Jun 29, 2013
Eateries near hospitals serve low quality food
KOZHIKODE: Be more cautious while eating out at hotels and restaurants operating near hospitals, bus stands and railway stations.
According to the food safety department, hotels targeting the floating population are least concerned about the quality and hygiene aspects.
A 'hot spot list' of hotels was prepared as part of the on-going monsoon special food safety drives in the district following the special directive issued by the food safety commissioner.
The list was prepared after collecting information on the operation of hotels. "Most of the hotels listed fall in the regions near bus stands, hospitals and railway station," said Muhammed Rafi, designated officer Kozhikode.
The eateries near hospital and bus stands show lapse in keeping hygiene as they do not depend on regular customers for their business, he added.
The food safety officials had listed more than 50 hotels in the list. According to officials not less than 70 per cent of the hotels in the list were found violating food safety norms. Eateries near education institutions also are included in the list, according to officials.
The special squad started the raids in the district on June 25 and have completed the inspection of over 30 hotels in the list.
Of the total number of inspected hotels 18 were found violating food safety standards.
Attesting the opinion, a food safety official said that hotels operating in rural areas are more conscious of customer satisfaction and health as they would lose their business if some health problems are caused. The hotels near hospitals are exploiting the hapless patients and bystanders by providing low quality food, he added.
While five hotels, two at Moffussil Bus Stand, Canteen at Kozhikode Medical College and two hotels at Cheruvannoor were asked to close down.
The hotels can resume operation only after re-inspection by the officials with the food safety authority, said the designated officer.
Besides, 12 hotels were served notice by the department officials citing lapses on maintaining hygiene. "In most of the cases the serving boys, cooks and other staff of the hotel were not having medical certificates to prove their fitness," said food safety official.
Preservation of cooked and raw meet in the same refrigerator, which would cause cross contamination, absence of lids for cooked food, use of polluted water for cooking were found in hotels those were served notice.
"We have also charged fine on some hotels on reviewing the gravity of their offences," said Muhammed Rafi.The raids will continue in the coming days and all hotels will be inspected, he added.
According to the food safety department, hotels targeting the floating population are least concerned about the quality and hygiene aspects.
A 'hot spot list' of hotels was prepared as part of the on-going monsoon special food safety drives in the district following the special directive issued by the food safety commissioner.
The list was prepared after collecting information on the operation of hotels. "Most of the hotels listed fall in the regions near bus stands, hospitals and railway station," said Muhammed Rafi, designated officer Kozhikode.
The eateries near hospital and bus stands show lapse in keeping hygiene as they do not depend on regular customers for their business, he added.
The food safety officials had listed more than 50 hotels in the list. According to officials not less than 70 per cent of the hotels in the list were found violating food safety norms. Eateries near education institutions also are included in the list, according to officials.
The special squad started the raids in the district on June 25 and have completed the inspection of over 30 hotels in the list.
Of the total number of inspected hotels 18 were found violating food safety standards.
Attesting the opinion, a food safety official said that hotels operating in rural areas are more conscious of customer satisfaction and health as they would lose their business if some health problems are caused. The hotels near hospitals are exploiting the hapless patients and bystanders by providing low quality food, he added.
While five hotels, two at Moffussil Bus Stand, Canteen at Kozhikode Medical College and two hotels at Cheruvannoor were asked to close down.
The hotels can resume operation only after re-inspection by the officials with the food safety authority, said the designated officer.
Besides, 12 hotels were served notice by the department officials citing lapses on maintaining hygiene. "In most of the cases the serving boys, cooks and other staff of the hotel were not having medical certificates to prove their fitness," said food safety official.
Preservation of cooked and raw meet in the same refrigerator, which would cause cross contamination, absence of lids for cooked food, use of polluted water for cooking were found in hotels those were served notice.
"We have also charged fine on some hotels on reviewing the gravity of their offences," said Muhammed Rafi.The raids will continue in the coming days and all hotels will be inspected, he added.
Pizza, delivered with a side of attempted rape
There’s one thing that an Indian household has always had:
trustworthy strangers. Home delivery may be a modern term, but it’s been
part of the average Indian home for decades. Thanks to people like the
vegetable and fruit seller, the person who brings the ironed clothes and
the domestic help, an Indian household is an ecosystem composed
partially of strangers. In it, the food delivery man is a recent
entrant, but he has quickly become entrenched in the daily routine of
urban Indian households. Especially the pizza delivery boy.
According to a report by the National Restaurant Association of India,
around 80% of consumers order in food at least twice a month at the
minimum. Italian cuisine — which in home delivery terms consists mainly
of pizza – is the most popular cuisine to be ‘ordered in’ in India. The
pizza delivery boy is someone most people wait for anxiously and greet
with a grin. He isn’t someone from whom we expect to need protection.
It’s this assumption that led to a young woman being assaulted and
almost raped by a pizza delivery boy. A 17-year-old delivery boy
returned after making an initial delivery on some pretext, and after
attempting to rape the woman, bashed her head in, and then ran away.
Turns out, there is no official vetting process to decide delivery
boys. Amar Jhunjhunwala, 46, who owns a fast food joint in Chembur that
enjoys enthusiastic patronage from families in the neighbourhood, said,
“I’ve never done a background check on a delivery boy, I have to admit.
Why would I feel the need? And none of the other restaurant managers I
know have done it either. It’s the most basic function of a restaurant.”
But can’t delivery boys at least be vetted as those who have been in
the restaurant’s employ for a while? “It actually works the other way,”
says Jhunjhunwala, who ran a burger joint in Andheri (East) for five
years before starting his second restaurant in Chembur. “Boys work in
delivery, and slowly make their way up to the kitchen and managerial
roles. Of course, with this incident, I’m sure all restaurant owners are
going to be very careful.”
Someone who won’t have a chance to be careful is the owner of
Chovisum, the outlet whose delivery boy is guilty of assault and
attempted rape. The owner, Swapnil Parab, has seen his business
disappear since the incident. “The boy was a dropout who usually never
makes deliveries,” Parab insisted in media reports in the Mumbai Mirror and the Hindustan Times. “It was just this time…he’s ruined my business.”
Is there any hope for a regulatory process to be enforced in the
restaurant delivery business? According to a member of the National
Restaurant Association of India, who spoke to us on the condition of
anonymity, it’s almost impossible. “There are many neighbourhood
restaurants which are not accounted for by us,” he said. But he admitted
that more can be done to ensure a consumer’s safety. “An in-house
vetting process should be non-negotiable.”
At present, the Food Safety and Standards regulations
are the only rules by which Indian restaurants have to abide. These
regulations cover aspects like salary and training of restaurant
employees, but do not touch upon home deliveries, which are an
increasingly important part of the Indian food industry.
Till then? Recently, after reading the report of the 25-year-old
woman being assaulted by the Chovisum employee, a friend of mine and I
tried to reconfigure the logistics of accepting home delivery.
“Should we keep the door-chain latched and pass the money through it?” she suggested.
“But a pizza won’t fit through the chain-gap,” I pointed out.
“I guess we could ask them to leave it outside, and take it when the delivery guy is done,” she said triumphantly.
So this could soon be the new guideline to prevent rape: skulk behind
your door when receiving a delivery, wait till the sound of steps has
faded away, then dart out quickly, grab your food and run back in.
FDA extends ban on Chinese milk products
PUNE:
Extending the ban on Chinese milk products by a year, the Food and Drugs
Administration (FDA) on Friday said that they would initiate strict
action against those found selling them in and around Pune.
The ban on import of milk and milk products, including chocolate products, candies, confectionery and food preparations having milk as an ingredient, from China has been extended from June 23.
"Import of milk and milk products from China has been banned in the country as melamine, an industrial chemical which could prove to be harmful if consumed, was found in some dairy products imported from China. The ban has been in force since 2008 and was extended periodically. An extension in ban of one more year from June 23 has now been granted," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA, Pune division.
Melamine is described as being harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Chronic exposure may cause cancer or reproductive damage.
The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India held consultation with the concerned departments and ministries to review the ban on June 6, based on which, the ban has been extended. The ban on Chinese milk products has been extended at least five times since 2008.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade had first banned import of Chinese milk products in September 2008 after reports suggested that they contained melamine, which damages kidneys in the long run.
"Chinese dairy farmers were using this chemical to increase their profit margins. First, they diluted milk by 30% and to show it has good protein content, they added melamine which is rich in nitrogen the way proteins are. A quality control equipment is designed to detect nitrogen and not melamine," said another official.
"Most of the chocolates were passed off as good by the quality control system after the equipment detected required nitrogen content in milk products," the official said.
The ban has also been extended as doubts lingered about any improvement in the quality of milk from China.
The ban on import of milk and milk products, including chocolate products, candies, confectionery and food preparations having milk as an ingredient, from China has been extended from June 23.
"Import of milk and milk products from China has been banned in the country as melamine, an industrial chemical which could prove to be harmful if consumed, was found in some dairy products imported from China. The ban has been in force since 2008 and was extended periodically. An extension in ban of one more year from June 23 has now been granted," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA, Pune division.
Melamine is described as being harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Chronic exposure may cause cancer or reproductive damage.
The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India held consultation with the concerned departments and ministries to review the ban on June 6, based on which, the ban has been extended. The ban on Chinese milk products has been extended at least five times since 2008.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade had first banned import of Chinese milk products in September 2008 after reports suggested that they contained melamine, which damages kidneys in the long run.
"Chinese dairy farmers were using this chemical to increase their profit margins. First, they diluted milk by 30% and to show it has good protein content, they added melamine which is rich in nitrogen the way proteins are. A quality control equipment is designed to detect nitrogen and not melamine," said another official.
"Most of the chocolates were passed off as good by the quality control system after the equipment detected required nitrogen content in milk products," the official said.
The ban has also been extended as doubts lingered about any improvement in the quality of milk from China.
41 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களின் தர பரிசோதனை முடிந்தது: ஜூலை 2ல் அறிக்கை தாக்கல்
சென்னையில் செயல்படும், குடிநீர் தயாரிப்பு நிறுவனங்களில் இருந்து,
விற்பனைக்கு அனுப்பப்படும் குடிநீர், பாதுகாப்பற்றதாக இருப்பது ஆய்வில்
தெரிய வந்ததால், தேசிய பசுமை தீர்ப்பாயம் (தென் மண்டலம்) தானாக முன் வந்து,
வழக்கு பதிந்து விசாரித்து வருகிறது.
சென்னை, காஞ்சிபுரம், திருவள்ளூர் மாவட்டங்களில், அனுமதியின்றி செயல்பட்ட, 92 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் மூடப்பட்டன. இதில், 85 நிறுவனங்களின் குடிநீர் மாதிரி எடுத்து பரிசோதித்ததில், தர பரிசோதனையில் தேறிய, 51 நிறுவனங்கள் மீண்டும் செயல்பட அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டன. பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயம் உத்தரவின்படி, மீதமுள்ள, 41 நிறுவனங்களில், மாசுக் கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரிய அதிகாரிகள், மீண்டும் குடிநீர் மாதிரிகளை எடுத்து, தர பரிசோதனைக்காக, உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறையிடம் ஒப்படைத்தனர். உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறையின் ஆய்வகத்தில், இரண்டு வாரமாக பரிசோதனை நடந்தது. பரிசோதனை முடிக்கப்பட்டு, அது பற்றிய விவரங்களை, உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறை, முறைப்படி, மாசுக் கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரியத்திற்கு நேற்று அனுப்பப்பட்டது. இதில், எத்தனை நிறுவனங்களின் குடிநீர் தரமாக இருந்தது. எத்தனை நிறுவனங்களின் குடிநீர் தரமில்லாமல் இருந்தது என்ற விவரம், ரகசியமாக வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இது குறித்து, மாசுக் கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரிய அதிகாரி ஒருவர் கூறுகையில், "41 நிறுவனங்களில், இரண்டாம் முறை எடுத்த குடிநீர் மாதிரி பரிசோதனை முடிவு கிடைத்துள்ளது. இதை ஒருங்கிணைத்து, அறிக்கை தயாரித்து வருகிறோம். அந்த அறிக்கை, ஜூலை, 2ம் தேதி, பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயத்தில் சமர்ப்பிக்கப்படும்' என்றார்.
இரண்டு மாதத்திற்கு மேலாக முடங்கியுள்ள, 41 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களும் மீண்டும் செயல்படுமா என்பது, ஜூலை, 2ம் தேதி தெரிய வரும்.
சென்னை, காஞ்சிபுரம், திருவள்ளூர் மாவட்டங்களில், அனுமதியின்றி செயல்பட்ட, 92 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் மூடப்பட்டன. இதில், 85 நிறுவனங்களின் குடிநீர் மாதிரி எடுத்து பரிசோதித்ததில், தர பரிசோதனையில் தேறிய, 51 நிறுவனங்கள் மீண்டும் செயல்பட அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டன. பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயம் உத்தரவின்படி, மீதமுள்ள, 41 நிறுவனங்களில், மாசுக் கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரிய அதிகாரிகள், மீண்டும் குடிநீர் மாதிரிகளை எடுத்து, தர பரிசோதனைக்காக, உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறையிடம் ஒப்படைத்தனர். உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறையின் ஆய்வகத்தில், இரண்டு வாரமாக பரிசோதனை நடந்தது. பரிசோதனை முடிக்கப்பட்டு, அது பற்றிய விவரங்களை, உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறை, முறைப்படி, மாசுக் கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரியத்திற்கு நேற்று அனுப்பப்பட்டது. இதில், எத்தனை நிறுவனங்களின் குடிநீர் தரமாக இருந்தது. எத்தனை நிறுவனங்களின் குடிநீர் தரமில்லாமல் இருந்தது என்ற விவரம், ரகசியமாக வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இது குறித்து, மாசுக் கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரிய அதிகாரி ஒருவர் கூறுகையில், "41 நிறுவனங்களில், இரண்டாம் முறை எடுத்த குடிநீர் மாதிரி பரிசோதனை முடிவு கிடைத்துள்ளது. இதை ஒருங்கிணைத்து, அறிக்கை தயாரித்து வருகிறோம். அந்த அறிக்கை, ஜூலை, 2ம் தேதி, பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயத்தில் சமர்ப்பிக்கப்படும்' என்றார்.
இரண்டு மாதத்திற்கு மேலாக முடங்கியுள்ள, 41 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களும் மீண்டும் செயல்படுமா என்பது, ஜூலை, 2ம் தேதி தெரிய வரும்.
Jun 28, 2013
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Food business licensing procedures go online
New process:A view of the page in the Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India website that food business operators must use to
apply online for licence.
All firms must get licence before February 4, 2014
The Tamil Nadu Food Safety Department has taken online the licensing
procedures for food businesses in the State. The food business operators
can now apply or renew licences without ever having to come to any
office of the Food Safety Department.
Official sources told
The Hindu
here on Thursday that Tamil Nadu was the ninth State in the country to take the licensing procedures online.
This
step had been mandated by the Food Safety and Standards Act. The online
facility was launched by State Food Safety Commissioner Kumar Jayanth
in Chennai on Tuesday.
Sources said that the Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India, a statutory body that implemented the Act,
would conduct training programmes for food business operators on the
new procedure. Officials here said that they would assist the applicants
during the initial period with the online application process.
Licence
was mandatory for all food business concerns with an annual turnover of
above Rs. 12 lakh. At present, 2,156 firms in Coimbatore had obtained
licences, an official said, adding that the total number of food
business firms here would be around 8,500. All the firms must get
licences before February 4, 2014.
According to the officials, Form
B application, submitted for getting the licence, would no longer be
issued in paper form and could be obtained only online.
Applicants
would have to go to the website www.fssai.gov.in and choose the option
‘Food Licensing & Registration System (FLRS)’ to commence the
process. Once the Form B was submitted, the applicants would have to
remit the requisite fee to the treasury, scan the receipts and other
relevant documents such as identify proofs and upload them to the
website.
However, a senior official said that for this step alone,
applicants also have option of sending the documents and receipt
through registered post to the Designated Officer of Tamil Nadu Food
Safety and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety Wing) in the
district.
After this, Food Safety Officers will conduct the
physical inspection and would submit their reports online. All the 32
Food Safety Officers in Coimbatore district had been issued with an
internet-enabled tablet for the purpose.
Once their reports were scrutinised by the Designated Officer concerned, the applicant would be issued Form C or the licence.
The
applicant could track the status of the application during any stage of
the process through an Application Reference Number. If any
clarifications were needed, the applicant would get an email
automatically.
1,000 kg of gutka, pan masala seized
BannedThe stash was found in homes in Ayanavaram and Vadapalani.
Officials burnt all the products at the Kodungaiyur dumping yard
Over 1,000 kg of chewable tobacco products stored
clandestinely in various houses in Ayanavaram and Vadapalani were seized
on Thursday.
A massive raid conducted by the food
safety department, with assistance from the Chennai Corporation and the
police, led to the seizure of gutka and pan masala, which are banned,
carcinogenic products.
Since the ban came into effect
in May, the food safety department has cracked down on business units
that sell the products. To circumvent this, wholesalers began storing
products in residential properties, officials said.
On
Thursday evening, 1,060 kg of the products were destroyed at the
Kodungaiyur dumping yard. However, so far, no legal action has been
taken against the wholesalers.
Officials said the
screening of retail and wholesale shops will continue, but four teams of
25 officials each have also been asked to search houses connected to
those in the business. “We are now educating food business operators,
including 56 wholesalers in Chennai district. The raids will continue
daily,” said S. Lakshmi Narayanan, designated officer of the department.
A
chunk of the wholesale dealers operate from Sowcarpet and T. Nagar. An
official on one of the teams said that while retailers have taken the
products off their shelves, they continue to sell them clandestinely.
“We have to educate proprietors at all such outlets,” he said.
Since
the ban is only for products that contain tobacco, officials said
businesses that sold pan masala or gutka could get their products tested
in accredited laboratories. If the products did not contain tobacco,
they could be sold. “Pan masala mixed with tobacco or nicotine is
banned. The regular kind can be sold,” said Dr. Narayanan.
The
State government banned the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale
of carcinogenic chewable forms of tobacco based on a proposal submitted
by the State Tobacco Control Cell.
The present ban
is legally tenable as it relies on the Food Safety and Standards Act,
which has provisions to prevent tobacco and nicotine from being used as
ingredients in food.
Drive against tobacco products to be intensified
Five teams of officials from the Food Safety Department,
which have been formed to seize tobacco products such as pan masala and
gutka from dealers, will intensify their exercise from Friday.
The State Government has banned production, possession, distribution and sale of these products.
It was notified in the gazette on May 23 and traders were given time till June 22 to remove all these products.
The five teams will work as per the direction of M. Kavikumar, Designated Officer, Food Safety Wing.
Collector
T.N.Hariharan said those who witnessed the sale or purchase of these
goods could contact the following numbers 9443268149 or 04562252255 for
action.
HC pulls up govt for non-implementation of Food Safety Act
Directs Chief Secretary To File Response Or Appear In Person
Srinagar, June 27: Expressing displeasure for taking its
directions on a Public Interest Litigation seeking to curb food
adulteration in a ‘casual manner’, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on
Thursday directed the Chief Secretary to ensure the implementation of
the directions or appear before the court on the next date of hearing on
August 2.
A division bench of High Court comprising the Chief Justice M M Kumar and Justice D S Thakur passed the direction on a PIL filed by Advocate Sheikh Muhammad Ayoub seeking implementation of Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006 and Food Safety and Standard Rules, 2011.
“Official respondents are taking the directions issued by this court in a casual manner therefore while granting time as per the prayer made by the respondents, we direct the Chief Secretary to ensure the directions are carried to the hilt” the division bench said.
It said if the directions are not implemented within four weeks granted, the Chief Secretary would appear in person before the court on the next date of hearing.
The court has passed several directions to the state government to implement Food Safety and Standard Act and Food Safety and Standard Rules hitherto.
Earlier the court had directed the state government to collect samples of spices, manufactured by factories and/or industrial units in the state, on weekly basis for laboratory testing. The Court directed the government to punish those found indulging in adulteration.
The Court said the samples should be sent to the concerned laboratories in accordance with the mandate contained in the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006.
In order to maintain food standards in their respective districts, the Court had directed all the District Magistrates to “closely monitor the functioning of the authorities responsible to maintain food standards in their districts.” The DMs were directed to convene fortnightly meetings of all officers for this purpose.
The court directed the government to take necessary steps for making provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act effective and visible on the ground level. The petitioners were represented by advocates S M Ayub and T H Khawaja while SAAG, J A Kawoosa defended the state.
A division bench of High Court comprising the Chief Justice M M Kumar and Justice D S Thakur passed the direction on a PIL filed by Advocate Sheikh Muhammad Ayoub seeking implementation of Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006 and Food Safety and Standard Rules, 2011.
“Official respondents are taking the directions issued by this court in a casual manner therefore while granting time as per the prayer made by the respondents, we direct the Chief Secretary to ensure the directions are carried to the hilt” the division bench said.
It said if the directions are not implemented within four weeks granted, the Chief Secretary would appear in person before the court on the next date of hearing.
The court has passed several directions to the state government to implement Food Safety and Standard Act and Food Safety and Standard Rules hitherto.
Earlier the court had directed the state government to collect samples of spices, manufactured by factories and/or industrial units in the state, on weekly basis for laboratory testing. The Court directed the government to punish those found indulging in adulteration.
The Court said the samples should be sent to the concerned laboratories in accordance with the mandate contained in the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006.
In order to maintain food standards in their respective districts, the Court had directed all the District Magistrates to “closely monitor the functioning of the authorities responsible to maintain food standards in their districts.” The DMs were directed to convene fortnightly meetings of all officers for this purpose.
The court directed the government to take necessary steps for making provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act effective and visible on the ground level. The petitioners were represented by advocates S M Ayub and T H Khawaja while SAAG, J A Kawoosa defended the state.
Govt taking our directions on FSSA in ‘casual manner’: HC
CS asked to carry orders ‘to the hilt’ or appear before court
Srinagar: The J&K High Court on Thursday criticised the government
for taking its orders regarding implementation of Food Safety and
Standard Act 2006 (FSSA) in a “casual manner” and directed the Chief
Secretary to ensure its various directions are “carried to the hilt.”
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation, a bench of Chief Justice, Justice MM Kumar and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur, made it clear that if the needful was not done by August 2, the Chief Secretary shall appear in person on the next date of hearing.
As soon as the hearing in the PIL, which seeks complete implementation of FSSA, began on Thursday senior Additional Advocate General JA Kawoosa moved an application for granting eight weeks more to file status report about the directions issued by the court last month.
However, before allowing the prayer made by the Senior AAG, the court sought details about the measures taken for the implementation of the FSSA.
The bench said that various directions were passed by the court in its orders on December 31 last and May 25 this year for government to comply with.
On December 31, as many as six directions were issued by the court and government was required to file a detailed status report by second week of February, the court said. “However no status report with regard to steps taken for making the provisions of the FSSA effective and visible on the ground has been filed,” the bench said. “Nor necessary staff has been made available to constitute service in terms of the Act, so as to avoid any confusion in its implementation.”
The bench observed that there was also nothing on record regarding lifting of samples on weekly basis from all factories and industrial units which manufacture and produce spices of all kinds.
Besides, in its orders on December 31, the court had directed government to test milk sold in the open market; district magistrates to closely monitor functioning of the authorities responsible for maintaining food standards in their respective districts; to inform it about number of slaughter houses in each district; and lastly it had asked government to provide information about the result of samples referred for testing in the past.
On May 25, the court had sought a report regarding infrastructure, machinery and manpower in Food Testing Laboratory Srinagar to examine adulteration in food items.
“Directions were issued for filling up of various posts and up gradation of Food Testing Laboratories,” the bench said. “We had also highlighted that government may consider giving independent charge of the post of Commissioner (under FSSA) so that he may prove effective in discharge of his duties rather than giving additional charge to an officer already occupied with various other functions.”
In wake of the repealing of Food Adulteration Act by the government, the court said that it has gathered an impression that “earlier mechanism is gone, new mechanism is not in place.”
While senior AAG appeared for official respondents in the PIL, the petitioner Advocate Sheikh Ayoub was present in person alongside advocate TH Khawaja.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation, a bench of Chief Justice, Justice MM Kumar and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur, made it clear that if the needful was not done by August 2, the Chief Secretary shall appear in person on the next date of hearing.
As soon as the hearing in the PIL, which seeks complete implementation of FSSA, began on Thursday senior Additional Advocate General JA Kawoosa moved an application for granting eight weeks more to file status report about the directions issued by the court last month.
However, before allowing the prayer made by the Senior AAG, the court sought details about the measures taken for the implementation of the FSSA.
The bench said that various directions were passed by the court in its orders on December 31 last and May 25 this year for government to comply with.
On December 31, as many as six directions were issued by the court and government was required to file a detailed status report by second week of February, the court said. “However no status report with regard to steps taken for making the provisions of the FSSA effective and visible on the ground has been filed,” the bench said. “Nor necessary staff has been made available to constitute service in terms of the Act, so as to avoid any confusion in its implementation.”
The bench observed that there was also nothing on record regarding lifting of samples on weekly basis from all factories and industrial units which manufacture and produce spices of all kinds.
Besides, in its orders on December 31, the court had directed government to test milk sold in the open market; district magistrates to closely monitor functioning of the authorities responsible for maintaining food standards in their respective districts; to inform it about number of slaughter houses in each district; and lastly it had asked government to provide information about the result of samples referred for testing in the past.
On May 25, the court had sought a report regarding infrastructure, machinery and manpower in Food Testing Laboratory Srinagar to examine adulteration in food items.
“Directions were issued for filling up of various posts and up gradation of Food Testing Laboratories,” the bench said. “We had also highlighted that government may consider giving independent charge of the post of Commissioner (under FSSA) so that he may prove effective in discharge of his duties rather than giving additional charge to an officer already occupied with various other functions.”
In wake of the repealing of Food Adulteration Act by the government, the court said that it has gathered an impression that “earlier mechanism is gone, new mechanism is not in place.”
While senior AAG appeared for official respondents in the PIL, the petitioner Advocate Sheikh Ayoub was present in person alongside advocate TH Khawaja.
Food Act: HC gives govt two months to comply with orders
Srinagar, June 27
Expressing displeasure over the lacklustre response of the authorities to the directions issued for implementation of the Food Safety Standards Act and rules, the J&K High Court has given the state government two months to comply with its directions issued from time to time, failing which, the Chief Secretary has been directed to appear in person.
These directions were issued by a division of the High Court headed by the Chief Justice MM Kumar in a PIL seeking court directions commanding the respondents to implement the Food Safety Standards Act 2006 and the Food Safety and Standards Rules 2011.
Earlier, the state counsel had sought two months time for compliance with the court directions in the PIL and had also submitted a formal application in this connection.
The court has been seeking compliance with the set of directions issued by it in the PIL from time to time, more particularly the directions issued on December 31, 2012.
The directions included constitution of a separate food safety organisation, appropriate service as envisaged under the Food Safety & Standards Rules 2011, creation and appointment of the staff to man the organisation and setting up of a functional laboratory for testing food samples for adulteration.
However, as the matter came up for hearing today, the bench expressed its displeasure over non-substantial implementation of most of the directions issued by the court in the matter so far.
“The court expressed its displeasure over the tardy response by the government functionaries towards implementation of the Food Safety Standards Act 2006 and the Food Safety and Standards Rules 2011 and has now granted J&K government two months time to comply with the directions,” advocate Tassaduq Khawaja, who is representing the petitioners in the PIL, said.
In case of failure to do so, he said, the court has further directed that Chief Secretary MI Khanday will appear in person on the next date of hearing, fixed after two months.
What does the PIL say?
The PIL has sought court directions commanding the respondents to implement the Food Safety Standards Act 2006 and Food Safety & Standards Rules 2011
It has been submitted that “non-implementation of the Act and rules by the state government is a grave issue and the matter requires to be dealt with seriously” to check adulteration of food items and eatables
The government has often come under criticism for lack of seriousness about implementing the Food Safety and Standards Act in the state
The PIL argued, “The authority in question in the PIL is not in a position to take any action against the person found guilty under the Act and Rules.”
Expressing displeasure over the lacklustre response of the authorities to the directions issued for implementation of the Food Safety Standards Act and rules, the J&K High Court has given the state government two months to comply with its directions issued from time to time, failing which, the Chief Secretary has been directed to appear in person.
These directions were issued by a division of the High Court headed by the Chief Justice MM Kumar in a PIL seeking court directions commanding the respondents to implement the Food Safety Standards Act 2006 and the Food Safety and Standards Rules 2011.
Earlier, the state counsel had sought two months time for compliance with the court directions in the PIL and had also submitted a formal application in this connection.
The court has been seeking compliance with the set of directions issued by it in the PIL from time to time, more particularly the directions issued on December 31, 2012.
The directions included constitution of a separate food safety organisation, appropriate service as envisaged under the Food Safety & Standards Rules 2011, creation and appointment of the staff to man the organisation and setting up of a functional laboratory for testing food samples for adulteration.
However, as the matter came up for hearing today, the bench expressed its displeasure over non-substantial implementation of most of the directions issued by the court in the matter so far.
“The court expressed its displeasure over the tardy response by the government functionaries towards implementation of the Food Safety Standards Act 2006 and the Food Safety and Standards Rules 2011 and has now granted J&K government two months time to comply with the directions,” advocate Tassaduq Khawaja, who is representing the petitioners in the PIL, said.
In case of failure to do so, he said, the court has further directed that Chief Secretary MI Khanday will appear in person on the next date of hearing, fixed after two months.
What does the PIL say?
The PIL has sought court directions commanding the respondents to implement the Food Safety Standards Act 2006 and Food Safety & Standards Rules 2011
It has been submitted that “non-implementation of the Act and rules by the state government is a grave issue and the matter requires to be dealt with seriously” to check adulteration of food items and eatables
The government has often come under criticism for lack of seriousness about implementing the Food Safety and Standards Act in the state
The PIL argued, “The authority in question in the PIL is not in a position to take any action against the person found guilty under the Act and Rules.”
Periodic Inspections For Hygienic Food
Restaurants should be under scan on a regular basis in order to prevent the hitches caused by unhygienic food
On Jun 27, 2013
| Trivandrum:
As the city has witnessed a couple of incidents related to unhygienic
food catered by the restaurants, it is high time to make inspections
periodic, instead of random surprise checks by the authorities. “Though Food Safety Authority does random surprise checks, it is not enough,” an officer from the District Medical Officer’s (DMO) office added. He opined that there should be periodic checks on whether the rules are being followed or not. He stressed that even if the inspections are random and surprise ones, it should be periodic. “Only this will make hotel owners follow the rules and keep their establishments hygienic. Not keeping a healthy environment in their institutions can lead to even death,” he added. Cooks and waiters infected with communicable diseases like Typhoid, Cholera, Dysentery, Diarrheal diseases and Hepatitis B could easily transfer these diseases to their customers if they are allowed to work in restaurants. Simple things like not washing hands for 5-10 minutes after attending nature’s call can also cause to spread infection. The restaurant owners who tend to violate these mandatory laws on food hygiene are viable to the cancellation of their licenses. |
Image courtesy: The Hindu
According to the procedure, there is a penalty for violation for the first time, while second time attracts legal action against them. Provisions are there in law to provide compulsory compensation from the owners of such restaurants to those who are hospitalised or deceased. Public can inform suspected food poisoning cases to Food Safety Authority, District Medical Officer, and other local bodies. Only the active participation of public can help control this nuisance. |
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.
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
00
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
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.
Jun 27, 2013
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
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
"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
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.
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.
Jun 26, 2013
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.
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.
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
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.
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