One hotel closed, 21 eateries fined in raids

District Food Safety Officer K.Ajith Kumar conducted checks in various eateries in the city and closed down Hotel Lavanya in Kaloor and fined 21 other hotels and bakeries on various grounds.
Most of the hotels and bakeries had a clean dining room, but the kitchen areas were found wanting, Mr. Kumar said.
The hotels were fined on various accounts like reuse of oil, unhygienic storage of prepared food, store area that did not have proper moisture control, using old and unclean utensils, cobwebs in the kitchen, and broken or dilapidated condition of kitchens.
The guidelines issued under the Food Safety Act along with a Malayalam transcript had been given to all the outlets through their associations, said Mr. Kumar. He said the raids would continue for another couple of days.
Raids were conducted for the past three days on hotels and bakeries in the city area, Aluva, Koothatukulam and Vazhakulam. In the city 19 outlets were inspected and improvement notices were issued to seven units.
In Aluva, 10 establishments were raided and improvement notices issued to seven units while in Koothatukulam and Vazhakulam areas inspections in 14 units were held of which 9 were given improvement notices.
The raids were conducted on the orders of the State Food Safety Commissioner Biju Prabhakar.

One hotel closed, 21 eateries fined in raids

June 27, 2013

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District Food Safety Officer K.Ajith Kumar conducted checks in various eateries in the city and closed down Hotel Lavanya in Kaloor and fined 21 other hotels and bakeries on various grounds.
Most of the hotels and bakeries had a clean dining room, but the kitchen areas were found wanting, Mr. Kumar said.
The hotels were fined on various accounts like reuse of oil, unhygienic storage of prepared food, store area that did not have proper moisture control, using old and unclean utensils, cobwebs in the kitchen, and broken or dilapidated condition of kitchens.
The guidelines issued under the Food Safety Act along with a Malayalam transcript had been given to all the outlets through their associations, said Mr. Kumar. He said the raids would continue for another couple of days.
Raids were conducted for the past three days on hotels and bakeries in the city area, Aluva, Koothatukulam and Vazhakulam. In the city 19 outlets were inspected and improvement notices were issued to seven units.
In Aluva, 10 establishments were raided and improvement notices issued to seven units while in Koothatukulam and Vazhakulam areas inspections in 14 units were held of which 9 were given improvement notices.
The raids were conducted on the orders of the State Food Safety Commissioner Biju Prabhakar.
- See more at: http://news.indiaonline.in/One-hotel-closed-21-eateries-fined-in-raids-30779#sthash.6AlK6DIB.dpuf

One hotel closed, 21 eateries fined in raids

June 27, 2013

00

District Food Safety Officer K.Ajith Kumar conducted checks in various eateries in the city and closed down Hotel Lavanya in Kaloor and fined 21 other hotels and bakeries on various grounds.
Most of the hotels and bakeries had a clean dining room, but the kitchen areas were found wanting, Mr. Kumar said.
The hotels were fined on various accounts like reuse of oil, unhygienic storage of prepared food, store area that did not have proper moisture control, using old and unclean utensils, cobwebs in the kitchen, and broken or dilapidated condition of kitchens.
The guidelines issued under the Food Safety Act along with a Malayalam transcript had been given to all the outlets through their associations, said Mr. Kumar. He said the raids would continue for another couple of days.
Raids were conducted for the past three days on hotels and bakeries in the city area, Aluva, Koothatukulam and Vazhakulam. In the city 19 outlets were inspected and improvement notices were issued to seven units.
In Aluva, 10 establishments were raided and improvement notices issued to seven units while in Koothatukulam and Vazhakulam areas inspections in 14 units were held of which 9 were given improvement notices.
The raids were conducted on the orders of the State Food Safety Commissioner Biju Prabhakar.
- See more at: http://news.indiaonline.in/One-hotel-closed-21-eateries-fined-in-raids-30779#sthash.6AlK6DIB.dpuf

KVVES protests against raids

Raids on hotels and food outlets is merely an excuse to harass small-time businessmen, the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi (KVVES) said on Thursday. It was responding to a series of State-wide raids conducted by food safety officials.

In a release, the traders’ body said these raids were unfair on the small trader and amounted to effectively crippling his business.

It said food safety officials had no authority to order the closure of and charge cases against food establishments, as it came only under the power of the Revenue Divisional Officer.

After the ban, gutka hits market in another form

Bangalore, Jun 27: The government  might have enforced a ban on manufacture, storage and sale of gutka and other tobacco and nicotine products, with a good intention of protecting public health. But, a visit to paan shops reveal a trend that defeats the whole purpose and, reduces the legislation to paper.

Manufacturers have found an ingenious way to supply their clientele tobacco and paan masala (both not banned when sold individually) in separate sachets, which, when combined gives the same mixture as gutka.

The government order of the ban signed by Food Safety Commissioner V B Patil on May 30, says that manufacture, storage, sale or distribution of gutka and paan masala “containing tobacco and nicotine as ingredients” is prohibited in the State.

The ban is based on regulation 2,3, 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sale) Act, 2011, which prohibits the use of tobacco, nicotine or any other products injurious to health in food products.

Sachets of such paan masala without any tobacco and nicotine along with sachets of zarda are gradually flowing into shops all over the City. “It is in such a complementary form that gutka and paan masala are now being supplied separately to shops and demand is also high,” said a supplier.

A number of shopkeepers to whom Deccan Herald spoke, claimed that while there was no sale of paan masala and gutka in the past few days, their respective suppliers have assured them of a fresh supply in the new complementary form soon.

One major gutka company in the country already has its product in the market in such a form. In Maharashtra, the ban on gutka and paan masala is wider in ambit and includes magnesium carbonate (carcinogenic substance) and any other substances that constitute gutka and paan masala.

“In different states the order of the ban has been worded differently, and governments will have to be vigilant to any such market tactics that may require an amendment to the rule,” said Dr Upendra Bhojani from the Institute of Public Health, Bangalore.

Since the ban came into force from June 1, a number of manufacturers in the state have suffered huge losses according to a gutka retailer in the City. “Manufacturers here will be resorting to this kind of a production from July. In fact, it is nothing new and as it is going on all over the country.

The industry has to survive somehow or the other,” he said. In Bihar, the sale of paan masala has been going on in such a complementary form despite the ban, Dr Bhojani said.

Implement ban on tobacco products properly, says CPI

The ban on storage and sale of gutkha and pan masala should not remain as a mere notification, it should be implemented in letter and spirit,said Communist Party of India state secretary
R Viswanathan

Addressing reporters here on Wednesday, the CPI leader welcomed the prohibition of gutkha and pan masala for a period of one year and said the commissioner of food safety, Ragesh Chandra, should ensure that the ban on the products is implemented right from the Chief Secretariat of Puducherry.

Viswanathan charged that some of the top officials of the administration, including IAS officers, were using the banned products in the secretariat.

147 hotels raided

Special squads of Food Safety officials from various districts conducted raids on 147 hotels in the state and suspended the Food Business Operator (FBO) licence of 10 establishments.

The raids were conducted following the instruction of the Food Safety Commissioner to ensure 30 guidelines for cleanliness in hotels. A total of 10 eateries lost their licences and were closed down.
Around 90 hotels were given improvement notices and a total fine to the tune of Rs 1,13,500 was imposed on 23 hotels.
A total of 60 hotels had been closed down following the recent raids and imposed a fine of
Rs 4,48,500.

Tobacco products seized following raid

Tobacco products such as Pan Parag and gutka whose manufacture, storage and sale were banned by the Tamil Nadu government last month were seized from shops on Gandhi Road and Babu Rao Street here on Wednesday.

This was following a raid conducted by the officials of Vellore Corporation, and Food Safety and Revenue Departments.

A team comprising E. Devakumar, Corporation Engineer and Commissioner-in-charge of Vellore Corporation, Food Safety Officer Gowri Sundar and officials of the Revenue Department conducted the raid and warned shop-keepers against storage or sale of the banned stuff.

The raid follows instructions from Collector P. Sankar at the first district-level review meeting convened by him at the Collectorate here on Monday in connection with the enforcement of the notification issued by the State Government on May 23 .

The Collector asked police, Transport and Commercial Taxes Department officials to involve the Food Safety officials also when they conduct vehicle checks on the Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu-Karnataka borders in Vellore district .

The Collector has asked the officials to continue the raids.

HC dismisses challenge to gutkha ban

The single bench of the Karnataka High Court circuit bench in Dharwad, headed by Justice B S Patil on Tuesday upheld the Karnataka government's decision to ban the manufacture and sale of gutkha in the state.
The court quashed the interim plea filed by gutkha companies seeking a stay on the government order banning gutkha. Star Gutkha company and three others had appealed to the HC to stay the notification issued by the food safety commissioner banning gutkha. The court, which heard the plea on June 11, had reserved its final order.
On Tuesday Justice B S Patil in his pronouncement said as per the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 the state government has right to ban items containing tobacco and nicotine. This act was implemented all over the country since August 5, 2011. Hence the notification is found to be well within the framework of law, the judge observed. He said some NGOs had appealed to the government and court to ban the manufacture and sale of gutkha in view of the hazard it poses to the health of the people, particularly the youth.
As such banning of gutkha is a wise decision on the part of state government, Justice B S Patil said.

Google's internet balloons may come to India

Google may implement 'Project Loon', which is a balloon-mounted internet access service, in various countries including India.

HYDERABAD: Internet search giant Google may implement 'Project Loon', which is a balloon-mounted internet access service, in various countries including India.
"We are doing a pilot project in New Zealand and going to see how it works. Once we get satisfactory results, we will be in a position to implement it in other countries as well," Google's managing director, Global Channel Sales, Todd Towe told reporters.
"Interestingly, while we are still in the pilot phase, we have been getting multiple queries from different countries including India, which are interested in implementing the project," Towe said.
However, he said, there is no time-frame to launch the project in India.
'Project Loon' balloons, which carry internet signal antennas float in the stratosphere, at a height twice as high as air planes.
They are carried around the earth by winds and can be steered by rising or lowering them to a particular altitude, with winds moving in the desired direction.
Customers may connect to Google's balloon network using a special internet antenna attached to their building. The signal bounces from balloon to balloon, onto the internet and back to the earth.
A 'Project Loon' pilot project began on June 15 at the 40th parallel South, which is a circle of latitude, that is 40 degrees south of the earth's equatorial plane, when 30 balloons launched from New Zealand's South Island beamed internet signals to a small group of pilot testers.
The experience of these pilot testers will be used to refine the technology and shape the next phase of 'Project Loon', Google had said earlier.
Speaking about the company's Premier Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Partner Programme, Rowe said within 10 months of its launch, the model has gained significant momentum in India.
"We have partnered with 16 medium sized companies, with over 3,000 sales people who have been trained to help SMEs gain from digital advertising. In the next one year, we are looking to significantly increase our presence in South India by doubling our partners and add another 3,000 sales force though these partners," Rowe said.
Jaspreet Bindra, CEO, Getit Infomedia, one of the largest Premier SME Partners of Google India said that it had entered into a strategic alliance with Google India, though its SME programme to increase Getit's presence in the country.

பல்பொடி போன்றும் பான், குட்கா விற்பனை பரிசோதனைக்கு சென்ற அதிகாரிகள் அதிர்ச்சி

சென்னை:பல்பொடி போன்று தூளக்கியும், புது வித பிராண்டுகளிலும் பான், குட்கா பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்வது சோதனைக்குச் சென்ற அதிகாரிகளை அதிர்ச்சியடைய வைத்துள்ளது.
குட்கா, பான் மசாலா போன்ற, வாயில் வைத்துச் சுவைக்கும் புகையிலை பொருட்களுக்கு, தமிழக அரசு தடை விதித்துள்ளது. கிடங்குகளில் உள்ள, இருப்பை காலி செய்ய தரப்பட்ட ஒரு மாத அவகாசமும் முடிந்த நிலையில், நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கும் பணி துவங்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது.
மாவட்டம் தோறும், உணவுப் பாதுகாப்புத் துறையினர், சிறு சிறு குழுக்களாகப் பிரிந்து, கடைகளில் சோதனை நடத்தினர். விற்பனைக்குப் பதுக்கி வைத்திருந்த பான், குட்கா பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டன.
தமிழக அரசு தடை விதித்துள்ளதால், குட்கா, பான் மசாலா விற்பனை கூடாது எனவும், மீறினால் பறிமுதல் மட்டுமின்றி, 5 லட்சம் ரூபாய் வரை அபராதம் விதிக்கப்படும் எனவும், வியாபாரிகளுக்கு அறிவுரை வழங்கினர்.
சென்னையில், 96 கடைகளில் சோதனை நடந்தது. பல இடங்களில் இதுவரை இல்லாத வகையில், புதிய புதிய பிராண்டுகளில் பெயர் மாற்றி விற்பதும், பல் பொடி (தூள்) போன்று விற்பது கண்டும் அதிகாரிகள் அதிர்ச்சி அடைந்தனர்.
சவுகார்பேட்டை பகுதியில் மட்டும், 15 கிலோவும், பிற பகுதிகளில், 5 கிலோ என, 20 கிலோ பொருட்கள் (4,900 பாக்கெட்டுகள்) பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டு உள்ளன. மாநிலம் முழுவதும், 450 கிலோவுக்கு மேல் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டு உள்ளன.
இதுகுறித்து, உணவுப் பாதுகாப்புத் துறை அதிகாரி ஒருவர் கூறியதாவது:
முதற்கட்ட சோதனையில், விற்பனைக்குப் பதுக்கி வைத்திருந்த குட்கா, பான் பாக்கெட்டுகள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டன. தொடர்ந்து விற்கும் பட்சத்தில், அபராதம் விதிக்கும் அடுத்த கட்ட நடவடிக்கைத் துவங்கும்.
கிடங்குகள் மீதும் கவனம் செலுத்தப்படும். கலெக்டர் தலைமையில் உள்ள குழு, பிற துறைகளின் ஒருங்கிணைப்போடும், குட்கா, பான் பொருட்கள் விற்பனை தடுக்கப்படும்.
இவ்வாறு, அவர் கூறினார்.

Rs. 2.70 crore worth of gutkha to be burnt in Pune

Pune: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday in Pune will destroy gutkha worth Rs. 2.70 crore it had seized from this district last year.
"The gutkha of Goa-1000 brand was intercepted and seized by FDA, Konkan division, during a raid carried out at Kirti Industries at Dundalwadi in Dahanu in the district in August 2012 when it was being smuggled out for export, FDA Joint Commissioner (Food) P M Raut told PTI.
The Bombay High Court had in 2012 upheld the ban on gutkha and pan masala, both of which are flavoured tobacco products.The high court had last year refused to quash the seizure order of the gutkha consignment, observing export of any food product, the manufacture of which is in contravention to the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), is restricted.
The gutkha manufactured by Kirti Industries at Silvassa was to be exported to United Arab Emirates (UAE) for sale there.
"The seized stock will be taken from FDA headquarters in suburban Bandra of Mumbai to Pune and destroyed in the premises of Rokem Greenfield there," Raut said.

FDA issues food-borne salmonellosis warning

PUNE: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the national food regulatory body, has issued an advisory following the outbreak of salmonellosis, a food-borne bacterial infection, in the US and New Zealand.
Use of Tahini sesame paste from Turkey in food preparations has been found to be the origin of the infection. The FSSAI issued the advisory in the country because imported sesame paste is used in Indian cuisine and there is a possibility that the product have entered our food chain.
"The particular outbreak appears to be over. However, this product has a long shelf-life and it may still be at people's homes. The product has been recalled. Consumers unaware of the recall could continue to eat the product and fall sick. Hence, the FSSAI issued an advisory on June 19," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Pune division.
FDA assistant commissioner Dilip Sangat said, "Soon after receiving the FSSAI's advisory, we carried out thorough inspections at food stores that stock imported food items. We have not found Tahini sesame paste from Turkey. But there are chances that it may be used in households in Pune. Hence, people need to be made aware that they should immediately stop using the product. We are keeping a vigil to ensure that the product does not enter the city's imported food supply chain."
As per the FSSAI's advisory, the recalled consignment of Tahini sesame paste has expiration dates from January 1 to June 8, 2014 and from October 16, 2014 to March 15, 2015. The manufacturer of the paste in Turkey is called GESAS Genel Gida Sanayi Ve Ticaret A S of Konya, Turkey.
Food-borne salmonella is a leading cause of food-borne illnesses. Traditionally, most cases of salmonellosis were thought to originate from meat and poultry products. However, an increasing number of outbreaks are occurring as a result of contaminated produce, say researchers.
Several produce have been specifically identified in outbreaks, and the ability of salmonella to attach or internalise into vegetables and fruits may be factors that make these items more likely to be salmonella sources. In addition, environmental factors, including contaminated water sources used to irrigate and wash produce or crops, have been implicated in a large number of outbreaks, experts said.
Salmonella is carried by both domesticated and wild animals and can contaminate freshwater by direct or indirect contact. In some cases, direct contact of produce or seeds with contaminated manure or animal waste can lead to contaminated crops.
The US-based Centre for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that consumers do not eat recalled Krinos brand tahini sesame paste and discard any remaining product at homes.
Outbreak of salmonellosis in US
* Total 16 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Montevideo or Salmonella Mbandaka were reported from nine states till June 21
* The number of ill people identified in each state was as follows: California (1), Georgia (1), Iowa (1), Louisiana (1), Minnesota (2), New York (1), North Dakota (1), Texas (7), and Wisconsin (1)
* One patient hospitalised who died later
* Collaborative investigation efforts of state, local, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicated that tahini sesame paste distributed by Krinos Foods, LLC of Long Island City, New York was the source of this outbreak

Reliance Retail bets big on back-end infrastructure

The group's Hyderabad facility (called Process Centre Staples) has a capacity to handle 10,000 tonne per month

 Diversified company Reliance Industries Limited's retail business arm, Reliance Retail, is confident of meeting the growing demand for quality staple consumables in the country. In this regard, the company had invested huge amounts in the retail back-end infrastructure, said a senior official at the company's Hyderabad processing facility.
The official said their processing centres, currently numbering three at Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Pataudi (Gurgaon), equipped with in-house laboratories and latest equipment have been ensuring safe, clean and unadulterated staples with a long shelf-life for its 13 million consumers country-wide.
"As part of its business model, the company had been procuring quality foodgrains and pulses from pre-qualified vendors, mostly local farmers at competitive prices, in accordance with the standards set by the Food Safety Standards Authority of India and the company's product specifications," he said.
The group's Hyderabad facility (called Process Centre Staples), with a capacity to handle 10,000 tonne per month and more than 120,000 tonne per annum staples and pulses is catering to the entire South India, Maharashtra (including Mumbai) and Odisha.
The company's internal quality processing checks include a five-stage process, encompassing bulk supply by vendor, product quality checks, product fumigation, cleaning, upgrading and packaging.
The retail food arm with 1,500 stores spanning 130 cities across India also sells products like Reliance milk, vegetables, FMCG goods of other major brands.

Gutkha, paanmasala banned in Puducherry

Puducherry, June 26:  

Gutkha and paan masala have been banned in the Union Territory with immediate effect.

An order banning the manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of ‘gutkha and paanmasala’ and other food products having tobacco and nicotine as ingredients was issued on June 18 by the Commissioner of Food Safety, G Ragesh Chandra, official sources said today.

The ban under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, a central Act, would be in force for one year and had been imposed in the interest of public health.

Any violation of the ban order would entail action under the criminal law.

கோவை கடைகளில் 2வது நாளாக பான்மசாலா, குட்கா ரெய்டு

கோவை, ஜூன் 26:

கோவையில் உள்ள கடைகளில் இரண்டாவது நாளாக பான்மசாலா, கு க்ஷ்ட்கா ரெய்டு நடந்தது. ரூ.25 ஆயிரம் மதிப்புள்ள பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டன.

தமிழக அரசு பான் மசலா, குட்கா உள்ளிட்ட வாயில் மெல்லும் புகையி லை பொருட்களுக்கு தடை விதித்துள்ளது. இதைத்தொடர்ந்து, மத்திய அரசின் உணவு கட்டுப்பாட்டு துறையின்கீழ் இயங்கும், கோவை மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரிகள் நேற்று முன்தினம் மாவட்டம் முழுவதும் ரெய்டு துவக்கினர். ஒரே நாளில் 30 ஆயிரம் பாக்கெட்டுகளை பறிமுதல்செய்தனர்.

நேற்று இரண்டாவது நாளாக ரெய்டு நடந்தது. கோவை மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அலுவலர் கதிரவன் மேற்பார்வையில், ஆய்வாளர்கள் சந்திரன், கோவிந்தராஜ், ஜெரால்டு, ராஜேந்திரன், ராமகிருஷ்ணன் ஆகியோர் அடங்கிய ஏழு குழுவினர் மாநகர் முழுவதும் ரெய்டு நடத்தினர். ரங்கே கவுடர் வீதி, சரவணம்பட்டி, ரத்தினபுரி உள்ளிட்ட பல்வேறு இடங்களில், மொத்த வியாபாரிகளின் குடோன் முதல் சில்லரை வியாபாரிகளின் கடைகள் வரை இந்த ரெய்டு நடந்தது. இறுதியில், ரூ.25 ஆயிரம் மதிப்புள்ள 7 ஆயிரம் பான்மசாலா, குட் கா பாக்கெட்டுகளை பறிமுதல்செய்தனர். இச்சாத னை தொடரும் என்றனர்.

Move to monitor hotel staff health in cold storage

At a time when the government’s operations to curb communicable diseases are in full swing, a law ostensibly formed to stop spread of diseases via food trading has been put in cold storage, owing to official apathy. Consuming food prepared by a person affected with or is a carrier of disease may transmit diseases. Based on this,  a provision in the Food Safety and Standards Act-2006 made it mandatory for hotel employees to undergo health check-ups every six months and keep fitness certificates attesting to this.

However, the state seems to have forgotten this crucial provision and officials concerned with the state-level monitoring of the implementation of this provision remain oblivious to this. “Diseases like typhoid, jaundice, cholera, constipation, dengue etc. are highly contagious and there is a strong chance that these may spread from people who handle these food items. There is a very high possibility that a disease can be transmitted from one person to another, even months after the disease gets cured. To prevent this, the government should take immediate steps to ensure the effective implementation of the provision,” said Dr Appunni M K, former additional district medical officer.

Food safety officers maintain that they do not provide license to start hotels or other food trading centers without procuring fitness certificates of employees concerned. “But the major problem is that these employees may not continue in the firm and some other employees may get appointed. In this context, we cannot monitor each and every hotel to see whether the employees still work at the same place or not,” said sources from the Food Safety Department.  Acute staff crunch is also cited as a main constraint behind the inability to monitor the sector on a regular basis.

Puducherry toes TN; Bans gutka, pan masala for one year

Puducherry has followed the footsteps of Tamil Nadu by prohibiting gutka, pan masala and other food products containing tobacco and nicotine in the Union Territory for a period of one year.

The Commissioner of food safety of Government of Puducherry has issued orders prohibiting the manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of gutka and pan masala and any other food products containing tobacco and nicotine as ingredients in the UT.

According to a release from G Ragesh Chandra, Commissioner of food safety, any violation of the ban would be punished criminally.

The Central Government had enacted the Food  Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and established Food Safety and Standards Authoirity of India for laying down science-based standards for articles of food and regulate their manufacture, storage and distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. As per the regulations, tobacco and nicotine should not be used as ingredients in any food products as they are injurious to health.

Gutka and pan masala are the food products in which tobacco and nicotine are widely used as ingredients.

High Court upholds gutkha ban

The Karnataka High Court Circuit Bench in Dharwad on Tuesday upheld the ban on gutkha.

A single-judge bench of Justice B S Patil upheld the ban on gutkha while dismissing the petition filed by Ghodavat and three other companies challenging the ban. The court had completed the hearing on the petition on June 11.

In its judgment, the court said that the state government has the right to impose ban on food items containing tobacco and nicotine under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Hence its notification banning gutkha was well within the framework of law.

The ban on gutkha was a ‘wise decision’ on the part of the government, Justice Patil said. Advocate General Ravivarma Kumar argued on behalf of the government while advocate Raghavan represented the petitioners.

பான், குட்காவுக்கு அவகாசம் நீட்டிப்பில்லை : நடவடிக்கையை தீவிரப்படுத்த அறிவுரை

சென்னை: "பான், குட்கா பொருட்களை காலி செய்ய, மேலும் ஒரு வார அவகாசம் கேட்ட வியாபாரிகளின் கோரிக்கையை ஏற்க முடியாது' என, உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறை தெரிவித்துள்ளது. தடையை மீறி விற்போர் மீதான நடவடிக்கையை தீவிரப்படுத்த, அதிகாரிகள் அறிவுறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளனர்.
குட்கா, பான் மசாலா போன்ற, வாயில் வைத்து சுவைக்கும், புகையிலை பொருட்களுக்கு, தமிழக அரசு தடை விதித்துள்ளது. கிடங்குகளில் உள்ள, இருப்புகளை காலி செய்ய அளிக்கப்பட்ட, ஒரு மாத கால அவகாசமும், ஜூன், 22ம் தேதியுடன் முடிவுக்கு வந்தது.
இதனால், மாநிலம் முழுவதும், அதிரடி நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கும் நடவடிக்கை துவங்கியது. இதனிடையே, "இன்னும் ஒரு வாரம், அவகாசம் தர வேண்டும்' என, வியாபாரிகள் கோரிக்கை விடுத்தனர். சென்னையில், உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறை கமிஷனர் குமார் ஜெயந்த் தலைமையில், மாவட்ட நியமன அலுவலர்கள், அதிகாரிகள் பங்கேற்ற ஆலோசனைக் கூட்டம் நேற்று நடந்தது. இதில், "இருப்புக்களை காலி செய்ய, ஒரு மாத அவகாசம் முடிந்துள்ள நிலையில், மேலும் அவகாசம் அளிக்க முடியாது. தடையை மீறி பான், குட்கா பொருட்களை விற்றால், கலெக்டர் தலைமையிலான கண்காணிப்புக்குழு மூலம், நடவடிக்கையை தீவிரப்படுத்த வேண்டும்' என, மாவட்ட நியமன அலுவலர்களுக்கு அறிவுறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது.
இதைத் தொடர்ந்து, கலெக்டர்கள் தலைமையில், ஆர்.டி.ஓ., - எஸ்.பி., வணிகவரித் துறை, பள்ளிக் கல்வித் துறை, உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறை, உள்ளாட்சிகளின் அதிகாரிகள் கொண்ட கண்காணிப்புக்குழு கூட்டத்தை நடத்தி, பான், குட்கா பொருட்கள் மீதான நடவடிக்கை தீவிரப்படுத்தப்படும் என, தெரிகிறது. "தடையை மீறி விற்கப்படும் பான், குட்கா பொருட்களை, பறிமுதல் செய்வதோடு, 5 லட்சம் ரூபாய் வரை, அபராதம் விதிக்கப்படும்; தடையை மீறி விற்போர் பற்றி, 94440 42322 என்ற எண்ணில், பொதுமக்கள் தகவல் தெரிவிக்கலாம்' என, உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறை தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

Dinamalar News

Secret sales of gutka, pan masala flourish

Pan masala and gutka may be off the shelves in shops, but the banned tobacco products continue to be sold clandestinely to regular customers.

Despite a government order issued a month ago banning the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of gutka and pan masala, sales continue unabated across the city.

Proprietors of petty shops and tea stalls in various parts of Chennai, including Perambur, Pulianthope, Royapettah and Kodungaiyur said they had stopped getting gutka and pan masala after the government issued a blanket ban on chewable tobacco in May.

But many of them still secretly stock the products. A few shops in Elephant Gate also sold ‘Hans’, another form of chewable tobacco.

‘Only for regulars’

“I have a stock of various brands of pan masala and gutka but I do not sell it to strangers. Who knows, one of them could be part of an official inspection team,” said a shopkeeper in Vyasarpadi.

He said traders have asked the Food Safety department for time until the existing stock of pan masala and gutka could be sold.

Rise in price

A number of shopkeepers said the cost of both pan masala and gutka had increased over the last few days. Most of these products are manufactured in Uttar Pradesh.

“There has been a steep rise in the prices of different-sized pan masala and gutka sachets. For instance, what was sold for Rs. 4 is now Rs. 10 and what cost Rs. 12 is Rs. 35 now. Wholesale distributors are giving us the stock at different prices each day. For instance, I paid Rs. 400 for a bundle which would have earlier cost me Rs. 100. But I keep buying it as it is more profitable than selling cigarettes,” said a shopkeeper near Pulianthope.

He said a large number of women bought the tobacco products from his shop.

Main users: women

Oncologists said smokeless tobacco products were one of the primary etiological causes of oral cancer and were being sold in large numbers despite the ban.

“According to the global adult tobacco survey India 2009-2010, eight per cent of the Tamil Nadu population uses gutka and pan masala.

Women are the predominant users of smokeless tobacco,” said Arvind Krishnamurthy, additional professor of surgical oncology, Cancer Institute, Adyar.

Officials of the Food Safety and Drug Administration department said the one month given to shopkeepers had come to an end. “Our teams will soon conduct checks at shops and take necessary action,” an official said. The department has a helpline for complaints from the public – 94440 42322.

When this reporter called the helpline, the officer in-charge said the helpline received around 10 complaints daily, including on the sale of the banned tobacco products.

“Earlier, we used to get complaints regarding the poor quality of soft drinks and food at restaurants. Now, we get calls on the sales of gutka and pan masala. We forward the complaints to the respective district-level designated officers,” he said.

Ban on manufacture, distribution, sale of gutkha

Manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of gutkha, pan masala and food products containing tobacco and nicotine have been banned in Puducherry.
According to a notification dated June 18 from Commissioner of Food Safety G. Ragesh Chandra, criminal action would be taken against violators of the ban.

Gutka ban: HC Circuit Bench quashes interim plea

The High Court Circuit Bench, Dharwad upheld the State government’s ban on gutka by quashing an interim plea filed by gutka companies on Tuesday.

An interim plea had been filed by Ghodawat Pan Masala and three other gutka manufacturing companies, which challenged the State government’s order to impose a ban on the sale and manufacture of gutka in State.

The plea had also appealed to the Circuit Bench, asking for a stay on the ban notification issued by the Food Safety Commissioner. The Circuit Bench, which heard the case, had reserved judgement for June 11.

Supports ban

On Tuesday, the single bench headed by Justice BSPatil, in its pronouncement, said that as per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the State Government has the right to impose a ban on items containing tobacco and nicotine.

This Act is implemented since August 5, 2011, and the ban has been in force since then, he said. Hence, the notification issued by the Food Safety Commissioner is found to be well within the legal framework.

The judge also observed that a few non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had appealed to Circuit Bench, to ban gutka because of its hazardous impact on society — especially the youth. “Thereby, the State government has taken a wise decision of banning gutkha,” the judge added.

The judge also stated that the Supreme Court has directed all 25 states and three union territories to impose a ban on gutka and pan masala products.

Advocate General Raviverma Kumar pleaded in favour of the State government.

FSSAI Advisory on INFOSAN

சேலம் மாவட்டம் முழுவதும் அதிகாரிகள் 6 குழுவாக பிரிந்து பான் மசாலா, குட்கா ரெய்டு கி5 ஆயிரம் மதிப்பிலான புகையிலை பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது.

வேலூர் மாவட்டத்தில் பான் மசாலா, குட்கா தடையை அமல்படுத்த குழுக்கள் அமைப்பு

TNFS Dept. - Pudukottai Dist. News

TNFS Dept. - Coimbatore Dist. News

Shops raided, banned tobacco products seized

Enforcement:Food Safety officials seizing banned tobacco products in Tiruchi on Monday

Shops selling pan masala, gutka and other banned tobacco products at Gandhi market, Central Bus stand, Chatram Bus stand, Periya Kada Veethi and other public places were raided by Food Safety Officials on Monday.

A team of officers led by A. Ramakrishnan seized approximately 100 kilograms of tobacco products during the the raid. “The law breakers will be produced in court and action will be initiated against them,” said Mr.Ramakrishnan.

The raid has been conducted a month after the ban order on manufacture, storage and sale of any form of chewable tobacco in the State was issued. Shops were given a month’s time to dispose the tobacco products and were warned of legal action and seizure of banned goods, in case of failure to adhere to the order.

Under the Food Safety Act 2011, any product that can cause harm to the body can be banned and tobacco tops the list.

Gutka and pan masala seized

Officials seizing gutka and pan masala from a shop in Pudukottai on Monday.

In a surprise raid on 34 shops in various parts of the town on Monday, Food Security Officers seized gutka and pan masala worth about Rs.5,150. They warned vendors against stocking and selling of banned products.

The raid was conducted by a team led by S. Arumugam at shops located in and around the new bus stand and market area. As this was the first seizure in the district since the ban came into place , the raid served as a warning. “Legal action would be initiated in case of repetition of offence,” he said.

Raids would be conducted in all blocks from Tuesday all through the month, he said.

Pan masala products seized

Food Safety Officials on Monday seized pan masala and other banned tobacco products worth nearly Rs. 1.50 lakh from shops in the city.

The raids were conducted at six locations in the city limits — RG Street, Oppanakara street, Kuniamuthur, Kuruchi, Gandhipuram Bus Stand, and Peelamedu — and at a food products godown in Pollachi.

According to the Designated Officer of Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety Wing), R. Kathiravan, with the one-month period given to dealers and traders to remove these products out of Tamil Nadu expiring on Friday, Food Safety Officials in Coimbatore have begun conducting raids.

A total of 21 Food Safety Officials, who were split in seven teams, conducted the raids. These operations would continue, he added.

The ban on ghutka, pan masala, and other products containing tobacco and nicotine was announced by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in the Legislative Assembly on May 8.

To monitor the implementation of the ban, a district level committee will be constituted with District Collector as the chairperson. Other members include the Superintendent of Police, District Commercial Tax Officer, Deputy Director of Health Services, Chief Educational Officer, Corporation, and Regional Transport Officer besides the Designated Officer who will be the convener.

Dinathanthi News

தடையை மீறி பான், குட்கா விற்றால் நடவடிக்கை : அதிகாரிகள் இன்று முக்கிய ஆலோசனை

சென்னை: தடையை மீறி பான், குட்கா பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்வோரிடம், பறிமுதல் செய்யும் பணி துவங்கியுள்ள நிலையில், நடவடிக்கையை தீவிரப்படுத்துவது குறித்து, சென்னையில் இன்று, உயர் அதிகாரிகள் ஆலோசனை கூட்டம் நடக்கிறது.

புகையிலையால் ஏற்படும், பல்வேறு வகையான புற்று நோய்களைத் தடுக்க, தமிழகத்தில், குட்கா, பான் மசாலா போன்ற, வாயில் வைத்து சுவைக்கும், புகையிலைப் பொருட்களுக்கு, தமிழக அரசு தடை விதித்துள்ளது. கிடங்குகளில் உள்ள, இருப்புகளை காலி செய்ய கொடுக்கப்பட்ட, ஒரு மாத அவகாசம், இம்மாதம் 22ம் தேதியுடன் முடிவுக்கு வந்தது. இதனால், தடையை மீறி விற்பது, பதுக்கி வைப்பது சட்டப்படி குற்றம் என்பதால், மாநிலம் முழுவதும், அதிரடி வேட்டை துவங்கியுள்ளது.
பான், குட்கா பொருட்களை தடையை மீறி விற்றால், அவற்றை பறிமுதல் செய்வதோடு, பொருட்களின் அளவுக்கேற்ப, 5 லட்சம் ரூபாய் வரை, அபராதம் விதிக்கலாம்.

இதுகுறித்து, உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறை உயர் அதிகாரி ஒருவர் கூறியதாவது: பான், குட்கா தடை அமலில் உள்ளது. இருப்பை காலி செய்ய அவகாசமும் முடிந்து விட்டதால், மாவட்டந்தோறும், கலெக்டர்கள் தலைமையிலான குழு நடவடிக்கையை முடுக்கி விட்டுள்ளது. பல்வேறு இடங்களிலும் பான், குட்கா பொருட்கள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளன. உயர் அதிகாரிகள், மாவட்ட நியமன அலுவலர்கள் பங்கேற்கும் முக்கிய ஆலோசனை கூட்டம், சென்னையில் இன்று நடக்கிறது. இதில், நடவடிக்கைகளை தீவிரப்படுத்துவது குறித்து முடிவு எடுக்கப்படும். இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

பொதுமக்களும் தகவல் தரலாம்...! : தடையை மீறி பான், குட்கா பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்வதும், பதுக்கி வைத்திருப்பதும் குற்றம். இது பற்றி தகவல் தெரிந்தால், உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறை கமிஷனரின், புகார் மையத்தின், 94440 42322 என்ற, பிரத்யேக எண்ணில், அலுவலக நேரத்தில், பொதுமக்கள் தகவல் தெரிவிக்கலாம். "தகவல் தருவோர் விவரம் ரகசியமாக வைக்கப்படும்; தடையை மீறி விற்போர் மீதும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும்' என, அதிகாரிகள் கூறினர்.

Dinamalar News

வேலூர் மாவட்டத்தில் பான்மசாலா விற்பனையை தடுக்க குழு அமைக்கப்படுகிறது கலெக்டர் தகவல்

வேலூர் மாவட்டத்தில் பான்மசாலா, குட்கா போன்றவற்றின் விற்பனையை தடுக்க குழு அமைக்கப்படுகிறது என்று கலெக்டர் சங்கர் கூறினார்.
ஆலோசனை கூட்டம்
வேலூர் கலெக்டர் அலுவலகத்தில் பான்மசாலா, குட்கா உள்ளிட்ட புகையிலை பொருட்களின் விற்பனையை தடை செய்வது குறித்த ஆலோசனை கூட்டம் கலெக்டர் சங்கர் தலைமையில் நேற்று நடந்தது. உணவு பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் மருந்து நிர்வாகத்துறை நியமன அலுவலர் ஜெகநாதன் முன்னிலை வகித்தார்.
கூட்டத்தில் கலெக்டர் சங்கர் பேசியதாவது:–
குழு அமைப்பு
பான் மசாலா, குட்கா மற்றும் புகையிலை கலந்த உணவு பொருட்களை தயாரிக்கவும், சேமித்து வைக்கவும், விற்பனை செய்யவும் அரசு தடை விதித்து உள்ளது. இதன்படி வேலூர் மாவட்டத்தில் விற்பனை மற்றும் தயாரித்தலை தடுக்கும் வகையில் அனைத்து துறை அதிகாரிகள் கொண்ட குழு அமைக்கப்படுகிறது.
இதன்படி சோதனைக்கு செல்லும் குழுவினர் அனைவரும் ஒட்டு மொத்தமாக சென்று பான்மசாலா பொருட்களை பறிமுதல் செய்து சம்பந்தப்பட்டவர்கள் மீது நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும். எந்த அதிகாரியும் தனியாக செல்லக்கூடாது. போலீசாருடன் சென்று சோதனையை மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டும்.
வாகன சோதனை
வட்டார போக்குவரத்து அலுவலர்கள் வாகனங்களை சோதனை நடத்தி தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பொருட்கள் கொண்டு செல்லப்படுகிறதா? என்பதை ஆய்வு செய்ய வேண்டும். அவ்வாறு கொண்டு செல்வது தெரிய வந்தால் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை மூலம் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும்.
இந்த குழுவில் காவல்துறை, வருவாய்த்துறை, சுகாதாரத்துறை, கல்வித்துறை, சமூக நலத்துறை, வணிகவரித்துறை, உள்ளாட்சி நிர்வாக அதிகாரிகள் இடம் பெறுவார்கள்.
இவ்வாறு கலெக்டர் சங்கர் பேசினார்.
கூட்டத்தில் இணை இயக்குனர் (மருத்துவப்பணிகள்) குமார், துணை இயக்குனர் பூங்கொடி, கலெக்டரின் நேர்முக உதவியாளர் ரமேஷ், பேரூராட்சிகளின் உதவி இயக்குனர் மலையமான் திருமுடிக்காரி, மாவட்ட சமூக நல அலுவலர் கோமதி, வட்டார போக்குவரத்து அலுவலர் பொன்.செந்தில்நாதன், மாநகராட்சி என்ஜினீயர் தேவக்குமார் உள்பட பலர் கலந்து கொண்டனர்.

Ignou introduces course in food safety, quality

NEW DELHI: Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou) has introduced a post-graduate (PG) diploma course in food safety and quality management from the 2013 academic session, authorities said.
"The programme has been developed together with Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority ( Apeda) to meet the increasing human resource requirements for food safety and quality management professionals in the agriculture and food sectors," a statement from Ignou said.
The last date for admission to the course is June 30.
"The PG diploma is intended for graduates in sciences, agriculture, food science or allied disciplines contemplating a career in food safety and quality management. It is also intended for professionals in food processing and quality control for strengthening their proficiency in design," the statement added.
Ignou is the world's largest open university system with a pan-India and international reach with flexible entry qualifications and a wide range of academic programmes at affordable cost.

FOOD SAFETY DEPT IN WOES

Food safety Dept under Medical Directorate remains in name only and has failed to function properly. Though Food Safety and Standard Act has been in operation since 5^th August 2006 yet it failed to take off in Manipur as there is not enough men power and fund and all the activities of the Dept has been looked after by one district food safety officer only. 

Due to the absence of Special court of food safety and food safety tribunal many difficulties were faced while dispensing activities related to legal matters. Legal action cannot be taken up against those who traffic drugs and psychotropic substances at Chandel and Thoubal recently. Due to the lack of manpower, testing of sub standard food brought from Myanmar cannot be taken up and as such food items of sub standard quality were openly sold in Manipur. 

Food testing laboratory of the state is also not having enough equipment and has to rely upon reference laboratory at Poone. If any controversy arises then the test has again to be taken at Notified Laboratory of Kolkata. Due to such situations testing of samples took a long period of time. Due to the lack of funds for information communication and education awareness campaign could not be taken up and as a result many failed to understand about food safety. 

Under the act any businessmen related with food items need to take license and registered but no businessmen has ever taken any license and did not registered.

Clearances for field trials of GM crops put on hold

(GEAC), India’s apex biotech regulatory committee constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests put on its website the decision of its 117th meeting held in March, clearing field trials of GM rice, wheat, maize, castor and cotton for the upcoming kharif season


The Union government has put on hold the clearances of field trials of certain genetically modified crops (GM), after it inadvertently put them as ‘approved’ on the Environment Ministry’s website recently.


The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), India’s apex biotech regulatory committee constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests on last Tuesday put on its website the decision of its 117th meeting held in March, clearing field trials of GM rice, wheat, maize, castor and cotton for the upcoming kharif season. The clearances were subject to the submission of ‘no-objection-certificate (NOC)’ from the respective state governments.


While it came as a major relief to the agri-biotech industry, on Thursday, the ministry suddenly withdrew the minutes of the meeting from the website without citing any reason.


A senior official of GEAC on conditions of anonymity told Express the clearances are not yet given.


“The unconfirmed minutes were wrongly uploaded. It will be considered approved only after these (clearances) are confirmed in the next meeting (118th) as and when it is held,” the official said.


Meanwhile, the state’s Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda is vocal about the GM crops. It is said it would have been easier for the companies to get the state government nod and go ahead with the trials this season if the GEAC approved the applications.


Companies like Monsanto Holdings Private Ltd, Bayer Bioscience Pvt Ltd, Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Co Ltd (Mayhco), Syngenta Biosciences Pvt Ltd, BASF and Central Institute of Cotton Research, Nagpur are waiting to conduct field trials and seeking extension of validity for event selection trials for certain varieties of cotton, maize, rice, wheat and castor. The trials are to be conducted in the company farms and in the fields of University of Agriculture Sciences in various states, which include Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Rajastan and Tamil Nadu.


The clearances are put on hold keeping in mind the ongoing case in the Supreme Court challenging the existing regulatory mechanism for GM crops in the country. Also, the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) bill pending with the Parliamentary Standing Committee is showing no sign of progress.


The decision of the body has made the industry sulk.


“It is unfortunate to note that the government has withdrawn permissions to conduct field trials. These are only trials for evaluation of bio-safety (safety as food, feed, and safety of environment). Without these


field trials we cannot make any advances. The choice in crop production is being ignored,” said N Seetharama, Executive Director of Association of Biotech Led Enterprises-Agriculture Group (ABLE-AG).


Meanwhile, Coalition for a GM Free India, a network of organisations, scientists, farmer unions, consumer groups and individuals recently released a compilation of more than 400 published papers showing adverse impacts of the GM crops.


According to ABLE-AG, the applications are pending for two the crops cotton and maize, which will be tested in Karnataka (Subject to approvals).


Cotton


In addition to BT, now a herbicide tolerant (HT) trait is also included in the stacked product ready for testing.


In case of maize, both BT and HT traits will be tried individually and in combination of both.


Controversy


The GM wheat variety ‘Mon 71800’ of Monsanto, which was never authorised and commercialised in the US is creating ripples in the US market at present for allegedly contaminating wheatfield after its field trials. The same variety is awaiting approval from GEAC here in India now.


Seetharama said the case of wheat contamination in US could be accidental and it cannot be generalised and applied here.

The Right Cooking Oil

Paper News

பான், குட்கா காலி செய்ய அவகாசம் முடிந்தது மீறி விற்றால் ரூ.5 லட்சம் வரை அபராதம்

தமிழகத்தில் பான், குட்காவுக்கு தடை விதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள நிலையில், இருப்பை (ஸ்டாக்) காலி செய்ய, அரசு கொடுத்த, ஒரு மாத கால அவகாசம் முடிந்து விட்டது.
புகையிலையால் ஏற்படும், பல்வேறு வகையான புற்று நோய்களைத் தடுக்கும் வண்ணம், தமிழகத்தில், குட்கா, பான் மசாலா போன்ற, வாயில் வைத்து சுவைக்கும், புகையிலைப் பொருட்களுக்கு, தமிழக அரசு தடை விதித்துள்ளது.
ஆனால், கிடங்குகளில் உள்ள, இருப்புகளை காலி செய்ய, ஒரு மாதம் அவகாசம் தரப்பட்டிருந்தது.
இந்நிலையில், அரசு கொடுத்த ஒரு மாத கால அவகாசம், ஜூன் 22ம் தேதியுடன் முடிவுக்கு வந்தது. இதன்படி, எந்த இடங்களிலும் பான், குட்கா பொருட்களை வைத்து இருந்தாலும், சட்டப்படி குற்றமாகிறது. இதனால், தமிழகம் முழுவதும், அதிரடி வேட்டை துவங்கும் என, தெரிகிறது.
இதுகுறித்து, உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறை அதிகாரி ஒருவர் கூறியதாவது:
பான், குட்கா பொருட்களை தடையை மீறி விற்றால், அந்தப் பொருட்களை  பறிமுதல் செய்வதோடு, அபராதமும் விதிக்கப்படும். பொருட்களின் அளவுக்கேற்ப, 5 லட்சம் ரூபாய் வரை, அபராதம் விதிக்க முடியும். இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.
பான், குட்கா விற்பனை, பதுக்கலைக் கண்காணிக்க, கலெக்டர், உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறை, வணிக வரித் துறை, உள்ளாட்சி அமைப்புகளைக் கொண்டு, மாவட்ட அளவில், குழுக்கள் அமைக்கப் பட்டுள்ளன. இந்தக்குழு, மாநிலம் முழுவதும் கண்காணிப்பு, நடவடிக்கைகளை உடனடியாக துவங்கும் என, தெரிகிறது.

Jail for Karnataka gutka sellers

BANGALORE: Vendors selling gutka in Karnataka face arrest. The state government has decided to rope in police for effective implementation of its gutka ban. Special committees have been formed at the district level to ensure effective enforcement of the ban.
M Madan Gopal, principal secretary to the department of health and family welfare, told TOI the government invoked provisions under the Indian Penal Code to initiate proceedings against those defying the ban. "We have had discussions with the home department and will soon issue an order. Also, cases booked will be made part of the Monthly Crime Report prepared by police," he said.
A senior home department official said Section 273 of the IPC has a provision to levy a fine of Rs 1,000, imprisonment up to six months or both for those indulging in the sale of noxious food or drink. "Action can also be initiated under Section 188 where disobedience of an order promulgated by a public servant is considered an offence. As far as gutka sachets and other seized items are concerned, police will have to hand them over to the food safety officer in the district," he added.
The state government had issued gutka ban guidelines on June 1 in order to comply with a Supreme Court verdict.
Madan Gopal said they are forming district-level enforcement committees to oversee the implementation of the ban. "The deputy commissioner will be the chairman of the committee, which will have a senior RTO officer, the commercial tax officer and the superintendent of police as members. A designated officer will function as member-secretary."
Asked about the manufacture of gutka, Madan Gopal said they have shut down all such units in the state and seized equipment. "With the above measures in place, the state government has filed an affidavit before the SC regarding action taken to enforce the ban. We need cooperation from other departments and NGOs," he added.
What the law says?
IPC's Section 273: Whoever sells, offers or exposes for sale as food or drink any article which has been rendered or has become noxious, or is in a state unfit for food or drink..., shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with a fine which may extend to Rs 1,000, or with both.

McDonald effect? On Mumbai streets, vada pavs to be served with gloves & chef's hat on

 



 

Mumbai: Vendors wearing gloves while serving up plates of pani puri or donning a chef’s hat while stirring spicy bhel may soon be a regular sighting to Mumbai’s street food culture.. 

Street food is set to become certifiably safer with the central government kicking off their Safe Street Food project across fifteen cities in India including Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ahmadabad, Kolkata, Patna, Lucknow, Varanasi, Dehradun, Bhubaneshwar, Agartala, Jammu, Trivandrum and Chennai. The project will take off in November this year. 

Food Safety and Standard Authority of India’s (FSSAI) that launched the Safe Street Food project plans to use officials from the state Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to narrow down food stalls at Juhu and Girgaon Chowpatty as a part of the pilot project. 

Prior to the implementation, a detailed project report has been sought by FSSAI from all states. FDA officials are currently seeking information on 80 food stalls in Juhu and 28 stall in Girgaon about their working practices. 

"We are closely studying the cooks to see if they maintain hygiene while cooking. We are also observing how they store food and dispose garbage," said Kamlesh Sankhe, joint commissioner (food), FDA. 

Apart from training the street vendors on handling preparation, storage and presentation of food, the central government has instructed the state and BMC to develop an infrastructure at street food hotspots to make them more tourist-friendly. 

"We have repeatedly requested the civic and state authorities to provide sheds as protection from the rain and winds. Toilet facilities, waste disposal and drainage facilities should be provided as well," said Atul Gupta, treasurer, Girgaon Bhelpuri Khadya Peey Vikreta Industrial Products Co-operative Society Limited.

Trivandrum FSO conducts raids at Hotels

14 eateries asked to close down

52 outlets get improvement notices in two-day action

As many as 14 restaurants in the district were issued improvement notices by the Food Safety officials on Saturday for violation of the 30-point regulations for hygiene stipulated by the Food Safety Department. (These 14 hotels would have to be closed down. Others served improvement notices can function but works should be carried out to raise standards). As many as 18 hotels were shut down on Friday. In the two-day action, 52 hotels were served improvement notices. As many as 12 hotels were fined, total fines amounting to Rs.1.20 lakh.

The hotels that were shut down were Hotel Dhanya, Chakka Bypass; Ali Resturant, Manacaud; Hotel Ajanta, Vazhuthacaud; Hotel Aryas, Vazhuthacaud; Hotel Malabar, Statue; Hotel Chandra, Thirumala; Food&Style, Palayam; Mobeena Bakers, Pettah; Hotel Ameenas, Safa Hotel, and A-one hotel and fastfood (all three at Vattiyoorkavu); Hotel Shine, Mannanthala; Hotel Smart, Kaimanam; and Arun Tiffin Centre, Killippalam.

குட்கா, பான்மசாலாவுக்கு தடை கடைகளில் நாளை முதல் ரெய்டு

ஹோட்டல், இறைச்சிக் கடைகளில் திடீர் சோதனை

தருமபுரியில் உள்ள ஹோட்டல், இறைச்சி கடைகளில் உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் மருந்து நிர்வாகத் துறை அலுவலர்கள் சனிக்கிழமை திடீர் சோதனை நடத்தினர்.

ஹோட்டல்களில் சுகாதாரமற்ற முறையில் உணவு வழங்குவதாகவும், இறைச்சிக் கடைகளில் உரிய வழிகாட்டுதல்களை பின்பற்றுவதில்லை என்ற புகார்கள் வந்ததைத் தொடர்ந்து அனைத்து இடங்களிலும் சோதனை நடத்த மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் ஆர்.லில்லி உத்தரவிட்டார்.

இதன்படி, தருமபுரி மாவட்ட உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் மருந்து நிர்வாகத் துறை மாவட்ட நியமன அலுவலர் பி. தினேஷ், உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் சி. கோபிநாத், ஏ.குமணன் மற்றும் உதவியாளர்கள் அடங்கிய குழுவினர் தருமபுரி நகரில் உள்ள அனைத்து ஹோட்டல்களிலும் சனிக்கிழமை திடீர் சோதனை நடத்தினர்.

உணவுப் பாதுகாப்புச் சட்டப்படி உரிமம் பெற்றுள்ளனரா, பாதுகாக்கப்பட்ட குடிநீர் வழங்கப்படுகிறதா, சமையல் கூடங்கள் சுகாதாரமாக பராமரிக்கப்படுகிறதா, பணிபுரியும் ஊழியர்கள் மருத்துவச் சான்று பெற்றுள்ளனரா என்பது குறித்து சோதனை செய்தனர்.

இறைச்சிக் கடைகளில் சுகாதாரமான முறையில் இறைச்சி அறுவை செய்யப்படுகிறதா, கலப்படம் இல்லாமல் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுகிறதா, பழைய இறைச்சிகளை விற்பனை செய்கின்றனரா என்பது குறித்து சோதனை நடத்தினர்.

இதுதொடர்பாக, மாவட்ட நியமன அலுவலர் பி. தினேஷ் கூறியது:

மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் உத்தரவைத் தொடர்ந்து தருமபுரியில் உள்ள அனைத்து ஹோட்டல்கள், உணவகங்களில் சனிக்

கிழமை சோதனை நடத்தியுள்ளோம். இறைச்சிக் கடைகளிலும் சுகாதாரமாக வைத்திருக்க அறிவுறுத்தியுள்ளோம். குறைபாடுகள் உள்ள கடைகளுக்கு நோட்டீஸ் அளிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இந்த நோட்டீஸ் அளிக்கப்பட்ட கடைகளில் 15 நாள்களுக்குப் பிறகு மீண்டும் சோதனை நடத்தப்படும். அப்போது, குறைகள் நிவர்த்தி செய்யப்படாமல் இருந்தால் அந்த நிறுவனங்கள் மீது உணவுப் பாதுகாப்புச் சட்டத்தின் கீழ் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும். உணவுப் பொருள்களை விற்பனை செய்யும் அனைத்துக் கடைகளும் 4.2.2014-க்குள் உரிமம் பெற்றுக் கொள்ள வேண்டும் என்றார் அவர்.

Dinakaran Article

Vada pav by the wayside to get hygienic - Safe Street Food Project

Mumbai among 15 cities chosen by Centre to kick off national project.

Vendors wearing gloves while serving up plates of pani puri or donning a chef’s hat while stirring spicy bhel may soon be a regular sighting to Mumbai’s street food culture.

Street food is set to become certifiably safer with the central government kicking off their Safe Street Food project across fifteen cities in India including Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ahmadabad, Kolkata, Patna, Lucknow, Varanasi, Dehradun, Bhubaneshwar, Agartala, Jammu, Trivandrum and Chennai. The project will take off in November this year.

Food Safety and Standard Authority of India’s (FSSAI) that launched the Safe Street Food project plans to use officials from the state Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to narrow down food stalls at Juhu and Girgaon Chowpatty as a part of the pilot project.

Prior to the implementation, a detailed project report has been sought by FSSAI from all states. FDA officials are currently seeking information on 80 food stalls in Juhu and 28 stall in Girgaon about their working practices.

“We are closely studying the cooks to see if they maintain hygiene while cooking. We are also observing how they store food and dispose garbage,” said Kamlesh Sankhe, joint commissioner (food), FDA.

Apart from training the street vendors on handling preparation, storage and presentation of food, the central government has instructed the state and BMC to develop an infrastructure at street food hotspots to make them more tourist-friendly.

“We have repeatedly requested the civic and state authorities to provide sheds as protection from the rain and winds. Toilet facilities, waste disposal and drainage facilities should be provided as well,” said Atul Gupta, treasurer, Girgaon Bhelpuri Khadya Peey Vikreta Industrial Products Co-operative Society Limited.

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