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Saturday, October 1, 2011

New Adulteration Act bites the dust

KOZHIKODE: The regional office of the Commissioner of Food Safety is finding it tough to file cases against hotels and restaurants that violate food standards.This is because the state is yet to completely shift from the age-old Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 to Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. Due to this handicap, the regional office, which covers Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod districts, has been unable to file cases after picking the samples.Though there is no law that authorizes the officials to pick samples, they have been doing this to ensure quality of food items. Sources say the lack of power to file cases against erring hotels has left the department toothless. Currently only Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra have implemented the law in toto."The Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 is yet to come into practice in the state and due to this even if we file a case against under the old law, it won't stand," said a senior official of the regional office.Under the new law the power to deal with cases relating to food adulteration and standards have been shifted from the first class magistrate to the adjudicating officer.However, the government is yet to appoint an adjudicating officer under the law. But officials expressed hopes that the new law would come in to practice in a couple of months.Under the new law strict fine will be imposed even for small crimes. The maximum limit of fine would be Rs 10 lakh, said, sources. With the strict implementation of the law, under which the chief food inspector will be renamed as food safety inspector, no one can get away. 
source: timesofindia

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