THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Police, Revenue Department and the
office of the Commissioner of Food Security will form a combined squad to
facilitate effective ban on gutka and pan masala in the State. The decision has
in principle got approval from all the departments concerned, but the official
announcement is likely to come in a day or so.
The order banning gutka and pan masala was passed by the
Chief Minister on May 24. The ban was effected under the Food Safety and
Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulation, 2011. To validate
the ban, substances like gutka and pan masala were treated as food stuffs which
cause serious health hazards.
Under the Food Safety and Standards Regulation Act, the
sales of the banned food items can attract six years’ imprisonment and a
penalty amounting to ` 5 lakh. The food safety officers under the Health
Department have already started a clampdown on the sales of the illegal items.
But large-scale action would start only after June 15, the deadline set by the office
of the Commissioner of Food Security to wind up the sales of gutka and pan
masala.
“The decision to extend the deadline till June 15 was taken
on humanitarian grounds. The wholesale dealers can move their goods to other
states, where there is no restriction on the sales of these materials, till
June 15. But action against retail dealers would continue,” said Food Security
Commissioner Biju Prabhakar.
But what worries the officials is the manpower crunch faced
by the department. Almost 100 food safety officers and 17 designated officers
have to implement the legislation in the entire State. The authorities are
planning to overcome the shortage by collaborating with the police and revenue
departments.
The Police Department has been taking action against the
sales of pan masala and gutka products within 400 metres from educational
institutions. DGP Jacob Punnoose said that with the new order, the Police
Department will intensify their action. “We have been taking action against the
sales of such materials for the last couple of months. That vigil will
continue,” he said.
Source:http://ibnlive.in.com/news
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