Modi should check FSSAI’s anti-business move

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keen on enhancing the ease of doing business in India, but the bureaucracy is yet to imbibe this idea. Various organs of the government continue to make the life of entrepreneurs and businesspeople miserable. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI’s) new-found enthusiasm to ensure that restaurants declare the calorific and nutritive value of the food they serve is an instance of unwarranted official intervention in a growing sector.
Hindustan Times (February 10) quoted Pawan Kumar Agarwal, chief executive officer of FSSAI, saying, “Declaring details of calorie intake and nutrition information ensures that consumers are informed. These things are already part of labelling norms for packaged food.” Thankfully, he is not making this a binding requirement: “But Agarwal doesn’t want to make this mandatory—at least, not yet.”
The operative part of the sentence is “not yet,” which keeps the field open for the FSSAI’s intervention. This is what government and its agencies itch for; the itch is institutional.
Make no mistake about it; bureaucrats’ (ostensible) concern for the public is just a pretext to make their obnoxious presence felt. Had they been so concerned for the health of people, they would have eradicated food adulteration, synthetic milk, etc.—the real threats to public health. But, typically, officials would not address the real issues; they would like to carry out a phone campaign, and they are likely to get a lot of support from sundry activists, who are generally anti-business zealots.
The FSSAI chief has already commenced the jihad against the food business, though right now it is low-key. “To start with, let the big ones come forward and do this voluntarily,” he said.
But some restaurateurs are already doing it. “Making it voluntary may make sense. But if it is mandatory, compliance may be an issue. Declaration of nutrition information and calorie details will be a huge task. Even in the western countries, it is not a practice,” National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI) president Riyaaz Amlani was quoted as saying.
Compliance will not only be an issue but also a cost. Top fine-dining restaurants may be able to manage—wasting considerable time, energy, and money—the calorific and nutritive information about the food they serve, but it will be extremely difficult, if not downright impossible, for roadside dhabas and smaller eating joints to comply with the intended stipulation. When compliance is difficult, the proclivity to bypass it becomes stronger which, in turn, becomes a ground for the foot soldiers of the department concerned to fleece small businesses. Another vista opens up for the inspector raj.
The FSSAI seems to be going beyond its mandate by insisting on calorific and nutritive value. “The mandate assigned to the Food Authority is (i) laying down science-based standards for articles of food (ii) to regulate manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import of food (iii) to facilitate food safety,” this is what the authority’s website says. While the FSSAI has clearly failed in its essential duties pertaining to food standards—as evident from myriad media reports—it wants to arrogate for itself duties not mentioned in its charter.
As former US president Ronald Reagan said, “The government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.” It’s truer in India than in the US where you get a Reagan after Jimmy Carter and a Donald Trump after Barack Obama.
Reagan’s second phrase applies to India’s food services sector, which is estimated to grow from a little over Rs 30,000 crore in 2016 to Rs 49,800 crore by 2021. Surely a matter of concern for mandarins! They ought to regulate it! Even if regulation translates into strangulation!
It is time Modi and his key functionaries restrained bureaucratic hyper-activism, as exemplified by the FSSAI.

Food fortification not a magic bullet

Though fortified foods are promoted as an effective means to combat malnutrition, they have been embroiled in controversy in the past. 

The Supreme Court order on sourcing natural food locally instead of relying on artificially-fortified commercial products is hailed by experts.

On January 2, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued draft guidelines prescribing standards for fortification of salt, oil, milk, vanaspati (vegetable oil), atta (wheat flour), maida (white flour) and rice. 

The food regulator sought suggestions and objections to the guidelines within a month after which the draft regulations will be taken into consideration. 

Fortification means adding key vitamins and minerals like iron, iodine, zinc, Vitamin A and D to staple foods to improve their nutritional content. These nutrients may or may not have been originally present in the food before processing.

"This should not be made mandatory because fortification by its very nature incentivises centralised production and procurement of food," said Biraj Patnaik, Principal Adviser to the Commissioners of the Supreme Court.

Patnaik added that he had no fundamental objections to the concept of fortification, if it has been proven that the vehicle used for fortification provides for sufficient bio-availability and bio-absorption. 

"My argument is that preference should be equally for promoting dietary diversity as the means for dealing with micro-nutrient deficiency rather than emphasising on fortification."

According to the draft guidelines, the regulator will promote fortified foods in the country and take steps to encourage production, manufacture, distribution, sale and consumption.

It will also advise and promote the use of fortified food in government-funded programmes on distribution of food. Though fortified foods are promoted as an effective means to combat malnutrition, they have been embroiled in controversy in the past. 

Even the Supreme Court, in its order dated October 2004, had said that private contractors should not be used for supply of nutrition in Anganwadis and preferably, ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) funds should be spent by making use of village communities, self-help groups and Mahila Mandals for buying grains and preparation of meals.

Commercialisation of malnutrition

ICDS is India’s flagship programme and the world’s largest scheme on early childhood care and development.

The scheme serves children under six years as well as pregnant and lactating women. Under this programme, six-year-olds and younger children are entitled to 500 calories and 12-15 grams of protein.

Severely malnourished children are entitled to 800 calories and 20-25 grams of protein regularly, while pregnant and lactating women are entitled to 600 calories of energy and 18-20 grams of protein a day.

This supplementary nutrition is distributed in the form of micronutrient fortified food and/or energy dense food as take-home rations.

The Supreme Court order was hailed by experts who advocated inclusion of locally-sourced natural food in place of artificially-fortified commercial products. Banning private vendors was also seen as an effective way to stop commercialisation of malnutrition. 

Patnaik recommends a wholesome approach to tackle malnutrition which deals with multiple aspects, including junk food consumption and micronutrient deficiency.

"Government and policy efforts should simultaneously attack both problems — reducing dietary diversity and increasing consumption of unhealthy, ultra-processed food; as well as fortification. It should not be seen as a magic bullet," he said.

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How safe are our kids: Tall order to keep them away from junk food

When schools ban sale of unhealthy food on campus, vendors make their own makeshift shops and start selling meals-on-bicycles outside the institute.

Parents can monitor what their children eat at home, but once they step out, healthy options dry up. Instead, children’s palate is assaulted with unhealthy food high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) and low on essential nutrients they need to grow mentally and physically.

Chips, sweetened beverages, instant noodles, fries, samosas, bread pakoras and patties are the standard fare in most school cafeterias. When schools ban them, enterprising vendors set up makeshift kiosks and sell meals-on-bicycles outside schools. With no running water or quality control for cooking and storing, most children end up with empty calories and very often, gut-destroying germs.

“All refined, fried and processed foods are just empty calories because most of the essential sugar and fat the body needs is present naturally in food, such as sugar in fruits and fat in dairy, seeds, nuts, meats and cooking oil,” says Rahul Verma, founder of the Delhi-based non-profit Uday Foundation, which filed a PIL in the Delhi High Court in December 2010 asking for a ban on the sale of junk food in schools. “Though traditional snacks are freshly made and do not have additives such as colour and preservatives added to them, they are usually high in low quality oils, salts and sugars,” Verma underlines.

In March 2015, the Delhi High Court asked the administrator of Delhi to issue healthy eating guidelines under Rule 43 of the Delhi School Education Rules, 1973, and directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to formulate guidelines, which have since been circulated but are not binding.

While many private schools in Delhi and Mumbai have not waited for government guidelines and moved towards healthier snacks years ago, Punjab, where the state’s child rights commission banned junk food in schools in January 2016, unhealthy foods are still widely available.

Delhi’s Springdales School, Pusa Road, removed fried snacks and aerated drinks from their canteen menu a decade ago. The shift in the attitude occurred after a survey showed 70% of the students were overweight and were either suffering from associated conditions or would grow up to be unhealthy adults.

“Children have only one meal in school during recess. To make the child healthy over-all, we have to involve the parents. Too many children were getting two-minute noodles, fried potato taters or foods high on sugar and fats,” says Ameeta Wattal, principal, Springdales, where poha, idli sambar and wholewheat sandwiches are sold along with drinks like lassi, chaach and lime juice.

These foods are also part of the cafeteria menu at Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, where the menu is changed periodically to include seasonal vegetables. The school also has a committee – consisting of teachers, students and some parents who work in the field of nutrition -- that monitor the nutrition value of the food, the taste and the oil it is cooked in. “Our canteen is outsourced, but we strictly monitor it to make sure that the quality of the food is maintained,” says Manohar Lal, principal of the school.

In Lucknow’s La Martiniere Girls College, children are encouraged to eat more fruit and vegetables from kindergarten. “The practice was introduced by our former principal Late Farida Abraham and it is still continuing,” vice-principal Aashrita Dass told HT.

In Mumbai, parents associations are sore at the lack of guidelines in Maharashtra. “Schools receive cutbacks from vendors, and canteen contractors also prefer such items because it boosts their sales,” says Jayant Jain, president, Forum for Fairness in Education, a parent-teacher body.

Even education officials admit they do not check whether schools serve junk food as there is no regulation against it so far. “We cannot stop a school from serving junk food, as there is no official ban in place. We can at best advise them to opt for healthier choices,” concedes BB Chavan, deputy director of education, Mumbai division.

While many schools said it is difficult to restrict junk food in its vicinity, some have come up with innovative ways to restrict fast food in the campus: Rajhans Vidyalaya in Andheri serves fresh, hot and hygienic food breakfast and lunch on campus and doesn’t allow home food to ensure parents don’t send unhealthy food. Aerated drinks are banned.

At Ryan International, Kandivali, teachers patrol the streets after school to ensure children walking out don’t stop at the nearby McDonalds or other junk food joints.

In government-run schools, the hot meals provided under the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (Mid Day Meal Scheme) are nutritive and safe but remain a challenge in many districts. The scheme was launched to increase enrolment, retention and attendance while improving the nutrition levels of children by giving them 300 calories of energy, 8-12 gm of protein and adequate micronutrients.

The meals were not good enough to keep children in school. A 2015 audit of the action taken on the Comptroller and Auditor General’s 2008 Report on Mid Day Meal Scheme showed that the enrolment of children in the midday meals-covered schools dropped from 14.69 crore in 2009-10 to 13.87 crore in 2013-14, while enrolment in private schools shot up by 38% in the same period.

The audit also found children were given less than the prescribed quantity of 100/150 gms of foodgrains and prescribed inspections were not carried out to ensure quality. Most schools sample checked in the audit were lacking in infrastructural facilities like kitchen sheds, proper utensils, availability of drinking water facility etc. There were several instances of food being cooked in the open in unhygienic conditions, the report found.

Few lessons seem to have been learnt from the shocking case of negligence that left 23 children dead and dozens others seriously ill after they ate a pesticide-laced midday-meal at a primary school in the village of Dharmashati Gandaman in the Saran district in Bihar in July 2013. A month later, 30 children fell ill in the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh; and in November 2014, 25 children fell ill after eating their mid-day meal at a government school in Gaya district in Bihar.

In July 2016,40 students fell ill in Chincholi village of Adilabad district of Telangana after eating food prepared in the school kitchen for a farewell party for seniors. In September that year, 25 students were hospitalised in Kolar district in Karnataka

In September 2015, about 150 students in Chandoor town and Ilapuram village in Telangana started vomiting after their mid-day meal.

“Such cases of food poisoning are very rare and take place in remote areas due to lack of proper supervision and maintenance of kitchen. Otherwise, there is a periodical check on the quality of food by officials, parents’ committees and teachers. Even we eat the same food regularly to ensure the quality,” said L Ravinder Rao, a senior headmaster in a government school in Ranga Reddy district of Telangana.

Food Safety dept. launches ‘Operation Sagar Rani’

The objective is to ensure safety and hygiene at markets

KOCHI: To ensure safety and hygiene at fish handling and distribution centres, Food Safety officials in the district have launched an initiative named ‘Operation Sagar Rani’.

The inspections conducted under programme followed complaints about lack of food safety measures at fish handling centres, said a statement issued by Food Safety Department, Ernakulam Circle.

The team led by Assistant Commissioner of Food Safety (Intelligence) Reji C. George, following the inspections, decided to organise awareness sessions on food safety during handling and distribution at various harbours and markets.

Inspections were conducted at Aluva, Paravur, Kalady, Muvattupuzha, Varappuzha, Chambakkara, and Ernakulam markets as well as Thoppumpady and Munambam harbours, and instructions were issued to workers to abide by food safety norms. The sessions will be organised at Munambam (February 10, Friday), Thoppumpady (February 14) and Champakkara market (February 16).

The team of officials from Food Safety and Fisheries departments comprised Food Safety Officers P.B. Dileep, Jose Lawrence, Zakeer Husain, Fisheries sub-inspectors Devi Chandran, and Leena.

Artificial fruit ripening: Two fruit vendors arrested

RAIPUR: Two fruit vendors were arrested for selling artificially ripened fruits after the adulteration was confirmed by police based on laboratory report of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the capital on Friday. Ashok Kumar Baghel and Vijay Shankar Choubey were arrested by Golebazar police and a case is registered under section 269, 273 of IPC.

This is first time that action has been taken based on FDA reports against fruit sellers. According to FDA's assistant commissioner Dr Ashwini Dewangan the lab report confirms the sample fruits were ripened with liquid chemicals and carbide stone, which are prohibited under food safety and standard regulation."

The raids on fruit markets at Lalpur and Jawahar were carried out by Revenue Department, police and FDA on January 18 during which 8 tonne of fruits were seized and destroyed. Samples of fruits were sent to FDA's lab and based on which the fruits sellers have been arrested and their go-down have been sealed.

Food Safety Department to examine fish brought from other States

According to the Food Safety Department, fish samples collected from the Central fish market in the city contained sodium benzoate. 

Concern over wide use of sodium benzoate to preserve stock

After Operation Sagar Rani that mainly targeted the local fish vendors who sprinkled harmful chemical preservatives on fish, the enforcement wing of the Food Safety Department is all set to routinely examine the fish stock that arrives in Kerala from other States.

The are reports that sodium benzoate is widely used in fish coming from Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. The drive will zero in on non-Kerala suppliers as the samples collected from local fishermen contained only minimal preservatives.

Food Safety Department officials say intensive vehicle checking with the support of the police and other related departments will be planned to check the stock and collect samples on the spot.

“We had collected fish items and ice samples from 47 locations in the district, but only samples collected from the Central fish market in the city contained sodium benzoate. The main issue in Kozhikode is that vendors do not use required quantity of ice for preserving fish,” said O. Sankaranunni, Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety Department. The improper use of ice by local vendors was mainly noticed along the wayside.

Awareness programmes

The department will go ahead with field-level awareness programmes for fishers on the impact of cancerous preservatives on human body. One such awareness programme will take place in the city on February 13. A separate session for the fish vendors in Central market, where the misuse of sodium benzoate was confirmed, will be organised on February 15.

Merchants’ stand

Local fish vendors say they never opt for unlawful preservation of their stock. “No fisherman will do it deliberately because they will lose their regular clients and it will affect their business,” says Faijaz, a local fish merchant at Nadakkavu. He also adds that fishers are very receptive towards the ongoing quality-checking mechanism to address safety concerns.

Food safety officials also clarify that there has been no confirmed incidents in the district in which fishers used formalin, a toxic and carcinogenic chemical commonly used to preserve dead bodies, to keep fish items. The main issue in the district is the poor quantity of ice used to preserve the stock that naturally leads to bacterial infection and further health complications, they add.

FSSAI considering adding calories on restaurant menus

Explores ways to get restaurants to list nutritional information on menu cards

As per a report in The Hindu Business Line, in a bid to promote food safety and nutrition at hotels and restaurants, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is exploring ways to get hotels and restaurants to list nutritional information such as calories, salt and sugar content in food products, on menu cards. The regulator is also working on norms for organic food. Pawan Agarwal, CEO, said, “We have been discussing this idea with the stakeholders. In several countries, this practice is already applicable, and in some of these places, it is voluntary. To enable restaurants that want to voluntarily list nutritional information on their menu cards, we may provide for a provision in the labeling regulations, which are being finalised.” 

Agarwal said the regulator will need to work with restaurant associations and State governments for this initiative. “We will need to do some field experiments to figure out the best way to do this. If we find that it serves a purpose, we may look at making it mandatory,” he added. Garish Oberoi, VP, Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), and Managing Committee member of Hotel and Restaurant Association of Northern India (HRANI), told that the associations will run a pilot on these lines. “In a bid to take forward FSSAI’s Serve Safe initiative, we will be running a pilot with about 200 members in major metros. We will work with chefs on a model to specify estimated number of calories and other nutritional information on dishes being served, on menu cards,” he said. 

Under the Serve Safe initiative, FSSAI has now made it mandatory for every restaurant to have at least one trained and certified food safety supervisor. In collaboration with partners such as HRANI, it has started running training sessions for master trainers who will train these food safety supervisors. Meanwhile, the regulator is also working on norms for organic food in consultations with farmers and other stakeholders, and a draft regulation may be released this month. Organic food Agarwal said the regulator aims to create an umbrella rule to ensure certification of organic food. He said a committee is also being formulated to look into issues such traceability and organic-food retailing practices. 

Grahak Sathi exposes shocking truth behind organic rice

Ref.: E&R/PR/AR/Organic rice/2017

Press Release

Grahak Sathi exposes shocking truth behind organic rice

Our tests find pesticide residues in 6 out of 7 brands and toxic heavy metals in all

Grahak Sathi (February-March 2017), the National Consumer Magazine in Hindi published by Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC), Ahmedabad released findings of its in-house comparative product testing laboratory on seven brands of organic rice. Shockingly, the findings revealed that 6 out of 7 brands had pesticide residues and all 7 brands contained toxic heavy metals! Ironic, isn’t it? The very rationale for buying an organic product is to buy a pesticide-free product.

No standards

Since there are no specific standards for organic rice at present, why is the product being allowed to be sold in the country?

Why a variety of logos?

The brands carried a variety of logos and certifications from different national and international agencies. This is confusing for consumers. Why should a product meant for the domestic market carry so many international logos?

Alarming findings

The 3 heavy metals tested were – lead, copper and arsenic. We tested the products for 16 pesticides. The four detected belonged to the Organophosphate group.

Pesticide residues: Six of the 7 brands of organic rice contained pesticide residues. Fabindia Organics did not have pesticide residues. Two brands had Chlorpyrifos levels above the prescribed limit – Organic on Call and Sanjeevani Organics. Two of the four non-organic rice brands had pesticide residues.

Over a long duration even microscopic quantities of pesticides can harm. The pesticides detected by our tests are not in the US list of pesticides permitted in organic products.

Heavy metals: All the organic rice brands showed presence of all three heavy metals though they were within the limits. None of the non-organic rice brands had arsenic. Copper levels were higher than in organic rice brands, though within limits. Lead levels were within limits and slightly lower than that in the organic rice brands. (See Annexure for detailed results)

Highly priced

Organic rice brands were much costlier. Comparing the extremes, you would be paying more than five times the price for the costliest organic rice brand –Fabindia Organics – than you would pay for the cheapest non-organic rice brand – Hypercity. Why should the organic version of a staple product like rice be so expensive? It is unaffordable for the common man.

False label claims

Most organic rice brands claimed to be free of pesticides. Illustratively, Morarka Organic Down to Earth, which contained both pesticide residues and toxic heavy metals, claimed to be: “…free from chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, toxic substances, synthetic hormones…”Two organic rice brands –Vikalp Organic Product and Organic on Call – did not have any organic certification.

Manufacturers’ response

As a policy, we convey the test results to all the manufacturers and await their response. We received the following responses:

Sanjeevani Organics said that organic certification was done for the practices and processes and not for the products. Our response: “Consumers are concerned not with processes and practices but with the end product. Certification for processes must reflect in quality of final product.”

24 Mantra Organic said that the pesticide detected by our tests – Chlorfenvinphos – was not used even in conventional paddy cultivation and not available in their project area. Our response: “The presence of Chlorfenvinphos could be due to cross contamination during harvesting. Also, some pesticides can persist in the environment even after use is discontinued.”

Organic Tattva said that as per APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) guidelines there is no requirement for testing of heavy metals for organic products. Our response: “True. However, we have tested for them as consumers should be concerned about their presence in foods. Heavy metals accumulate in the human body over a period of time and cause harm.”

Urgent action needed 

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) should set specific mandatory standards for organic foods. In response to our appeal over a year ago, we received a letter from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) saying that BIS has constituted a committee to formulate standards for organic foods. However, no concrete action has been taken as yet.

Too many logos confuse consumers. NPOP (National Programme for Organic Production) certification should be made mandatory. NPOP, which currently certifies organic process standards, should also certify the final product. Also, India needs to follow labelling norms as per global best practices.

Regular monitoring of organic food quality, including that sold online, is necessary.

Advertising claims made by organic product manufacturers should be closely monitored.

Grahak Sathi’s conclusion

Our tests proved that organic brands of rice are not safer than non-organic ones. There is no concrete evidence that organic food has higher nutritional value than regular food. Also, organic rice brands are much more expensive. Our advice is not to buy organic rice.

People want to make healthier choices and the Government must support them in this matter. It should ensure that consumers do not get exploited in the name of organic foods. It is vital that the regulatory authorities set standards and closely monitor the quality of organic food products.

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Despite directions against it, serving food in newspapers continues in Kashmir

Srinagar, Feb 10: The vendors, butchers and other roadside food out lets continue to use newspapers for wrapping and packing food items despite directions from authorities not to use it given the harmful effects.

Recently, the statement was issued by the Assistant Commissioner Food safety and standards, Srinagar Hilal Ahmad in which it was said that strict action will be taken against those violating the directions.

The statement further said that as per the relevant provisions of food safety and standards act, the guilty will be punished.

In contrast, nothing has changed on the ground, the violations are taking place at random and still newspapers continue to be the preferred choice of vendors and butchers to wrap the food articles.

At Maharaja Bazar, which is in the heart of the Srinagar city, the butchers were seen selling meat wrapped with the newspaper to the customers.

The road side vendors, selling snacks were also seen selling them to the customers wrapped with the newspapers at many places in and around the Srinagar city.

Even fried fishes were sold to the customers wrapped with the newspapers at Munawarabad, Baghat and Hyderpora.

When this reporter talked to some of the vendors and butchers about the directions issued by the food and safety standards department, Srinagar, they said that they are not aware of the directions.

“We have not heard that government has banned the use of newspaper. We are as usual selling the meat wrapped with the newspapers. If at all the directions would have reached to us. We would have at once started obeying them,” said Ali Mohammad a butcher from Nowpora.

Pertinently, the food contaminated by newspaper ink raise serious health concerns with known negative health effects.

Besides chemical contaminations, presence of pathogenic microorganisms in used newspapers also possesses risk to human life.

The Food, Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has already warned that such unhealthy practice can be injurious to health even if the food is prepared in a safe and hygienic manner.

Since the ink used in newspapers has multiple bioactive materials with known negative health effects can easily leached into foods wrapped or served in them, it poses a potential risk to human health when consumed. Also, the solvent used to dissolve ink on the paper can be potentially carcinogenic.

"Wrapping food in newspapers is an unhealthy practice and the consumption of such food is injurious to health, even if the food has been cooked hygienically," the Food, Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) said in an advisory.

"Printing inks may also contain harmful colours, pigments, binders, additives, and preservatives. Besides chemical contaminants, presence of pathogenic microorganisms in used newspapers also poses potential risk to human health," the advisory said.

Assistant Commissioner of food safety and standards, Srinagar Hilal Ahmad said that “we are on the job”.

He further said that “we have destroyed the newspaper stock of vendors at many places in the Srinagar city”.

“Where ever the violation is still taking place, that will be looked in, guilty will be taken to task in accordance with the law,” he said.

Food regulator wants restaurants to declare details of calorie intake, nutrition

The food services market in India is projected to grow from Rs 3.09 trillion in 2016 to Rs 4.98 trillion by 2021, expanding at an annual average rate of 10%, according to a NRAI-Technopak report.

India’s food regulator wants restaurants to declare the calorific and nutritive value of the food they serve in order to make consumers aware of what they eat.

At present, some fine-dining restaurants, especially those in five-star hotels, have separate menus for low-calorie food and also offer sugar-free options on demand. But they do not declare details of calories and nutrition.

“Declaring details of calorie intake and nutrition information ensures that consumers are informed. These things are already part of labelling norms for packaged food,” said Pawan Kumar Agarwal, chief executive officer of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

But Agarwal doesn’t want to make this mandatory — at least, not yet.

“To start with, let the big ones come forward and do this voluntarily.”

The Indian food regulator’s move is probably inspired by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), which notified rules in December 2014 for the so-called Nutrition Labelling of Standard Menu Items in Restaurants and Similar Retail Food Establishments. By May 5 this year, some categories of restaurants in the US will have to comply with these.

FSSAI is likely to follow the USFDA standards when it decides to notify rules, although there is no plan to do this immediately.

“We are working with FSSAI and disclosing information on nutrition and calorie intake will not be an issue,” said a spokesperson for the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Northern India that has 1,700 members across nine states. National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI) president Riyaaz Amlani is not as enthusiastic about the idea.

“Making it voluntary may make sense. But if it is mandatory, compliance may be an issue. Declaration of nutrition information and calorie details will be a huge task. Even in the western countries, it is not a practice,” said Amlani, who owns Impresario Entertainment and Hospitality Pvt. Ltd that runs popular restaurant and bar and cafe chains such as Smoke House Deli and Social.

FSSAI drafting organic food norms

Size of organic food market is around Rs 3,350 cr, industry estimates suggest its growing 30% a year.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is drawing up guidelines to regulate organic food.

The regulator will put up draft guidelines for organic packaged food and commodities in the public domain for suggestions next month.

The size of the organic food (grains and pulses) market in the country is around Rs 3,350 crore and industry estimates suggest the market is growing 30 per cent a year.

Organic food exporters are now required to obtain approval from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority. There are no guidelines for domestic players.

"The initial draft, prepared after consultations with stakeholders, is ready," said Pawan Kumar Agarwal, chief executive officer, FSSAI.

The draft will propose setting up of a committee to suggest changes in the certification method being followed now.

The FSSAI is also planning to ensure more disclosures about food. "Contents and calorie counts are now mentioned on packets. We are trying to figure out how more details can be incorporated in bar codes printed on packs," Agarwal said. "We are also consulting with the Indian Dietetics Association and the Nutrition Society of India," he added.

The regulator is also trying to rope in restaurants to offer healthier food choices to patrons. Restaurants may be required to list ingredients used and calorie counts. "It is voluntary now, but is increasingly becoming a global practice," said Agarwal. The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India is working with the FSSAI on this initiative.

The FSSAI is sending a team to train staff at 20 temples in Tamil Nadu that offer food and drinks to devotees. The regulator will pursue such training programmes across the country.

FBOs can’t be punished if values of fats are lower than those on labels

Enforcement agencies cannot initiate punitive action against food business operators (FBOs) if the values of saturated and trans-fat are found below the values specified on the labels of the products. This was stated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The direction issued by the apex food regulator stated, “Several representations have been received regarding practical difficulties faced by the edible oil and fat industry with reference to declaration of exact quantity of saturated fat and trans fat content due to the variations in different batches, multiple sourcing of crude oils, seasonal availability of oils and variations in fatty acid profiles in different climatic conditions.”
Considering the fact that the purpose of this regulation was to restrict the quality of saturated fat and trans fat, enforcement officials were advised to not to take punitive action, if the values of saturated fat and trans fat were found to be lesser than the declared value on the labels.
B V Mehta, executive director, Solvent Extractors’ Association of India, said, “FSSAI has streamlined this regulations following concerns about the higher quantities of trans fats and saturated fats in food products. The edible oil industry, under preview of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, will follow the new regulations.”
“The edible oil manufacturers had been asked by the regulator to keep total fats below five per cent. This came after recommendations given by National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad, which suggested that to keep it below 10 per cent which was welcomed by the industry too,” he added.
“Later, under policy amendments, it was decided by the regulator to keep it to five per cent. Manufacturers like us asked the regulator to give us some time to make the following changes in our products,” Mehta said.
“Also, in the meantime, the regulator came out with a new amendment to disclose trans and saturated fats on the labels, which again will invite changes in packaging,” he added.
Further, speaking on the representation filed by the oil industry, Mehta said, “Both amendments came one after the other. So we asked FSSAI whether changing the packaging after reformulating products will incur losses to the industry.”
“The regulator gave a deadline of February 27, 2017 to comply with the regulation of disclosing details of the trans and saturated fats in the products,” he added.
Mehta said, “There are major issues in the transportation of the product after the stage of refining. While in some cases, the temperature of the location where the refineries are set up is much cooler than that of the location of sale and distribution which can lead to generation of different results.”
Keeping this in mind, FSSAI has advised its officers to only take actions of trans and saturated fats that cross the values mentioned on the label.
The FSSAI has asked NIN to study it again and bring in some better insights which can address the situation with ease. This notification is being worked on since the year 2009, and has not yet finalised.

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Desi cow may be holy, but low milk yield stilla spoiler

Lead, heavy metals found in samples of five soft drinks

According to Kulasate's reply in the Rajya Sabha, separate data about samples of soft drinks having been tested/found not conforming to specified standards.

New Delhi, Feb 7: Lead and DEHP concentrations have been found in the samples of five different soft drinks manufactured by two major multinational companies in India, Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday. Reportedly, samples of food items are picked up for testing and analysis by the State/UT Food Safety Departments from time to time.

“Samples of five different cold drinks — Sprite, Mountain Dew, 7UP, Pepsi and Coca Cola — were selected by the stratified sampling method,” Minister of state for health Faggan Singh Kulaste said in a written reply.

According to Kulasate’s reply in the Rajya Sabha, separate data about samples of soft drinks having been tested/found not conforming to specified standards.

A study was conducted by the All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health (AIIP&PH) and the National Test House (NTH), Kolkata, in which AIIH&PH collected 4 bottles each of the cold drink brands (Sprite, Coca Cola, Mountain dew, Pepsi and 7 UP) and tested for heavy metals antimony, lead, chromium and cadmium and DEHP.

According to reports, in April 2015, the Health Ministry is learnt to have directed the AIIH&PH to conduct a study on leaching of toxins from PET bottles, used for packaging pharmaceutical preparations, cold drinks, alcohol, juices and other beverages.

FSSAI cautions food firms against misusing its name, logo

With misuse of its name and logo by some food companies, regulator FSSAI today said the display of its logo and name in label and advertisements in any form should not suggest that the authority endorses any particular food operator and product.

"It has come to the notice that the name and logo of FSSAI is being misused to mislead the consumers into believing that the products of some food business operators have been tested, approved and endorsed by FSSAI. Thereby implying that the products of their competitors do not conform to the standards prescribed by FSSAI," the regulator said in an order.

The regulator said that all products manufactured, stored, distributed, sold and imported are required to conform to the standards prescribed by FSSAI.

"It is directed that display of FSSAI logo and name in label and/or advertisements in any form should not be used to misrepresent the authority or to suggest that FSSAI endorses any particular FBO, company, organisation, product etc," the order said.

The FSSAI logo is only allowed to be used as per Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, it added.

Judgement Copy of WP No.220 of 2015

Clarification regarding use of FSSAI Logo

Pan masala, gutka sell like hot cakes

For Civic: A man chewing tobacco in Tiruchi.

The ban is being flouted due to lack of enforcement in the recent past

In spite of the ban on sale of pan masala and gutka, sales continue unabated in different parts of the city.

The ban came into effect in 2013. As per the State government order, no one should store, distribute and sale of gutka and pan masala. The officials of Food Safety and Drug Administration Department were empowered to take action against those manufacturing, storing and selling the banned items.

Though the Food Safety officials, along with the Tiruchi Corporation officials had conducted raids on shops selling banned items in the past, the sale is said to have reached all time high with the lack of enforcement in the recent past.

A wait of about half an hour by this correspondent at a petty shop near Central Bus stand revealed that the sale of gutka and pan masala was almost equivalent to the sale of cigarettes. At least 10 customers bought pan masala brands such as “hans”, Shanti strong, SNT-1 and others. All of them were different forms of chewable tobacco.

They were sold secretly to the customers, although they were available in plenty in the petty shop. They were sold between Rs.5 and Rs.15 per bag.

Each sachet was sold for at least ₹2 more than the actual price printed on it.

“Pan masala sale accounts for about 15 per cent of our daily transactions. Otherwise, we will loose our customers,” a petty shop owner at the Central Bus stand told The Hindu.

Another petty shop owner said that the sale of banned items was profitable than selling cigarettes as customers would not question the price of pan masala.

Enquiries revealed that most of the shop keepers, mainly petty shop owners, continued to sell the banned items in Tiruchi and neighbouring areas.

They were available in almost all petty shops in Cantonment, Central Bus Stand, Railway junction and other areas.

Enquiries further said there were many wholesale traders selling pan masala items on Big Bazaar Street, Peria Kammala Street and others.

The petty shop owners would visit them to buy pan masala items whenever they wanted.

“Pan masala chewing has become a habit to me. Even If I want to quit, it is not possible as pan masala is easily available,” said M. Vasanthan, a teenager of Ponnagar, who bought a sachet of pan masala for ₹15.

Banned tobacco products seized at Mayabunder Jetty

A team of Food Safety Officials headed by Mr KK Paul, Designated Officer, Mr Nagoor Meeran, Food Safety Officer and Mr Abdul Aziz, Food Safety Officer of North & Middle Andaman conducted extensive search operation from February 2-4 in the cargo vessel, 

ITTP Leopard at Mayabunder jetty. The team inspected general cargo containing in six containers and more than 800 packages were opened and checked thoroughly. During the search, six bottles of tobacco paste were recovered from one trunk owned by Mr Baidyanath Hazra of Billyground. 

The articles were seized by the Food Safety Officer, Mayabunder and penalty of Rs 10,000 was imposed. Later, the Food Safety officials destroyed the seized contraband products.

Non action on FSSAI direction of fake egg irks consumers in Tripura

In pursuant to the direction of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) when department of elementary education issued alert to schools regarding fake and artificial eggs, the civil supplies of Tripura kept mum over the issue that triggered serious reaction today.

The civil supplies and animal resource development officials today admitted that FSSAI direction regarding fake eggs was reached to them but there was no field level action from their end except processing it in the file.

Similarly, on the issue of ensuring quality of food items, fish, vegetables, fruits, meat, breaker items and sweet the civil supplies department did not have any consistent monitoring mechanism and regular data of food quality.

Civil supplies minister Bhanu Lal Saha said that the department has been randomly checking the food items besides, specific complaints against any item from the consumers. But the food testing laboratory is under the jurisdiction of health department and infrastructure of food testing lab is also not sufficient.

"We are also equally concerned on the apprehension of food quality and taken measures whatever is possible," Saha said adding that the government would thought further to streamline the measures for ensuring quality of food.

According to report, the latest report of random testing of mid-day meal in five schools around Agartala was not indicated the best result in terms of purity and nutrition. But even after a month of getting the report from Agartala Govt Medical College regarding mid-day meal government yet to take any action.

Similarly, Agartala municipal corporation authority have also found the presence of formalin in the fish sold in the market from random sample but yet to take any action. Moreover, there is no campaign by the government against food adulteration and use of lethal chemicals in the food items.

On Nov 23 last, Bimal Kumar Dubey, Director (Regulatory Compliance Division) of FSSAI informed all states food safety commissioners and licensing authority to ensure no production and distribution of fake eggs in the respective states.

"FSSAI has received numerous representations on import of fake/artificial eggs; the issue also got wide coverage in both conventional and social media. The ingredients used in the manufacture of such egg involve use of lethal chemicals, which can cause serious health problem," the FSSAI communiqu said.

Except elementary education department, none take any step to monitor the market and aware the consumers about fake eggs in Tripura. Neither trade bodies nor suppliers were informed nor any hands on information provided to the consumers to identify fake eggs so far in the state.

Fast food chain agrees to carry caffeine warning on cups

Fast food retailers had said FDA was targeting McDonald’s when a number of multiplexes, restaurants, food-stalls and fast food chains sell caffeinated drinks like tea and coffee in paper glasses, without warnings.

Beverage containers at sold at outlets of McDonald’s, a fast food chain, in western and southern India will carry the ‘contains caffeine’ warning. The company agreed to carry the warning after the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) issued a notification asking food and beverage outlets to put the warning on cups or lose licenses.

HT had reported, on January 10, about FDA’s campaign at shopping malls, multiplexes, cinema halls, restaurants and bars and fast food chains that sell caffeinated products without a warning on the containers.

“All the other outlets, using paper glasses have pre-printed warnings unlike the ones McDonald’s was selling. However, they are abiding by the norms and our only intention is to inform the customer about the contents of the drink and not target a company,” said Harshdeep Kamble, FDA commissioner.

Fast food retailers had said FDA was targeting one company when a number of multiplexes, restaurants, food-stalls and fast food chains sell caffeinated drinks like tea and coffee in paper glasses, without warnings. “First of all, there are no specific guidelines on the containers or glasses that are used to dispense the caffeinated beverages. FDA targeting McDonald’s is not nearly practical because all the restaurants, fast food chains, or even smaller hotels who sell caffeinated drinks like tea and coffee in paper glasses, don’t have any warnings,” an official from the fast food industry said. FDA officials argued that they haven’t found violations at any other outlet.

The issue of beverages being sold at a number of outlets without the warning came to light after a Kolhapur-based franchise of McDonald’s India was pulled up by local food and safety officer. However, as the franchise went into an appeal against the action, the issue was heard by FDA Maharashtra commissioner after which the state-wide notification was released.

“Following the directive, Hardcastle Restaurants, a franchise of McDonald’s, has adhered to all statutory requirements, and is in compliance with all applicable laws pertaining to mandatory food labelling. McDonald’s restaurants have implemented the advisory on its packaging. At McDonald’s India, the health, safety and well-being of our customers are paramount. We have always conformed to the highest quality and food safety standards and will continue to do so at all times.” said spokesperson, McDonald’s India - west & south India.

Caffeine is a stimulant found in beverages such as coffee, tea and carbonated drinks. It can treat and prevent premature infant breathing disorders and is on WHO Model list of medicines, but other studies have established that its high doses can cause restlessness, tension, insomnia, high blood pressure, gastrointestinal disturbance and irregular heartbeat

GE Mustard assessed over period of 10 years for safety: Govt

New Delhi, Feb 6 (PTI) Genetically Engineered (GE) Mustard has been assessed over a period of ten years for safety to environment and human health under the oversight of 3-tier statutory regulatory committees with external experts, the government today said.

"Under the rules for manufacturing, use/import/export and storage of hazardous microorganisms/genetically modified engineered organisms or cells (Rules 1989) of Environment Protection Act 1986, all genetically engineered products have to undergo a step-by-step food and environmental safety assessment in accordance with technical guidelines published from time to time.

"Following this process, the GE Mustard has been assessed over a period of ten years for safety to environment and human health under the oversight of three-tier statutory regulatory committees with external experts from laboratory to confined biosafety research field trials," Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

He said his ministry on its website has published a detailed assessment of food and environmental safety document on GE Mustard for written public comments.

"This document explains in detail the basis for ecological safety of GE mustard based on molecular characterisation and evaluation of weediness potential, crossability and gene flow studies, studies on soil microbial community and pest disease and beneficial organisms," he said.

Various farmers organisations, including that affiliated to RSS, and environmental activists have been opposing commercial cultivation of GM mustard.

The countrys biotech regulator Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) has recently sought public comments on the safety aspects on GM mustard variety developed by Delhi Universitys Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants.

Following this, the Environment Ministry has received over 700 comments from various stakeholders, including farmers and researchers, on the assessment of food and environmental safety (AFES) report on environmental release of genetically engineered mustard.

With anti-GM activists opposing the approval for GM mustard and upping their ante against the "unscientific" appraisal process, the Environment Ministry had said that after evaluating all the comments, the sub-committee will submit its final report to the biotech regulator GEAC.

D&FCO conducts market checks, asks food business operators to obtain due Licenses

Jammu, Feb 6 :Drugs and Food Control Organization (D&FCO) today conducted surprise market checks and directed all the Food Business Operators to obtain License/Registration before starting their business as is mandatory under the provisions of Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006.

Official spokesperson said, "The directions were passed during an inspection conducted by a team of Food Safety Officers at Talab Tillo area to secure compliance of food vendors with provisions of food laws."

'The inspection was carried under the overall supervision of Designated Officer, Municipal Limits Jammu Sanjeev Kumar, he added.

During inspection the team directed a sweets shop to stop business activity as it was carrying out the business without mandatory food license as required under the provisions of Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006.

During the drive samples of food articles including 'Continental Sauce and Urd Daal Powder' were lifted from the market to check its quality.

The enforcement team also directed all the Food Business Operators to obtain License/Registration as is mandatory under the provisions of Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 without any fail by applying Online through local Khidmat Centers to avoid action against them.

Midday meal: Tripura schools instructed to be egg-xtra vigilant

AGARTALA: Worried about the possibility of 'fake eggs' being circulated in the market after an alert issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the Tripuragovernment has asked schools to be careful about serving eggs in midday meals.

Director of state elementary education department, U K Chakma said, "Egg-based mid-day meals are often served in Tripura schools as it is a balanced diet. Now we're thinking twice before offering eggs to schoolchildren." "The eggs are artificially synthesised in China using harmful chemicals. All district education officers have been asked to alert schools to be extra vigilant while procuring eggs," added Chakma. He, however, could not offer any leads about how to identify such eggs.

Veterinary experts said fake eggs look reddish in colour, have a rougher surface, and are slightly bigger in size. A health expert, on anonymity, said 'candling' is a process whereby fake eggs can be identified. It involves holding the egg against light, in order to see the yolk and how it lies suspended in the egg. Natural eggs have an air sack at one end. Harmful elements present in fake eggs could give rise to various health disorders, including dementia, a doctor said.

Egg traders, meanwhile, are clueless about the development and said they would wait and watch before taking any decision. "We source our eggs from West Bengal and Andhra. It is not possible for us to check each and every egg," said a trader.

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What's worse than fast food? Its packaging

 

Fortified Mid-Day meals by December 2019 to fight malnutrition

FSSAI and the women and child development ministry draft a plan to make supply of fortified food mandatory for government-supported schemes

Last month, FSSAI had set standards for fortified rice, wheat flour, milk, edible oil and salt.

New Delhi: To fight malnutrition, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the ministry of women and child development have drafted a plan to make supply of fortified food mandatory for government-supported schemes such as Mid-Day meal at schools, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Public Distribution System (PDS).

By December 2019, Mid-Day meals at schools and food served at ICDS centres across the country will be made of fortified wheat flour and fortified edible oil while double iodised salt would be made mandatory by December 2018 , according to a notification by FSSAI, the country’s food regulator. Fortification is the process of adding essential micronutrients such as vitamins and iron to food grains or commodities. By January 2020, FSSAI wants to ensure supply of fortified wheat flour, edible oil and salt in the Public Distribution System (PDS) to take these to open market, the notification added.

About 11.58 lakh schools ran Mid-Day meal schemes in the country in 2013-14, and ICDS was run across 13.42 lakh centres in India as of December 2014, according to ministry of women and child development website. There are about 500,000 fair-price shops in India under the public distribution system, according to the PDS website.

A few states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka are already using some of the fortified products. According to FSSAI, 84 countries worldwide have been using fortified products to fight malnutrition.

One of the key reasons for malnutrition is deficiency of micronutrients. According to government data, about 70% pre-school children suffer from iron deficiency anaemia and 57% pre- chool children have sub-clinical Vitamin A deficiency. Iodine deficiency is endemic in 85% of districts, besides Neutral Tube Defects which is the most common congenital malformation in India. “It is estimated that 50-70% of these birth defects are preventable,” FSSAI said.

“The goal is not to provide 100% daily requirements of micronutrients but rather ‘fill the gap’ between intake from other sources and daily micronutrients needs. Cost of micronutrients is clearly small on a per-person-per-year basis and its success requires active collaboration among several sectors. Fortification has a great potential of enriching the nutritional quality of food and in turn, enriching the life of millions of children; by giving them a healthy start to life which they rightly deserve,” FSSAI added in its notification.

Adding micronutrients in food grains or other food items increases cost. FSSAI, however, has said the cost implication will not be high. According to FSSAI’s estimate, fortified wheat flour (atta) will incur an additional cost of 20-25 paisa per kg, fortified edible oil with added Vitamin A and D will increase the cost by 10 paisa per litre only. But double fortified iodised salt with iron, which can give 100% daily requirement of iron and 30-40% of iron, will incur an additional cost of Rs2-3 per kg, FSSAI noted.

Last month, FSSAI had set standards for fortified rice, wheat flour, milk, edible oil and salt. According to the standards, fortified wheat flour should contain prescribed quantity of added iron, folic acid and Vitamin B12. It may also be fortified with zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, and Vitamin B6. Over a period, FSSAI will set standards for a few more fortified products.

FSSAI asks corporates to spread message of food safety,

Food regulator FSSAI today asked corporates to actively involved in the efforts to spread the message of food safety and nutrition in the country. 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) organised a workshop on social mobilisation for 'Safe and Nutritious Food: A way of life'. Broad theme was 'Corporates for Safe and Nutritious Food', focused on building a coalition of corporates and design specific interventions that companies can take up.

Over 100 participants from the corporate sector, mainly food businesses came out in full support of FSSAI in its efforts to provide safe and nutritious food to the citizens, FSSAI said in a statement. 

Speaking at the event, FSSAI Chairperson Ashish Bahuguna urged corporates to "get actively involved in the efforts to spread the message of food safety and nutrition".

He hoped that this is just the beginning of long-term engagement between FSSAI and food businesses for social mobilisation. 

FSSAI CEO Pawan Agarwal elaborated on various initiatives by the regulator for spreading the message of food safety and nutrition at different places like home, schools, work places and eating places etc. 

Among corporates that included both Indian food companies like Dabur and Britannia to multinationals such as Nestle, Mondelez, Pepsi, there was a general consensus that investing in food safety and nutrition is smart, right and sustainable thing to do. 

In his keynote address, Dr Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director, Global Alliance for Improvement of Nutrition (GAIN) pointed out that it is in the interest of businesses to invest in food safety and nutrition. 

Santosh Desai, Managing Director, Future Brands, described how there has been a fundamental shift in the thinking of corporates about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). 

On this occasion, FSSAI also launched its new website, a water portal and food safety connect for an integrated complaint redressal system.

100 illegal packaged water units still in Tiruvallur, Kanchi

CHENNAI: Close to six months after the deadline set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to obtain licences expired, around 100 packaged water units continue to operate in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallurdistricts without required documents.

The food safety department said repeated warnings to these manufacturers had gone unheeded and that its officials had begun sending legal notices to them, asking them to shut shop. The packaged water sector in the two districts accounts for 80% of the industry that caters to the city. Many of these units, food safety officials said, however, had certificates from the Bureau of Indian Standards.

As per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2011, a licence is compulsory for any food business with an annual turnover in excess of Rs 12 lakh. Those with a lower turnover must register with the state food safety department. The FSSAIndia gave these businesses at least five extensions. The last deadline expired on August 2, 2016.

R Kathiravan, designated food safety officer, Chennai, said all the 17 packaged water units in Chennai with BIS certificates also procured licences from the food safety department, while officials identified 97 units in Kancheepuram and Tiruvalluroperating without the required documents. In all, there are around 300 licensed manufacturers in the three districts.

Last week, officers in the two districts held a meeting with members of the Tamil Nadu Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers Association asking them to get these units to register themselves or face legal action. A vendor or packaged water unit that fails to register or obtain a licence is liable to be forced to shut, pay fines ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 10 lakh or face imprisonment of up to six months. Although the department has been taking periodic action, shutting two units in Chennai in November, officials say they are still unsure of the procedure. Many businesses had not obtained licences or taken registration seriously because the authorities had extended the deadline several times, an official said. "After the last deadline, we haven't got any clear-cut instructions from the central government," said an official. Lack of awareness about the act could also be a reason for laxity in compliance, he added.

A Shakespeare, general secretary of the TN Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers Association, said some of the manufacturers had reservations about the act terming it "too stringent and impractical" and the penalties too harsh. "But we are spreading awareness and coercing them to comply with the Act," he said.