, as follows:

1. The particulars of declaration required under these Regulations to be specified on the label shall be in English or Hindi in Devnagri script: Provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the use of any other language in addition to the language required under this regulation.
2. Pre-packaged food shall not be described or presented on any label or in any manner that is false, misleading or deceptive or is likely to create an erroneous impression regarding its character in any respect;
3. Label in pre-packaged foods shall be applied in such a manner that they will not become separated from the container;
4. Contents on the label shall be clear, prominent, indelible and readily legible by the consumer under normal conditions of purchase and use;
5. Where the container is covered by a wrapper, the wrapper shall carry the necessary information or the label on the container shall be readily legible through the outer wrapper and not obscured by it.

In addition to these general requirements specified above, every package of food shall also carry the following information on the label: (i) name of the food; (ii) list of ingredients; (iii) nutritional information; (iv) declaration regarding veg. and non-veg; (v) declaration regarding food additives; (vi) name and complete address of the manufacturer; (vii) net quantity; (viii) lot/code/batch identification; (ix) date of manufacturing or packing; (x) best before and use by date; (xi) country of origin for imported food; and (xii) instructions for use.
Since a large variety of food products are being imported into India, under the Packaging and Labeling Regulations, it becomes necessary to mention the country of origin of the food on the label of food imported into India, and when a food undergoes processing in a second country which changes its nature, the country in which the processing is performed shall be considered to be the country of origin for the purposes of labeling.
Therefore, the above are the statutory and regulatory requirements that are to be complied with regard to labeling of products that are sold in the Indian market as "pre-packaged goods".

B. Signage and Customer Notices:

Having briefly dealt with the statutory and regulatory requirements with respect to labeling of products, it is necessary to understand the statutory and regulatory requirements with respect to signage and customer notices more from the point of view of a food outlet. It is important to note that though the provisions of FSSA do not specifically provide for any statutory and regulatory requirements either for signage or customer notices, but it has certain provisions with regard to advertisement of products by food business operators.
Section 3 (1) (b) of FSSA defines the term "advertisement" (which includes a "notice") as any audio or visual publicity, representation or pronouncement made by means of any light, sound, smoke, gas, print, electronic media, internet or website and includes through any notice, circular, label, wrapper, invoice or other documents.
Section 24 of the FSSA provides that no advertisement shall be made of any food which is misleading or deceiving or contravenes the provisions, rules and regulations made there under. No person shall engage himself in any unfair trade practice for purpose of promoting the sale, supply, use and consumption of articles of food or adopt any unfair or deceptive practice including the practice of making any statement, whether orally or in writing or by visible representation which:

1. falsely represents that the foods are of a particular standard, quality, quantity or grade-composition;
2. makes a false or misleading representation concerning the need for, or the usefulness;
3. gives to the public any guarantee of the efficacy that is not based on an adequate or scientific justification thereof, provided that where a defence is raised to the effect that such guarantee is based on adequate or scientific justification, the burden of proof of such defence shall lie on the person raising such defence.

FSSA being applicable to all food business operators in India, the provision with regard to advertisements would have to be complied with.
C. Licensing Registration and Health And Sanitary Permits
It is also important to note that FSSA, being the only legislation applicable to the food industry throughout the country, will also apply as far as the national health and sanitary permits are concerned.
The Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011 (hereinafter referred to as "License and Registration Regulations") govern the aspect of license and registration of a food business operator.
Under Regulation 2.1 of the License and Registration Regulations, all food business operators in the country are required to be registered or licensed in accordance with the License and Registration Regulations, hence no person shall commence any food business unless a valid license is possessed by the food business operator, and the conditions with regard to safety, sanitary and hygienic requirements have to be complied with at all times by them.
One of the prime purposes of these conditions is to ensure that the food business operator maintains sanitary and hygienic standards as specified in each food category. It is hereby recognized and declared as a matter of legislative determination that in the field of human nutrition, safe, clean, wholesome food is indispensable to the health and welfare of the consumer of the country.
It shall be the deemed the responsibility of the food business to comply with the labeling, safety and health and sanitary requirements laid down in the License and Registration Regulations. The labeling requirements are specified under the regulations and they need to be complied with at all times especially with regard to pre-packaged goods.

Penalties:

The FSSA provides for penalties in case of any non compliance. Generally, non-compliance with various provisions of the FSSA may attract penalty of up to Two Lakh Rupees (approx USD 4000). However, under Section 63, it provides that if any person or food business operator (except the persons exempted from licensing under sub-section (2) of Section 31 of FSSA), himself or by any person on his behalf who is required to obtain license, manufacturers, sells, stores or distributes or imports any article of food without license, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months and also with a fine which may extend to Five Lakh Rupees (approx USD 9000).

Other Licenses:

The FSSA being a central act has to be complied with by all the food business operators in the country. However, India being a big market, each state may have their local laws which may also need to be complied with. Some of the other approvals and licenses that a food operator may be required to obtain from various authorities under other laws include: health and trade licenses from the municipal corporation of the relevant area, environmental clearance, no-objection certificate for fire prevention and safety, registration under the police act of the respective city/state, verification certificate under the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976 for each of the outlets issued by the Department of Legal Metrology of the respective areas, registration under the shops and establishments act of the respective state, eating house license and liquor license.
A license for playing music in restaurants is also required for playing recorded or live music. It is mandatory for a food business to obtain insurance from any insurance company with regard to public policy, product liability, fire policy, building and assets. Other insurances though are not mandatory may be useful if taken.
Some of the other registrations and permissions may include registration under the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 if it is engaging more than 20 employees. Registration is also required under the Central Excise Act, 1944 as in respect of goods specified in Third Schedule of the said act, repacking, re-labeling, putting or altering retail sale price etc. will fall into the category of manufacture. Subject to applicability, other statutory and regulatory compliances may also include registrations under Income Tax Act, 1861, Customs Act, 1962, sales tax, service tax and other labour laws.

Foreign Direct Investment in the Food Processing Industry:

Foreign Direct Investment (hereinafter referred to as "FDI") is permissible for all the processed food products under 100% automatic route (except for items reserved for micro, small and medium enterprises, where FDI is permissible under automatic route up to 24%), subject to applicable laws/regulations/securities and other conditions.

Conclusion:

The preamble of PFA laid emphasis only on provisions for prevention of food adulteration. FSSA lays emphasis on consolidating the laws related to food and to establish FSSAI for laying 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 and for matters connected with them. The new objectives clearly go far beyond the objectives of PFA. The strict penalties imposed in FSSA may lead to increase in corruption, as enterprises may resort to unfair practices to avoid these penalties.
The PFA dealt with countless Government ministries handling different food sectors as per separate orders, like the fruit products order, and other orders related to vegetable oil products, edible oils packaging, milk and milk products and meat food products, which were issued at different points of time and were sometimes overlapping and inconsistent. On the other hand, a unified act like FSSA enables unidirectional compliance. The administrative control of the FSSA has been assigned to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare thereby establishing a single reference point for all matters and eradicating any possibility of multiplicity of orders or the chance that any coordination problems are caused.
Apart from the harmonization of laws relating to food quality and standards with established international norms, FSSA aims at regulating food hygiene and safety laws in the country in order to systematically and scientifically develop the food industry. Thus, the food processing industry may see FSSA as a mixed blessing but the practical application of this legislation, being at its nascent stage, will require some time to come into full force.

E-cigarette classification as medicines plan angers industry

Health officials want to give electronic products same status as gums, patches and mouthsprays that contain nicotine

Electronic cigarettes are to be classed as medicines under proposals to tighten up the regulation of products containing nicotine – but their manufacturers say they will not co-operate unless forced to do so by EU law.

Invitations to put their products forward voluntarily to be classed as medicines by UK authorities provoked fury in the industry, which may be worth £250m in Britain by next year. The products are used by an estimated 1.3 million people.

Health chiefs want to put e-cigarettes on the same legal basis as gums, patches and mouthsprays designed to help wean smokers off their habit, but the trade association for the industry, Ecita, claimed this would force alternatives to tobacco out of the market.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) said the government wanted to regulate all nicotine-containing products - some such as gums, patches and mouth-sprays already are - because it could not at the moment guarantee their safety and efficacy. The move will also mean that licensed e-cigarettes could be prescribed to help smokers cut down or quit.

The UK is pressing for an EU-wide position in new legislation to be introduced next year and take force in 2016. It believes countries such as France, Germany and Denmark are likely to take a similar path. Meanwhile the MHRA encouraged e-cigaratte companies to apply for a medicines licence in advance of any law.

Jeremy Mean, responsible for vigilance and risk management at the MHRA, said the decision that provides "a framework that will enable good quality products to be widely available. It's not about banning products that some people find useful, it's about making sure that smokers have an effective alternative that they can rely on to meet their needs."

There is no sign of any part of the UK following France in considering a ban on using e-cigarettes in public places. The chief medical officer, Dame Sally Davies, said: "Smokers are harmed by the deadly tar and toxins in tobacco smoke, not the nicotine."

"While it's best to quit completely, I realise that not every smoker can and it is much better to get nicotine from safer sources such as nicotine replacement therapy.

"More and more people are using e-cigarettes, so it's only right these products are properly regulated to be safe and work effectively."

The decision was backed Action on Smoking and Health and Labour, although its public health spokeswoman Diane Abbott warned that "increasing regulation on e-cigarettes while kicking standard packaging for cigarettes into the long grass is a sign the government has caved into the bullying tactics of Big Tobacco and risks sending out the wrong message that e-cigarretes pose a greater threat than smoking."

Ecita said: "Nicotine containing products can only be considered a medicine when they claim to help users quit smoking. Electronic cigarettes do not do this: they simply allow users to satisfy their desire for recreational nicotine – a perfectly legal drug – without the thousands of harmful chemicals produced by burning tobacco.Courts around Europe have already ruled that electronic cigarettes marketed without such claims cannot be reclassified as medicines, because this would lead to the absurd situation of tobacco cigarettes becoming medicines.

Katherine Devlin, Ecita's president, said: "What the MHRA proposes – forcing all e-cigarette users to use licensed products that cannot replicate the smoking experience in the same way – is bad news for public health. Yet the MHRA proposes to do exactly that, while toxic tobacco products which cause far more harm are left on the market."

Damien Scott, commercial manager of manufacturers SKYCIG, said his company would wait to see how the law played out in ther EU. "We don't think this is necessary. We self-regulate, and restriction on products long-term will make them ineffective."

E-cigarettes to be regulated as medicines

Britain will start regulating electronic cigarettes and other products containing nicotine as medicines, according to the country's top regulator.
E-cigarettes are battery-operated products that turn nicotine into a vapor inhaled by the user.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency said in a statement Wednesday it would treat e-cigarettes as medicines, "so that people using these products have the confidence they are safe, are of the right quality and work."
E-cigarettes and other nicotine products will be licensed in the U.K. from 2016, giving manufacturers time to ensure their products comply with all standards for medicines. The U.K. regulator says e-cigarettes aren't recommended for use until then, but it won't ban them entirely.
"While it's best to quit completely, I realize that not every smoker can and it is much better to get nicotine from safer sources such as nicotine replacement therapy," Britain's chief medical officer, Sally Davies, said in a statement. "It's only right (e-cigarettes) are properly regulated to be safe and work effectively."
Cigarettes are exempt from the regulation.
Last week, Britain's independent health watchdog said smokers unable to go cold turkey should be encouraged to use nicotine products like gum and patches to help them cut down. It hadn't recommended e-cigarettes, because they weren't yet regulated. Experts say smokers are at risk from the toxins and tar in cigarettes, not the nicotine. 

Smoking is the biggest cause of preventable deaths in England, killing about 80,000 people every year. Once e-cigarettes and other nicotine products are licensed by the U.K. regulator, they will be available for sale as over-the-counter medicines. Britain said it will now push for European law to recognize nicotine products as medicines. 

Some manufacturers said they were concerned about the new classification. Damien Scott, commercial manager of e-cigarette maker SKYCIG, said the products have been self-regulated to ensure they meet consumer standards.
"Medical regulation, which could restrict access to these lifestyle products, is entirely unjustified," he said.
In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration announced in 2011 that it would regulate e-cigarettes as tobacco products and won't try to regulate them under stricter rules for medical drug-delivery devices following a legal battle.
The FDA, however, plans to assert regulatory authority over the fast-growing category in the near future.
E-cigarettes could also still be regulated as drugs or drug-delivery devices, if they are "marketed for therapeutic purposes" - for example, as a stop-smoking aid.

22,000 quintals of wheat declared unfit for human consumption

Deoli: Even as the UPA pushes for its ambitious food security legislation, there has been little improvement when it comes to storage infrastructure for food grains. CNN-IBN on its visit to Deoli in Haryana for the third consecutive year has found out that 22,000 quintals of wheat, which was brought for storage in Deoli, has been decaying in sacks and has now been declared unfit for human consumption.

In 2011, CNN-IBN showed that the wheat stored in Deoli was on the verge of decay. In 2012, when CNN-IBN revisited the village, it found out that the rot had gone worse. And now in 2013, the wheat stored in Deoli has been declared unfit for human consumption. At a time when India, where 42 per cent of children under the age of five are malnourished, is awaiting an ambitious food security law, who is responsible for this waste?

Once procured for distribution at ration shops, 22,000 quintals of the rotting wheat will not be auctioned as cattle feed, for industrial use and manure. The previous food inspector at Deoli was suspended following CNN-IBN's report but that did not save the wheat and the new inspector is already playing the blamegame.

"Food inspector is responsible for the safety and preservation of food grain. I got this wheat in this very condition. The central government is responsible for this. How can they afford to keep grain in the open for so long? You can't keep wheat safe at home for this long, how can you expect wheat to be fine in the open," said Food inspector, Palwal, Prahlad Singh Tewatia.

Meanwhile, at a nearby village Bhagola, labourers are trying to sift good wheat from the rot. "We don't about the quality of the wheat. We are only filling up the sacks and packing them up," the labourers told CNN-IBN.

Even as the wheat is rotting in Bhagola, the government is trying to palm it off to the poor through the Public Distribution Scheme. The District Food Supply Controller, however, tries to play it down.

"This wheat is clean, it will go to the PDS. Some of it is damaged, we are separating the spoilt wheat from the one that's fine," GPS Sikri District Food Supply Controller Faridabad and Palwal said.

2.1 lakh metric tonne of new wheat has been procured in Palwal in 2013. There is also one lakh metric tonne of wheat from the last year. With covered storage available for only 1.3 lakh metric tonne wheat in Palwal, it is clear that most of the fresh food grain will rot yet again.

Monitoring committee set up to enforce ban on gutka

Gearing up to implement the State government’s ban on gutka, pan masala, and tobacco, the district administration has constituted a separate monitoring committee here.

Headed by Collector T. Munusamy, the committee would include the Superintendent of Police, District Revenue Officer, District Social Welfare Officer, Chief Education Officer, Deputy Director (Health), Excise Officer, and the Regional Transport Officer.

The committee is empowered to conduct surprise raids and checks and curb movement of gutka from other districts at district checkpoints.

Convening a consultative meeting here at the collectorate recently, Collector T. Munusamy said that vigilance had to be in place to monitor sales, hoarding or illegal movement of consumables containing ghutka, pan, and tobacco, in any form.

The committee shall have such consumables seized and destroyed and bring to book the violators under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Addressing the consultations, Mr. Munusamy said the World Health Organisation’s statistics placed the number of tobacco-related deaths at 2.5 million to 3 million annually.

In India, 53.5 percent of the population used gutka and tobacco. This included 66.2 per cent men and 40 per cent women. Over 10 lakh people die of tobacco-induced cancer in the country, Mr. Munusamy said.

In a bid to create awareness among the youth, special focus would be on schools and colleges by way of awareness rallies on the ills of tobacco. The ban has been in implementation in the State since May 23, this year.

Asiya Mariam, District Revenue Officer; and V. Manikandan, Revenue Divisional Officer; were present.

Health department to crack down on gutka sale

HUBLI: The district administration will crack down on gutka manufacturers, dealers and sellers. Companies found manufacturing gutka will be penalized up to Rs 10 lakh while shops selling the product will have to forgo their licence and face legal consequences.
The administration has formed special teams consisting of health safety officers and health department officers to curb the sale of gutka in the district after the state has banned its sale. Special teams have been conducting raids and seizing gutka since a week. But now the teams will act tough penalizing violators.
The ban was a crucial step forward, but the challenge lay in its implementation. According to sources, after banning gutka products on June 1, initially, the government had not issued guidelines on how to implement the ban. But the district administration has received a clear set of guidelines on June 7 from the state government on how to deal with people who defy the ban. Based on this, the district administration chalked out a stringent action plan to act tough against gutka sellers and manufacturers, said sources.
Dr S G Babruwad, designated officer for Food Safety and Standards Authorities of India (FSSAI), said that they had initiated action against the manufacturers and sellers of the banned gutka products. We have seized more than 300 gutka sachets in the district in the past one week after conducting raids on paan-beeda shops. Shopkeepers have been warned by the team against selling the products again. We have given instruction to our teams to check each and every shop in the urban areas of Hubli-Dharwad and in all the taluks in the district,'' he added.
The state government has issued clear directions that the seized products should not be disposed unethically. Some districts are said to have burned gutka sachets in open places. As gutka consists tobacco and nicotine, it that cannot be disposed in open place. The authorities have been told to follow the bio-metric waste disposal method to dispose the seized products.
Safety Act
Authorities will initiate action under section 57, 58 and 59 of Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006. Under this act, authorities can seize, or cancel the licence and registration of the shop or manufacturing companies.

Dinamalar

பிராட்வே பேருந்து நிலையத்தில் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பான் மசாலா, குட்கா புகையிலை பொருட்கள் விற்பனையும் படுஜோர்

சென்னை,

பிராட்வே பேருந்து நிலையத்தை நடைபாதை வியாபாரிகள் ஆக்கிரமித்து கடைகளை அமைத்துள்ளனர். இதனால் பயணிகள் அவதியடைந்து வருகின்றனர்.

தடை விதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள பான் மசாலா, குட்கா போன்ற புகையிலை பொருட்கள் விற்பனையும் பேருந்துநிலையத்தில் நடந்து வருகிறது.

புகையிலை பொருட்கள் விற்பனை

தமிழகத்தில் பான் மசாலா, குட்கா போன்ற புகையிலை பொருட்களை விற்கக்கூடாது என்று தமிழக அரசு உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது. எனினும் பான் மசாலா, குட்கா போன்ற புகையிலை பொருட்கள் விற்பனை பிராட்வே பேருந்து நிலையத்தின் உள்ளேயும், வெளியேயும் நடந்து வருகிறது. பேருந்து நிலையத்தின் சாலைகளில் ஒரு சில பகுதிகள் குண்டும், குழியுமாக உள்ளது. இது பேருந்து ஓட்டுனர்களுக்கு மிகுந்த சிரமத்தை ஏற்படுத்தி உள்ளது

Food supplements promising rapid body growth fail test

Health authorities to launch legal action against Sangrur shopkeepers

Sangrur, June 12
A large number of powdered food supplements, promising rapid body growth, are being sold in every part of the state. The district health authorities recently collected six samples of such products procured from shops situated at Sunam, Dhuri and Dirba in the district.

However, all the six samples failed to meet norms of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) during a laboratory test, conducted by Food Analyst, Punjab.

The laboratory has labelled these products as misleading (packaging of the product contains misleading statements) or substandard or both.

The health authorities maintain that the results of these six samples fall in the category of "failed" samples as per the FSSA.

They will now launch proceedings in the court of Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-Adjudicating Officer, Sangrur, especially designated under the FSSA. The sellers may be fined up to Rs 10 lakh, if it is proved that the product information is misleading and Rs 5 lakh, if the product is found substandard.

Dr Surinder Singla, District Health Officer, Food Safety, said the quantity of the total stock of body growth products being sold in the district could not be ascertained. He said it was also possible that the products whose samples were collected were fake.

Dr Singla said it had come to their notice that so-called fitness experts and gym trainers had been prescribing such products to youths for rapid body growth.

Dr HS Bali, state nodal officer, Food Safety, said a majority of the samples of body growth food supplements were collected from Sangrur district. He said instructions were being issued to all the district health officers to collect a maximum number of samples of such products from their respective areas.

Meanwhile, Sangrur Civil Surgeon Dr Subodh Gupta said during past five months, a total of 139 food samples had been collected in the district, of which 23 samples had failed the test while the results of 15 others were awaited. 

health hazard
* The Sangrur authorities collected six samples of body grow supplements from shops in Sunam, Dhuri and Dirba towns
* All the samples failed to meet norms of the Food Safety and Standards Act during a test, conducted by Food Analyst
* The laboratory has labelled these products as misleading (packaging of the product contains misleading statements) or substandard or both
* The sellers may be fined up to Rs 10 lakh, if it is proved that the product information is misleading and Rs 5 lakh, if the product is found substandard

Dinakaran

FDA starts investigation on use of oxytocin on cattle

In the wake of MiD DAY’s exposé on how the harmful drug is injected into buffalos at tabelas in violation of a government ban, the Food and Drugs Administration has flagged off an enquiry and promised to take action against manufacturers and suppliers
FOLLOWING MiD DAY’s exposé on the illegal use of oxytocin injections on cattle to extract more milk from them, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has initiated an investigation in the case, to bring to book the suppliers who are delivering the drug on request, to tabelas across the city.
Speaking to MiD DAY, Mohan Kekatpure, who is FDA’s assistant commissioner for Zone- VI, said, “ We have taken a serious note of the report published in MiD DAY, which reveals that tabela owners in the western suburbs are still injecting oxytocin into their buffalos.
We have already started our investigation and will take strict action against the manufacturer and supplier of the drug.” The FDA official also told MiD DAY that in 2006, a consignment of oxytocin shipped to Bhiwandi from Kolkata was seized by FDA. “ In 2006, we had got a tip- off that a batch of oxytocin had come to Bhiwandi from Kolkata. We immediately seized it.” MiD DAY’s lead story yesterday had been the culmination of a two- month- long investigation, which exposed how cattle in tabelas are being injected with a hormone called oxytocin twice every day, in violation of a government ban. While the drug forces the cattle to expel a few extra litres of milk, drinking the same may severely harm young children, causing them to experience hormonal problems like premature puberty and gynaecomastia (‘Banned drug injected into cattle is poisoning your milk’). Our reporters visited tabelas in the western suburbs and managed to get their hands on bottles of oxytocin at each of their pit stops.
The drug has been declared a schedule drug by the FDA, which has banned its sale without a prescription from a registered medical practitioner.
Dairies are using the drug with impunity, and without prescriptions, having obtained it from private suppliers. Our reporters even ran into a man called Sohail, who admitted to supplying the drug in plastic containers to tabelas across the western suburbs.
An official from FDA expressed shock at the expose, and admitted that the FDA has been lax in its duty to keep a strict eye on the use of veterinary medicines.
Dairy Development and Animal Husbandry Minister Madhukar Chavan said, “If at all any tabela owners are using the banned medicine to inject into buffaloes, strict action will be taken against them. I will immediately ask the Dairy commissioner to look into the matter.”

Clarification regarding issue of State/Central Licensing

Food Crusader

 It’s said that an empty stomach echoes more and what better to feed it with loads and loads of food. Before gorging on that yummy burger and munching on that delicious Paani-puri, have you checked that it’s hygienic and safe for your health. Well if not, then go in for food safety as safety standards are always there to help you protect your taste and nutritional value which you need and desire.

The Ongoing Forum for Indian Food importers (FIFI) in association with FSSAI (food safety and standards and authority of India) is addressing the challenges faced by the food retail sector.

FSSAI, established under the overarching legislation, lays down science based standards for food items and regulates their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.

“There is a need to supplement the manpower and strengthening of the system. The licenses are to be issued to all Food Business Operators (FBO) through conversion of their earlier licenses issued under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act and in cases where FBOs have come into being, issuance of new licenses. Similarly, a large number of small time FBOs would need to be registered,” Mr K. Chandramouli, chairperson of the Authority has said for the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which came into effect from August 5 last year.

With more food importers turning to India and opening their dedicated outlets which act as one point contact for people the food sector is experiencing dynamic developments.

As part of expansion, these outlets not only serve food but also cater to business enquiries such as franchising, logistics and so on. Opportunist People who want to end up being business partners or sole dealers of food products by a particular company look into various aspects such as food quality served, taste, texture of food, food safety, hygiene, acquiring raw materials for their preparations etc. come into play .This fuels competition and tends to increase as more new outlets are opened every now and then and in this mad rush to present something new and unique, the food outlets neglect safety and hygiene which is of utmost importance. A key to the concern seems to be available with TQS Global Management System- a known name that offers technical consultancy in the field of food safety also tries to keep up with the regulations which are set by FSSAI. The Global consultancy firm which works on food security and safety has in-depth practical knowledge of safety standards and expertise in it for more than a decade which has earned it the repute of a trusted name when it comes to food safety.

Today, the food industry has diversified in various verticals; food safety being an important one has a lot more to offer. The retail sector in India is growing at a pretty good pace and food retail is one of them. With new consumption patterns and new category market the need to recognize safety is also gaining more prominence. Eating out at restaurants, hotels and roadside vendors is what one is exposed to with major reason being busy schedule of working class individuals. The food served at these places normally does not look into the secure and safe factor while preparing their delicacies.

This leaves scope for a better mechanism wherein not only the food is audited but the various infrastructures used in preparing the food also goes under the scrutiny. To add to it new technology also plays a pivotal role as it uses scientific approach and methodology. Here, the consistency between international technical standards and domestic food standards is what is needed most. Regular checkups at timely intervals and stringent penal action under food safety and standards act 2006 ensure that the food and the technique used in it are in no way more prone to unhealthy and filthy environment. Also, more conscious steps should be taken at operational issues and it needs to match up to international safety standards. So, next time when you are eating out or even for that matter in home, do take care for your stomach and take the needed steps that ensure safe food as it would not only savor your taste buds but also keep you healthy.

CAMPCO wants CFTRI to certify quality of imported arecanut

If the suggestion of a city-based cooperative finds takers, Mysore-based Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) could become the centre for testing the quality of imported arecanut.

This could prevent imports of substandard arecanut into the country.

Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative Ltd. (CAMPCO) has urged Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, to appoint the CFTRI as an authority to test the quality of imported arecanut.

At present there is no government-authorised arecanut testing facility in the country.

Konkodi Padmanabha, president of the cooperative, has written to the Minister urging him to instruct the CFTRI to set standard specifications of the characteristics of imported arecanut.

“…We understand that till date there is no standard specification made available by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for arecanut…,” Mr. Padmanabha said in the letter dated June 3. As a result authorities at ports and those in the Public Health departments were not in a position to judge the quality of imported arecanut effectively.

The letter pointed out that an Arecanut Research and Development Foundation (ARDF) analysis here found four samples of imported arecanut unfit for human consumption due to fungal growth. The samples were sent by the Customs Department, Araria, Bihar, and the Revenue Intelligence Department, Muzaffarpur. But a court ruled that the ARDF was not a legally authorised agency to certify the quality of imported arecanut and the consignments were released later.

A testing centre was all the more important as 85 per cent (53,263 tonnes) of the arecanut imports in 2012-13 were from Bangladesh alone, as revealed by Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP.

M. Suresh Bhandary, managing director of CAMPCO, told The Hindu that food products had standard specifications regarding fat content, acid insoluble ash, PH level, total plate count, etc. In the absence of such specifications for arecanut, one cannot be sure of the quality of imported varieties, Mr. Bhandary said.

Dinathanthi

Dinamalar

Food adulteration crackdown nets 1

KOLKATA: Enforcement Branch officers on Tuesday rounded up a vegetable wholesaler from Howrah for using inorganic colours in his vegetables. Cops also seized 2 quintal pointed gourd from the market.
Enforcement Branch DG Vijoy Kumar said similar raids will be continued across the state to stop adulteration in food and vegetables. The initiative was taken following the order of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who had expressed concern over the matter on Monday.
Colours, mostly chemicals harmful for human body, are used to mix with the vegetables for fresh looks. The traders even use most harmful chemicals like copper sulphate, rodamine-B, melaphite green and tatragin to make the vegetables look attractive to buyers. When people consume them, a portion of the chemicals gets into the human system. It can cause several health hazards like fatal infections in lever, kidney and can even cause cancer.
To prevent such adulteration in food items, the central government brought Food Safety and Standards Act in 2006 and set up designated offices in all states. But the practice of mixing colours continued due to lack of action, said Kumar. Police also have scope to prosecute such offenders under sections 272 and 273 IPC.
On Monday, the CM had entrusted the Special Task Force to keep a watch on market price and hoarding of food items. During the meeting at Writers' Buildings, she had expressed concern over food adulteration and asked the task force to take adequate action. Following the CM's instruction, the officers raided Howrah vegetable market on Tuesday and arrested one Tapas Das, who supplies vegetables to the market from Barasat. A case has been registered at Golabari police station.