Method of inspection by FDA Food Inspectors

ÈNZ †Áß §LcXØí ®LÞÃí §BæÈÞæA ®Ká Éáù¢ ÈÞ¿áµ{ßæÜ ºßÜ §ùAáÎÄßAÞV çºÞÆßAÞùáIí. §Õßæ¿ ÈßKí µÏxß Õß¿áK ØÞÇÈB{ßæÜ ÎÞÏÕᢠÄGßMáÎÞÏßøáKá µÞøâ. dÌßGÈßçÜAí ÉæIÞøßAW µÏxß ¥Ï‚ Îá{µáæÉÞ¿ßÏßW æºCWæMÞ¿ß ÇÞøÞ{¢. æµÞùßÏ §ÄáçÉÞæÜÞøá µæIÏíÈV Îá{µáæÉÞ¿ßÏÞæµ Éáù¢ µ¿ÜßW æµÞIá çÉÞÏß µÜAß µ{Eá. ÕxW Îá{µßÈá ºáÕK Èßù¢ ÕøáJÞX ØáÁÞX èÁ  ¥¿ß‚á Õß¿áK ¯VMÞ¿áçÉÞÜáÎáIÞÏßøáKçdÄ.

¥ÄßæÈÞæA çÖ×ÎÞÃí §Õßæ¿ ÈßKí ¯Äá ÎØÞÜ µMW çµùÃæÎCßÜᢠÄB{áæ¿ ÜÞÌßW æ¿Øíxí æºÏíÄí ØVGßËßAxá ÕÞBß ÄB{áæ¿ çÎWçÈÞGJßW çÕÃæÎKí ÎØÞÜçÌÞVÁí (ØíèÉØØí çÌÞVÁí) µVÖÈ ÈßÌtÈ Õ‚Äí. ¥çÎøßAÏßW 26/11 Ø¢ÍÕJßÈáçÖ×¢ Ífà ÕØíÄáA{ßÜâæ¿ ÍàµøÄ ÕKÞçÜÞ ®K ºßLÏßW ÌçÏÞ æ¿ùùßØ¢ ÈßÏ΢ ÉÞØÞAßÏßøáKá. ¥ÄÈáØøß‚í ¥Õß¿æJ ËáÁí ¦XÁí dÁ·í ¥ÁíÎßÈßØíçd¿×X (®ËíÁß®) §ùAáÎÄßAÞVAí  ·áÁí ÎÞÈcáËÞµíºùß¹í dÉÞµí¿ßØØí (¼ß®¢Éß) ¥¢·àµÞøÕᢠÉøßçÖÞÇÈÏᢠÎxᢠ¯VæM¿áJß.

¥Õøáæ¿ ËáÁí §XØíæɵí¿VÎÞV §Õßæ¿ ÕKá ÉøßçÖÞÇÈ È¿Já¢. ’ÈÈE ÍfcØÞÇÈBZAᢠ(ÎàXçÉÞæÜ) ’©ÃBßÏ ØÞÇÈBZAᢠ(¥‚MÕᢠµáÝÜMÕᢠçÉÞæÜ) æÕçŒù ËáÁí §XØíæɵí¿VÎÞøÞÃí. ÕßçÆÖ ÕßÉÃßµZ Éß¿ßAÃæÎCßW ÄGᵿ ÈßÜÕÞøJßW æºùáµß¿ ÕcÕØÞÏ¢ È¿JßÏßGá µÞøcÎ߈. ®ËíÁß®ÏßW ÈßKá ÁàÉí èdËÁí ÕßÍÕB{ßW ¼ß®¢Éß ÉøßçÖÞÇÈÏíAá ÈùáAá ÕàÃÄí ÎÜÏßXµàÝí ÕcÕØÞÏ ®ØíçxxßæÜ ¯×c ÈßÜçÎW ËáÁíØßÈÞÃí. ËáÁí §XØíæɵí¿V ÎÞÁ¢ ¥çÎøßAßÏßW ÈßKá ÕKá. Éçf ¥ÄßÈá ÎáOí µYØWxaßæÈÕ‚í ËÞµí¿ùßÏÞæµ ©¿‚á ÕÞVJá. ¥Ø¢ØíµãÄ ÕØíÄáAZ ²øxJá ÈßKá µÏxß ÉÞAxßÜÞAßÏ ©WÉKBZ Îçx ¥xJáÈßKí æµÞIáçÉ޵ᢠÕßÇ¢ ¦æµ ÎÞxßæÏ¿áJá.

§Äá ºßˆù ÉÃßψ. µYØWxaí ¦Æc¢ ÕKá çÈÞAß ®æLÞæA 溇ÃæÎKá ÉùÏáKÄßÈá ÄæK ²øá Üf¢ ÕàÖâ. ®ËíÁß®Ïáæ¿ ÈßÌtȵZAÈáØøß‚ÞÃá ÕãJßÏᢠæÎÈÏᢠØßØíxÕᢠ©IÞçAIÄí. ¼àÕÈAÞV µOÈßAµJí µÞÜᢠµ‡á¢ µÝáµß dÉçÕÖßAáKÄßÈᢠÕØídÄ¢ ÎÞùáKÄßÈáæÎÞæA Ø¢ÕßÇÞÈ¢ çÕâ. ¦øᢠÎÞÜÏᢠçÎÞÄßøÕᢠµNÜáæÎÞKᢠ§¿ÞX É޿߈. ÎÞÕᢠ®HÏᢠÎá{µá¢ Îxᢠ ¥µçJAá µ¿AáKÄᢠÉáùçJAá çÉÞµáKÄáæΈޢ øIá ÉÞ{ßµ{áU æºùßÏ ÕÞÄßÜßW µâ¿ß çÕâ. æÉÞ¿ß ¥¿ßEáµâ¿ÞJÕßÇ¢ ÄùÏᢠºáÕøáµ{ᢠ²øáAâ. ²x ÉÞxçÏÞ ÉˆßçÏÞ µIá çÉÞµøáÄí.

¥ÕV ØbL¢ æºÜÕßW ÕKí çÙÞGÜßW ÄÞÎØß‚í ÉøßçÖÞÇÈ È¿Jß çÉÞµá¢. çÙÞGÜßæÜ Ìßˆí ¥ÕV æµÞ¿áAá¢. ²øáÎß‚á Ífâ µÝß‚ÞW çÉÞÜᢠ¥Õøáæ¿ Ìßˆí ¥ÕV æµÞ¿áAá¢. ºßÜ µÏxáÎÄßAÞV ÕßçÆÖ §¿ÉÞ¿áµÞæø æµÞIáÈ¿Ká ÎÏAᢠçÉÞæÜÞKᢠÉx߈. ÎÞÁ¢ ÕÞGV¿ÞCßæa Îáµ{ßW ÕÜßEáçµùß æÕUJßæa ØÞ¢Éßæ{¿áJí æ¿Øíxí 溇ÞX ÜÞÌßçÜAá Õß¿á¢.

ÉøßçÖÞÇÈÏíAí ¥ÕV ¥µJá µÏùáçOÞZ ÎáÄÜÞ{ßæÏ ÉáùJÞAá¢. ¥µJí ¥ÕøᢠØíxÞËᢠÎÞdÄ¢. Ífâ ÉÞµ¢ 溇áK ÉÃßAÞV øIá ÎÃßAâV §¿ÕßGá èµµÝáµÃ¢. ±ìØí §¿áKÄá ÉÝÏ øàÄßÏÞÃí. ±ìØí µàùß ¥ÄßȵJí ¥ÝáAí §ùBáæÎKÞÃá ÉáÄßÏ µIáÉß¿ßJ¢. ¥ÄáæµÞIÞÃí §¿ÏíAßæ¿ èµµÝáµÃæÎKá ÉùÏáKÄí. èµ µÝáµÞX ØÞÇÞ çØÞMí çÉÞøÞ. §æØÞædÉÞèÉW ¦WAçÙÞZ çÕâ. §æÄÞæA ¯VæM¿áJÞX ©ÉçÆÖßAáK ÉÃßÏÞÃá µYØWxaßçaÄí. ®ˆÞ¢ ÖøßÏÞÏÞW ÎÞdÄ¢ ÎÆÞN ²Ká ºßøßæ‚Ká Õøá¢.

source: manoramaonline

വ്യാപാരികള്‍ക്കെതിരെയുള്ള കേസുകള്‍ അദാലത്തിലൂടെ പരിഹരിക്കണം

തൊടുപുഴ: വ്യാപാരികള്‍ക്കെതിരെ നിലവിലുള്ള കേസുകള്‍ സംസ്ഥാനതലത്തില്‍ അദാലത്ത് നടത്തി പിഴത്തുക ഈടാക്കി പരിഹരിക്കണമെന്ന് കേരള വ്യാപാരി വ്യവസായി ഏകോപനസമിതി വൈസ് പ്രസിഡന്റ് മാരിയില്‍ കൃഷ്ണന്‍നായര്‍ ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടു.
പഴയ നിയമം അനുസരിച്ചുള്ള പി.എഫ്.എ. ലൈസന്‍സ് ഫീസ് പിരിക്കാന്‍ തദ്ദേശ സ്വയംഭരണ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങള്‍ക്കുള്ള അധികാരവും ഫുഡ് ഇന്‍സ്‌പെക്ടര്‍മാര്‍ക്ക് കട പരിശോധിക്കാനുള്ള അധികാരവും നഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുകയാണെന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം പറഞ്ഞു. ഒക്‌ടോബര്‍ 23ന് ഇടുക്കി ജില്ലയില്‍ സംഘടന നടത്തുന്ന നിയമ ബോധവത്കരണ സെമിനാറില്‍ എഫ്.എസ്.എസ്. ജോയിന്റ് കമ്മീഷണര്‍ കെ.അനില്‍കുമാര്‍, സാങ്കേതിക ഉപദേഷ്ടാവ് ഡി.ശിവകുമാര്‍ എന്നിവര്‍ പങ്കെടുക്കുമെന്നും അദ്ദേഹം അറിയിച്ചു.
source: mathrubhumi.com

Sampling by Food Inspectors under the old act continues in Jharkhand

There is no great appetiser like festivals and Durga Puja is arguably the biggest of 'em all. But if you are planning to indulge in the passion palate this autumn, be forewarned that there is no law in place to guarantee your safety.Jharkhand is yet to embrace the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Rules 2011, which was notified by the Union government on May 5 this year for implementation within three months (i,e. by August 5) across the country. The Centre had passed the law in 2006 by repealing the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.While health secretary K. Vidyasagar admitted the delay in bringing the fit food law into force and claimed that "certain directives" had been issued for a safe Puja, food inspectors ' only seven instead of a sanctioned strength of 37 manning 24 districts ' remained sceptical."The new law is waiting for cabinet approval in the state. However, till the same is implemented, we have asked officials to collect food samples under the old act," Vidyasagar told The Telegraph.But food inspector Gulab Lakra, whose jurisdiction includes capital Ranchi, besides Chaibasa, Godda, Pakur and Sahebganj, scotched the health minister's claims and said collecting samples would only mean inviting trouble.

"The old act has been repealed and, for starters, the new law does not provide for the post of a food inspector. In such a situation, how can we go and identify ourselves as food inspectors and collect food samples? Gone are the days when people believed whatever government officials said. Today, everyone knows the law, thanks to the Internet. It will be impossible to convince food vendors and hoteliers to let us collect samples for laboratory tests," Lakra said.

According to health department sources, the 2011 rules had provision for food safety officers (FSOs) in place of food inspectors, and designated officers (DOs) of additional district magistrate rank who could relieve civil surgeons of additional charge. An IAS officer is to be appointed as full-time food commissioner, reducing the burden on the health secretary.The act also mandates establishing a single statutory regulatory authority for the food sector in a state, the Commissionerate of Food Safety, that can order a manufacturer or wholesaler to recall a product from the market if it is found to be substandard.While most other states have brought the integrated law into force, Jharkhand has the safety of its 3.29 crore people mired in red tape.Colleague M. Pandey, a food inspector for three decades, seconded Lakra. "Once the old act is repealed by the Centre, we cannot legally work under it. If we do, we will be in trouble with the court," Pandey, who is in charge of Dhanbad, Bokaro, Jamtara, Ramgarh and Giridih, said.However, state food controller Dr T.P. Barnwal suggested some leeway. "Directives have been given to civil surgeons to constitute special teams to collect suspicious food samples and send them for laboratory tests. Each team will comprise a doctor, a food inspector and a grade IV employee," he said.

He added that the file on the new act was caught in procedural delay. "It goes to the cabinet through personnel and law departments. We are hoping for a stamp of approval within two weeks."Sources in the health department weren't convinced. "Collecting food samples stopped after August 5 and is likely to remain suspended during Durga Puja when makeshift shops mushroom across the state, besides hotels and food joints. Revellers need to take precaution to avoid food poisoning," an official sounded the alarm.

source: in.news.yahoo.com

സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ ലാബില്‍ കഴുത്തറപ്പന്‍ ഫീസ്‌

ɵV‚ÕcÞÇßµZ ÈÞ¿ßæÈ ÕßùMßAáçOÞZ µá¿ßæÕUÕᢠÍfcÕØíÄáA{ᢠÉøßçÖÞÇß‚í ©ÉçÏÞ·dÉÆæÎKá ØÞfcæM¿áçJI æÉÞÄá ÜÞÌí ç†Áí µOÈßÏÞÏß ÎÞùáKá.·Õ. ùà¼ÈW ¥ÈÜxßAW ÜçÌÞùGùßÏßW ØÞÇÞøÃAÞøX µá¿ßæÕUJßæa ²øá ØÞ¢ÉßZ ÉøßçÖÞÇÈÏíAá æµÞ¿áJÞW ¨¿ÞçAI ËàØí 80 øâÉÏßW ÈßKí ²xÏ¿ßAí 500 øâÉÏÞAß ©ÏVJß. Øíµâ{áµZ çÉÞÜáU æÉÞÄá ØíÅÞÉÈB{ßW ÈßKÞÃá µá¿ßæÕU ØÞ¢ÉßZ ÉøßçÖÞÇÈÏíAá ÈWµáKæÄCßW ËàØí 1,000 øâÉ. ¥¿áJÏßæ¿ Õæø §Äá 300 øâÉÏÞÏßøáKá. ÈßøAá ÕVÇÈ dÉÞÌÜcJßW ÕKçÄÞæ¿ §Õßæ¿ ÉøßçÖÞÇÈÏíæAJáK ØÞ¢Éß{áµ{áæ¿ ®H¢ µáùEßGáIí.æÉÞÄá¼È¢ ØÞ¢ÉßZ ÄøáKßæˆCßÜᢠæÉÞÄá ¿ÞMáµ{ßW ÈßKá µãÄcÎÞÏß ØÞ¢ÉßZ æÕU¢ çÖ~øß‚á ÉøßçÖÞÇÈÏíAá ÈWµÞX ºáÎÄÜæMG ÜçÌÞùGùßÏßæÜ ØÞ¢ÉßZ µÜµí¿V ÄØíÄßµ ²ÝßEá µß¿AÞX Äá¿BßÏßGá ÕV×B{ÞÏß. §ÄáÎâÜ¢ ¼Ü ¥çÄÞùßxß ÕßÄøâ 溇áK æÕUJßæa ·áÃçÎXÎÞ ÉøßçÖÞÇÈÞ ùßçMÞVGí §Õßæ¿ ÈßKá ÈWµÞù߈. ¼Ü ¥çÄÞùßxßÏáæ¿ æÕU¢ ¥ÕV ÄæK ÉøßçÖÞÇß‚á ȈÄÞæÃKí ¥ÕV ÄæK ØÞfcæM¿áJáK È¿É¿ßÏÞÃí §çMÞZ È¿AáKÄí.æÙWJí §XØíæɵí¿VÎÞV µßÃùáµ{ßçÜÏᢠÎxá ¼Ü çdØÞÄØáµ{ßçÜÏᢠØÞ¢Éß{áµZ §¿ÏíAßæ¿ çÖ~øßAÞùáæICßÜᢠæÉÞÄá ¿ÞMßæÜ æÕU¢ ¥ÕV ®¿áJá ÉøßçÖÞÇÈÏíAá ÈWµÞù߈. ¨ ÆìÄc¢ µãÄcÎÞÏß æºç‡I ºáÎÄÜ ÜçÌÞùGùßæÏ çÈøßçGWMß‚ßøßAáµÏÞÏßøáKá. §ÄßÈá çÕIß Øã×í¿ß‚ ØÞ¢ÉßZ µÜµí¿V ÄØíÄßµÏÞÃí ²ÝßEá µß¿AáKÄí. ɵV‚ÕcÞÇß ÉøJáKÄßW ºßÜÏßÈ¢ µUßÈá ÉCáæIKí ¥ÇßµãÄV µæIJßÏßøáKá. ®KÞW, µUßæa ØÞ¢Éß{ᢠ§Õßæ¿æÏJáKßæˆKÄÞÃá ÏÞÅÞVÅc¢.Ífc ÕØíÄáA{áæ¿ ÉøßçÖÞÇÈÏᢠµáù‚á ÈÞ{ÞÏß çÉøßÈá ÎÞdÄÎÞÃí §Õßæ¿ È¿AáKÄí. §Äá Ø¢Ìtß‚ ÈßÏÎJßW ÕK ÎÞxBZ ÉâVÃÎÞÏß dÉÞÌÜcJßÜÞµÞJÄßÈÞW ÍfcÕØíÄáA{áæ¿ ØÞ¢ÉßZ çÖ~øßçAIÄßæˆKá ÈßVçÆÖ¢ ÈWµßÏßGáUÄÞÏᢠ¥ùßÏáKá. ÎÞÏ¢ çºVAW ÈßçøÞÇÈ ÈßÏ΢ ÎÞxß ÉáÄßÏ Ífc ØáøfÞ ÈßÏ΢ dÉ~cÞÉßæ‚CßÜᢠ§Äá ÄÞæÝJGßæÜJßÏßG߈ÞJÄßÈÞÜÞÃá ØÞ¢ÉßZ çÖ~øâ ÈßVJßÕ‚ßøßAáKÄí. È·øØ͵{áæ¿ ØíµbÞÁí ÉÝÏ Ífc ÕØíÄáAZ Éß¿ßAáKáæICßÜᢠÉݵÞJ Ífc ÕØíÄáA{ßW ÎÞÏÎáçIÞæÏKá µæIçJI ºáÎÄÜ ¥ÈÜßxßAW ÜÞÌßÈÞÃí.
µá¿ßæÕU¢ ÎáÄW ÎÈá×cX ©ÉçÏÞ·ßAáK ®ˆÞJø¢ Ífc ÉÆÞVÅB{áæ¿Ïᢠ·áÃçÎXÎ ÉøßçÖÞÇß‚á ËÜ¢ ÈWµáK ÜÞÌßæa ¥ÕØíÅ çÖÞºÈàÏÎÞÃí. ®ùÃÞµá{JßÈá ÉáùçÎ çµÞGÏ¢, §¿áAß, ÄãÖâV ¼ßˆµ{ßW ÈßKáU ØÞ¢Éß{áµ{ᢠ§Õßæ¿ ÉøßçÖÞÇßAâ. ÉøßçÖÞÇÈÞ ËÜJßæa µãÄcÄ ©ùMÞAÞÈáU æ¿Øíxí æºAí ÕßÍÞ·¢ ¥¿‚á ÉâGßÏßøßAáµÏÞÃí. §ÄáÎâÜ¢ ØÞ¢Éß{áµ{áæ¿ ¦Æc ÉøßçÖÞÇÈ ÖøßÏÞÏ øàÄßÏßÜÞÏßøáçKÞ ®Kí ©ùMÞAÞÈáU ùÞXÁ¢ æºAß¹í ÉÜçMÞÝᢠȿAáK߈. Îxá ÕßÍÞ·B{ßæÜ ¦ÇáÈßµ ©ÉµøÃB{ßW ÉÜÄᢠ©ÉçÏÞ· ÖâÈc¢.Ífc ÉÆÞVÅB{ßæÜ Õß×Þ¢ÖÎáU æÎxW ØÞKßÇc¢ µæIJáK ¥çxÞÎßµí ¥ÌíçØÞV×X Øíæɵíçd¿Þ ØíçµÞMí (®®®Øí), µà¿ÈÞÖßÈßµ{áæ¿ ØÞKßÇc¢ µæIJáK ·cÞØí çdµÞÎÞçxÞd·ÞËí (¼ßØß), èÙ æÉVçËÞÎXØí ÜßµbßÁí ædµÞÎÞçxÞd·ÞËí (®‚íÉß®WØß) Äá¿BßÏ ¦ÇáÈßµ ©ÉµøÃBæ{ÞæA 絿ÞÏßGá ÎÞØB{ÞÏß. µãÄcÄ ©ùM߈ÞJ ÉÝÏ øàÄßÏßÜáU ÄßXæÜÏV ædµÞÎÞçxÞd·Ëß ÉøßçÖÞÇÈÏÞÃá ÉÜ µÞøcJßÜᢠ§çMÞÝᢠȿAáKÄí.
source: manoramaonline

FSSAI to Introduce Nationwide Online Licensing System

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India would soon be introducing online Licensing system for entire the country. Under the FSS Act Rules and regulations, all the Food Business Operators who are having an annual turnover of Rs 12 lakhs or more would need to take license, depending upon the business falling within central or state licensing category. For business turnover upto Rs 12 lakh, Registration shall be required with the local authorities. A Licensing process is already in testing phase for central licensing and shortly it will start in Delhi Government. CEO FSSAI, Sh. V.N Gaur informed the Central Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting, held in New Delhi recently that eventually full time functionaries will be required at Cutting edge levels to ensure implementation of FSS Act, Rules and Regulation2011. He noted that the erstwhile Prevention of Food Adulteration Act was ineffective primarily because of diffused responsibility amongst the regulators. State Commissioners Food Safety, senior officials from State Governments/UT’s, Officials of representative Ministries who are members of CAC (Ministries Of Agriculture(DAC, Deptt of Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries,) Consumer Affairs,( Deptt of Food Public Distribution) Food Processing Industries, Health and Family Welfare, MSME, Ministry of Science and Technology,(Deptt of Biotechnology) Environment and forest, Woman and child Development, Panchayati Raj), Representative of Trade bodies, Experts and Directors of Food Authority participated in the day long deliberations. The State governments shared their progress made towards enforcing the various provisions of FSS Act i.e. appointment of Functionaries (Food Safety Officers, Designated Officers, Adjudicating Officers) under the Act, constitution of Appellate tribunals, strengthening of Laboratories. The Food Safety and Standards Act has come into force w.e.f 5th Aug 2011. Consequent upon notification of FSS Rules, Regulations 2011 is under process. CEO FSSAI, Sh. V.N Gaur also informed that to implement the law in letter and spirit, fund requirements for 12th Plan have been projected to the Government. There are heads under which State governments and UTs shall be called upon to implement schemes viz e-governance, Awareness generation, Trainings and Laboratory Strengthening etc. He said there will be special focus on Food Safety plans at the level of local bodies and Panchayat. Shri Gaur added that entire Registration of food vendors /operators is a challenge for which regulations are required to be issued but Registering authority must be within easy reach of the Food Business Operators. A Food Safety Helpline (Toll free 1800112100) has become operational however similar structure is desirable at state government/UT’s. He shared that a National Workshop for HR requirements on food safety sector at national level is proposed in November 2011. Top Institutions dealing with Food Safety including industry and auditing agencies and experts will be invited for deliberations. 

source: pib.nic.in

ഹോട്ടലുകളില്‍നിന്നും ഷാപ്പുകളില്‍നിന്നും സാമ്പിളുകള്‍ ശേഖരിച്ചു

ചങ്ങനാശ്ശേരി: സംസ്ഥാനത്ത് പകര്‍ച്ചവ്യാധികള്‍ പടര്‍ന്നുപിടിക്കുന്നതിന്റെ അടിസ്ഥാനത്തില്‍ നഗരസഭയുടെ നേതൃത്വത്തില്‍ ഹോട്ടലുകളില്‍നിന്നും ഷാപ്പുകളില്‍നിന്നും സാമ്പിളുകള്‍ ശേഖരിച്ച് വിദഗ്ധ പരിശോധനയ്ക്ക് അയച്ചു.മഞ്ഞപ്പിത്തം, പകര്‍ച്ചപ്പനി, എലിപ്പനി തുടങ്ങിയ രോഗങ്ങള്‍ സംസ്ഥാനത്ത്പടര്‍ന്നുപിടിക്കുന്ന സാഹചര്യത്തിലാണ് നഗരസഭ ഫുഡ് ഇന്‍സ്‌പെക്ടറുടെ നേതൃത്വത്തില്‍ നടപടികള്‍ക്കായി ശ്രമം ആരംഭിച്ചത്. ചങ്ങനാശ്ശേരി നഗരസഭയുടെ അതിര്‍ത്തിയിലുള്ള വിവിധ ഹോട്ടലുകളില്‍ പരിശോധന നടത്തി. കുടിവെള്ളത്തിന്റെ സാമ്പിളുകള്‍ ശേഖരിച്ച് കാക്കനാട്ട് റീജണല്‍ അനലിറ്റിക്കല്‍ ലാബില്‍ വിദഗ്ധ പരിശോധനയ്ക്കായി അയച്ചു.
നഗരസഭകളിലെ വിവിധ കള്ളുഷാപ്പുകളില്‍നിന്നായി കള്ളിന്റെ സാമ്പിളുകള്‍ പരിധോധനയ്ക്ക് അയച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. വരുംദിവസങ്ങളിലും പരിശോധന തുടരും. പരിശോധനാഫലം വരുന്ന മുറയ്ക്ക് അനന്തര നടപടികള്‍ സ്വീകരിക്കുന്നതായിരിക്കുമെന്ന് നഗരസഭാ ഫുഡ് ഇന്‍സ്‌പെക്ടര്‍ ഇ.എന്‍.ഷൈന്‍ അറിയിച്ചു.
source: mathrubhumi.com

അങ്കണവാടികളില്‍ ഭക്ഷ്യയോഗ്യമല്ലാത്ത ധാന്യങ്ങളെന്ന് ലാബ് റിപ്പോര്‍ട്ട്

അട്ടപ്പാടിയിലെ അങ്കണവാടികളില്‍ ശേഖരിച്ചിരുന്ന ധാന്യങ്ങള്‍ ഭക്ഷ്യയോഗ്യമല്ലെന്ന് ലാബ്പരിശോധനാറിപ്പോര്‍ട്ട്. അങ്കണവാടികളില്‍ ഭക്ഷ്യധാന്യങ്ങള്‍ കെട്ടിക്കിടന്ന് കേടായ സംഭവത്തെത്തുടര്‍ന്ന് ആരോഗ്യവകുപ്പധികൃതര്‍ നടത്തിയ ലാബ്പരിശോധനയിലാണ് ഭക്ഷ്യയോഗ്യമല്ലെന്ന് കണ്ടെത്തിയത്. ഇതേത്തുടര്‍ന്ന് അട്ടപ്പാടിയിലെ അങ്കണവാടികളില്‍നിന്ന് കേടായ മുഴുവന്‍ ഭക്ഷ്യവസ്തുക്കളും പിടിച്ചെടുക്കാന്‍ ആരോഗ്യവകുപ്പ് തീരുമാനിച്ചതായി മണ്ണാര്‍ക്കാട് മേഖല ഫുഡ്ഇന്‍സ്‌പെക്ടര്‍ സി.പി. രാമചന്ദ്രന്‍ അറിയിച്ചു.
കോഴിക്കോട് മലാപ്പറമ്പില്‍ പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്ന കാലിക്കറ്റ് റീജണല്‍ അനലിറ്റിക് ലബോറട്ടറിയിലാണ് പരിശോധനനടത്തിയത്. അങ്കണവാടിയില്‍നിന്ന് തിരിച്ചെടുത്ത് അഗളിയിലെ ഐ.സി.ഡി.എസ്. ഗോഡൗണില്‍ സൂക്ഷിച്ചിരുന്ന നുറുക്ക്‌ഗോതമ്പ്, ഗോതമ്പ്, അരി എന്നിവയുടെ സാമ്പിളാണ് ഫുഡ് ഇന്‍സ്‌പെക്ടര്‍ പരിശോധനയ്ക്കായി അയച്ചിരുന്നത്. ഇവയെല്ലാം ഭക്ഷ്യയോഗ്യമല്ലെന്ന് പരിശോധനയില്‍ തെളിഞ്ഞതായി ഫുഡ് ഇന്‍സ്‌പെക്ടര്‍ പറഞ്ഞു.

source: mathrubhumi.com

City awaits food safety officers

One aspect of city's development that needs serious attention is regulation of food establishments. Both permanent and temporary. Eateries, particularly that are mobile and do business on roadsides, need more attention because they do not have a permanent establishment, take no licence and work in a very compromising environment.But at present there is none to regulate them in the city as the food safety officers (FSO) are yet to assume charge.As per ‘The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006', there ought to be FSOs, who will licence, inspect, regulate and punish violating establishments. The rural parts of the district will have 12 FSOs and the urban areas 18. Fifteen of those will work in the Coimbatore Corporation area (city), two in Pollachi Municipality and one in Mettupalayam Municipality.The 15 are yet to assume charge, says R. Kathiravan, who has been identified the designated officer to implement the Act in the district.“I am given to understand that the 15 persons, working in various local bodies, are yet to be relived of their present responsibilities by the authority concerned,” he says.

The persons identified for working in the city are K. Chandran, P. Dhanapalan, R. Govindarajan, P. Paramasivam, R. Ramachandran, S. Zahir Hussain, D. Solavallan, M. Venkatesh, S.R. Gerald Sathiya Punithan, V. Madhanmohan, S. Veluchamy, K. Suruli, A. Ramakrishnan, S. Rajendran and R. Saravanaprabhu.Of those Mr. Chandran, Mr. Dhanapalan, Mr. Govindarajan, Mr. Paramasivam, Mr. Ramachandran and Mr. Hussain work with the Coimbatore Corporation.Corporation Commissioner T.K. Ponnusamy says that the Corporation is yet to take a view on relieving the six persons, working as sanitary officers, as they are on election duty. The six have been given responsibilities to manage a few of the 63 election zones. The same holds good for the nine officers who will join them as FSOs in the city.Once the 15 assume office, the process of identifying the food establishments in the city will begin, says Dr. Kathiravan. The law, however, is unclear on mobile units. Once the officers take charge, he will take a call on making such mobile establishments accountable.His office may even work in co-ordination with the local body concerned for concerted efforts, he adds.The Act provides for punishment up to Rs. 5 lakh and imprisonment up to three years for establishments that do not confirm to the safety provisions. The Government of India enacted the legislation on August 23, 2006.

source: thehindu.com

Food safety act or Food security bill - total confusion ?

 Two laws with similar malayalam translation makes confusion. Questions were about food safety standards act -2006 but the answers are about food security bill.

source: http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/13kla/session_2/ans/pdf/s00015-260911-838614815000-02-13.pdf

Mortuary chemical used to preserve fish

Fish lovers beware! Unscrupulous fish wholesalers are using formalin, a toxic and carcinogenic chemical commonly used to preserve dead bodies in mortuaries, to prevent fish from deteriorating during transportation. This shocking practice came to light after fisheries department authorities in neighbouring Punjab sounded an alert.  What is alarming is that while the Punjab authorities have reacted, authorities in Delhi, from where the fish is resold to Punjab retailers, appear unaware of the malpractice.  Dr A. K. Walia, Delhi’s health minister, when contacted, said, “In the past, whenever we have heard reports about adulteration in any food substance, we have carried out raids, thoroughly examined the substances and subsequently taken requisite action.” “Formalin is a poisonous substance and I am hearing about its use in fish coming to Delhi only now. We will definitely enquire about it and once it is authentically established, we will take whatever action is required under food safety laws,” he promised.  “There is no usage of formalin to preserve the fish as the authorities keep a check on quality of fishes coming in,” insisted Chaudhary Riyasat Ali, chairman of the Ghazipur Fish Market, Delhi’s largest. Every day, about 20- 26 tonnes of fish arrives at this market, from places as far away as Orissa, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. This peaks to over 50 tonnes after October.  The contaminated fish was mostly of the Pangasius variety.  Pangasius is a type of Vietnamese catfish which is now farmed in a big way in Andhra Pradesh.  Andhra fish producers, however, strongly deny the practice and say they send their produce in airtight ice containers which keep fish fresh for up to 10 days. “I challenge anybody to prove that the fish is preserved with formalin. Let any official come to our places and conduct any inquiry,” said Ch. V. Ranga Raju, a leading fish exporter from Bhimavaram in Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district. 

source: in.news.yahoo.com

FSSAI to synchronise operations with 12th Plan, says Gaur; explains FSS Act

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will be synchronising its operations with the upcoming Twelfth Five Year Plan.In a proposal sent to the Planning Commission, the FSSAI has sought setting up of a National Science and Risk Assessment Centre. This, according to the FSSAI, will be the nodal lab for the country, which will entail an investment of Rs 150 crore. This was informed by V N Gaur, interim chairman and CEO of FSSAI.Gaur was addressing the Industry Regulatory Meet, arranged by the Mumbai Chapter of Association of Food Scientists and Technologists India (AFSTI). The AFSTI has been playing an active and important role in facilitating the transition of the industry from the old Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, (PFA 1954) to the new Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, by regularly holding regulatory meets and mediating between the industry and the regulatory FSSAI.Gaur, appearing composed and in-control of the situation, patiently responded to more than 70 questions shot at him by the stakeholders.Further, elaborating on strategy for lab strengthening, he said that setting up of at least 125 NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) accredited food testing laboratories for chemical and microbial testings has been proposed. Each lab will cater to five districts. "Currently, the country has 72 food testing labs and most of them are "sub-functional." Thus, in addition to setting up the new labs, the FSSAI will focus on upgrading these existing labs to capacitate them to testing all parameters. These labs would be brought up to a level where they were able to obtain the NABL certification and each lab would cater to 10 districts," Gaur suggested.Besides, two important labs for Kolkata and Mumbai will be set up, which will act as controlling labs, for the other laboratories. The proposal for the same has already been sanctioned by the government, said Gaur.
An important effort by the FSSAI will be towards interlinking all laboratories, as well as enforcement officials like the DOs (Designated Officers), FSOs (Food Safety Officers) and the AOs (Adjudicating Officers). All the applications could be forwarded online and all operations would be computerised. The purpose here will be to create a national data bank for the reference and utility of the industry.In this way, Gaur assured that the FSSAI would initiate a huge campaign to reach out to the small food processors. The country needs huge human resource with right qualification to implement the new Act. Gaur admitted to the shortage of staff and said that the Plan proposal would also include setting up of a national training centre in the country. "In this regard, a national workshop on human resource prospective planning has already been organised towards October-end this year wherein, all leading institutes like the AFSTI and industry stakeholders have been called upon to participate," said Gaur.About the implementation of the Act and the surrounding controversies, Gaur admitted that some states have already implemented the Act smoothly while others have not moved at all.On Tuesday, a central advisory committee's meeting for food commissioners will be held where the performance of the states will be reviewed.Addressing the concerns being consistently published in the media about different clauses and regulations in the Act, Gaur had a quick question-answer session with the audience wherein he gave a brief idea on the status of different provisions of the Act.

1) Stevia:
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has constituted an expert panel to look into the stevia issue. Stevia as an artificial sweetener is currently banned in the country. The ICMR panel, will in all probability, submit its report to the scientific committee of the FSSAI by October-end.
2) Licensing:
Migration to the FSSAI licence will not entail separate fees for the FBO (Food Business Operator). If the company is operating in more than one city and has production of more than 2 tonnes per day, then it may require a Central licence and local licences from the places where it operates. Before issuing the central licence, the FSSAI would consider the capability of the company to equip itself with a food safety plan for its other units.
Also, for those FBOs whose licences are expiring early, their applications will be considered on priority basis while issuing the new licence. Maharashtra is ready to issue the Central licence, according to Gaur.
3) Energy Drinks:
The issue of energy drinks is under consideration. Those manufacturing units which currently have the PFA licence may continue to operate, while those seeking new licences are advised to wait for a final assessment by the Authority.
4) Food Product Order (FPO) number on labels:
The food business operators will be assigned new FPO numbers. However, till the transition they can use the old number as the migration will take some time.
5) Whether pending PFA cases will be brought under the new Act:
Gaur said that at least a million cases are pending under the PFA and that there is no straight answer to this. However, the Authority has suggested that the state government can set up a fast-track court to deal with the pending cases. The cases can be divided into trivial and non-trivial. As at least two thirds of the cases will fall under non-trivial category, they will get a resolution. It is the call of the state government, Gaur said.
6) Potable water testing:
The task of deciding the frequency for testing of potable water has been left to the industry. The industry could use its own rationale for testing the water, based on its risk assessment.
7) Penalty:
Gaur said in the matter of court some checks and balances have to be exerted. Though there is no lower limit to the amount of penalty being levied on an offence committed by the FBO, leaving him vulnerable to higher penalties, his past conduct on safety will be taken into consideration while imposing a penalty on him.
8) Dealing with Inspector Raj:
Gaur said that the food inspectors, who are now the FSOs, are being trained to bring in a complete cultural change. The most important part is the training which is being conducted to change their mindset. Up till now, these officers were never trained for executing their job and thus a newly evolved crop of officers was likely to be seen, which did not compromise on integrity. FSOs and DOs are being given an induction training of six months, a refresher's course every five years and also periodic training on specialised subjects.
New appointees will be trained at least for 15 days before they assume their charge. This will strengthen their character. Inspector Raj is not likely as inspectors (FSOs) alone would not have the complete veto power for deciding penalties, other officials too would be involved.
9) Flavoured Water:
A draft is expected within a period of 6 months. 

Source: fnbnews

Kerala niyamasabha- Starred questions- Food safety act

 

Source:www.niyamasabha.org

http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/13kla/session_2/qstns/pdf/26-09-11-S%281-30%29.pdf 

Notification of food safety officers in municipalities and corporation(Tamil Nadu)

FSO IN TAMIL NADU

 

Ban on roadside eateries

ÎEMßJ ÌÞÇ ÈßÏdLà ÕßçÇÏÎÞAáKÄßæa ÍÞ·ÎÞÏß ®ùÃÞµá{¢ ¼ßÜïÏßæÜ ÄGᵿµZAí øIáÎÞØçJAí ÈßçøÞÇÈ¢. øÞdÄßµ{ßÜáZæMæ¿ çÙÞGÜáµ{ßæÜ ÉøßçÖÞÇÈ ¦çøÞ·cÕµáMí µVÖÈÎÞAá¢. §Ká ¼ßÜï ØOâVà çÐÞùßçÈ×X ÆßÈ¢ ¦ºøßAáµÏÞÃí. ®ùÃÞµá{¢ ¼ßÜïÏßW ÎEMßJ¢ µâ¿áÄW dÉçÆÖB{ßçÜAí ÕcÞÉß‚á Äá¿BßÏçÄÞæ¿ÏÞÃí µVÖÈ È¿É¿ßµ{áÎÞÏß ¦çøÞ·cÕµáMí ø¢·æJJßÏÄí.çøÞ·¢ ¦Æc¢ É¿VK çµÞÄ΢·Ü¢ dÉçÆÖB{ßW Ø¢ØíÅÞÈ ÉµV‚ ÕcÞÇß ÈßÏdLà æØÜïßæÜ ÕßÆ·íÇX È¿JßÏ ÉøßçÖÞÇÈÏßW ÄGᵿµ{ÞÃí çøÞ·¢ É¿øÞX ²øá µÞøÃæÎKá µæIJßÏßøáKá. §çÄ Äá¿VKÞÃá ÄGᵿµZAí øIáÎÞØ¢ ÈßçøÞÇÈ¢ ¯VæM¿áJÞX ¦çøÞ·cÕµáMí ÄàøáÎÞÈß‚Äí.ÄçgÖ Íøà ØíÅÞÉÈB{áæ¿ ØÙÞÏçJÞæ¿ÏÞÃí ÄGᵿ ÈßçøÞÇÈ¢ µVÖÈÎÞAáKÄí. ÍfcØáøfÞ ÈßÏ΢ ¥ÈáØøß‚í ÄGᵿµ{æá¿ dÉÕVJÈ¢ ¥ÈáÕÆÈàÏÎæÜïCßÜᢠ²øá ¼àÕçÈÞÉÞÇß ®K ÈßÜÏßW dÉÕVJÈ¢ ¥ÈáÕÆßAáµÏÞÏßøáKá. §çMÞÝæJ dÉçÄcµ ØÞÙºøcJßW ®ÜïÞ ¥ÇßµÞøB{ᢠ©ÉçÏÞ·ß‚áÄæK ÄGᵿµZAí ÄÞWAÞÜßµ ÈßçøÞÇÈ¢ ¯VæM¿áJá¢. 

source: manoramaonline.com

Modified Act to ensure better roadside food

PUNE: Roadside vendors of food items like 'pani puri', 'bhel', 'chat' among others, will now come under the ambit of the amended Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) of 2006. One of the purposes of the modified Act is to regulate uncontrolled growth of roadside eateries, which are not governed by any quality standards. The amended FSSA came into force in Maharashtra on August 5.Mahesh Zagade, who recently took over as the commissioner of state Food and Drug Administration (FDA), addressed a press conference in the city on Saturday. Zagade said that vendors who produce less than 12 lakh tonnes of food material a year, will have to obtain a registration certificate from the state Food Safety Commission. Besides, vendors who produce more than 12 lakh tonnes will have to obtain a licence from this Commission.Zagade, who was previously the commissioner of the Pune Municipal Corporation, said, "We are appointing staff, developing a machinery and regulating the system to implement the FSSA Act effectively. Some vendors have already applied for a licence. By August 5 next year we will try and bring maximum number of food vendors, manufacturers and producers under the ambit of the FSSA. This will keep a check on food adulteration.""As the economy of the country improves, the rate of processing food is also increasing rapidly. In developed countries, about 50% to 60% food is processed and India is catching up fast. Today, we have a variety of milk products. But, there is no regulation on its processing yet. It needs to be kept in mind that while processing, the quality of food is not to be compromised. The licensing and registration of food items will be done under norms concerning hygiene and safety habits as well as adulteration. This will ensure a healthy product reaches the market."Zagade said that very soon registration of vendors could be done online. Some licences are currently are being issued online, he said.At present there are two laboratories that test food samples, one in Mumbai and the other is based in Aurangabad. The Mumbai lab tests 8,000 samples a year while the Aurangabad lab tests 2,500 samples per year. The workload on the two laboratories is enormous and the FDA is planning to expand the present infrastructure.

Source: timesofindia

Local bodies in Kerala not aware of Food safety act

Source: Manorama e-paper Kannur

Milma too fails in quality test

Milma too failed the quality test in some districts in the quality examination conducted by the dairy development department prior to Onam. In the samples collected from Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Thrissur district, it was found that these samples lacked quality as prescribed by the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.The milk distributed by some private dairy units in southern districts also lacked quality. But no harmful ingredients were found. As per rule, in the toned milk there must be 3 % fat and 8.5 % non-fatty particles. In double toned, this is 1.5 and 9 respectively. If the value is below the level, that milk is considered poor quality.The dairy development board conducted the examination from September 1. In the samples of double toned milk collected from Kollam district on September 1,2,3 it was found that the non-fatty items were 8.7%.
Samples of milma toned and double toned milk collected from Pathanamthitta on September 2 and 4 were of poor quality. But the samples collected on September 1 were good. In Thrissur district only one sample showed poor quality and samples from other districts were good. But among the samples of 33 other private dairy units collected from Thiruvananthapuram, 20 lacked quality. The milma samples from Thriuvanathapuram were good. In Pathanamthitta, of the 31 private dairy samples, 26 lacked quality and in Kollam 12 from 18 lacked quality. In other districts things were good. The examinations were conducted as per the direction of food safety commissioner.

Source: mathrubhumi.com 

Haryana creates new Dept of Food & Drugs Administration

The Haryana government has created a new Department known as the Department of Food and Drugs Administra-tion to ensure the supply of quality drugs, cosmetic and food stuffs to the consumers at reasonable prices and also safe guard the public from misleading advertisements of drugs and drug abuse. While stating this here today, Rakesh Gupta, Commissioner, Food and Safety said that the Haryana government would implement the provisions of the new Food Safety and Standards Act in letter and spirit so that the people could get safe food and quality drugs. He said that the Act provided penalties of up to Rs 10 lakh for sale of sub standard and misbranded food stuffs and fine upto Rs five lakh with six years imprisonment for non-grievous injury due to the consumption of unsafe food by consumers and in case of death occurring due to consumption of unsafe food, penalties of not less than Rs 10 lakh with imprisonment of not less than seven years, which may be extended to life imprisonment, would be imposed. He said that the state government has appointed District Food Safety Officers by redesignating government food inspectors who were earlier enforcing provisions of the Food Adulteration Act and the officials so appointed would soon be trained to implement the new Act in right earnest. The government had also notified the Additional Deputy Commissioner in the districts of the state who would act as adjudicating officers in their respective districts. All the Civil Surgeons in the state had been appointed as Designated Officers in their respective districts for a period of one year or till the time qualified officer was appointed, whichever was earlier. 

Source:the financialworld.com

PMC, FDA lock horns over Food Safety Act

Pune The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are at loggerheads over implementation of the Food Safety Act after the state government came up with a new rule of a designated FDA officer executing the law through food safety inspector of the civic body.The new rule that came into force on August 5 notified 12 food inspectors and one superviser of the PMC as food safety officer and C D Salunkhe of FDA as designated officer for executing the Act.The designated officer convened a meeting of food inspectors on September 7 and directed them to submit a daily report and take orders for him. The PMC food inspectors requested the designated officer to issue orders through PMC health chief as they were employees of health department of the PMC. "The state has appointed designated officer of FDA for effective implementation of the Food Safety Act. The Food Inspectors have to execute the law under the directions of designated officer and cannot refuse to take orders. If the food inspector fails to take orders and implement the Act then I would recommend the state to denotify him as food safety officer," said Salunkhe.He said the PMC has not officially conveyed to him on the objections raised by food inspectors over taking orders from him. "I have conveyed to the FDA commissioner on the possible hurdles in implementing the Act. I need manpower for its effective execution. Therefore, the FDA commissioner should give staff from the state cadre," Salunkhe said.Meanwhile, the PMC too has decided to take up the issue with the state and urge for appointing a civic official as designated officer for implementation of the Act. "The PMC is a statutory body and has been implementing the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act from 1972. It also effectively implemented the previous laws to check food adulteration," said PMC health chief R R Pardeshi.

The PMC health chief is the administrative head of the food inspectors, while the civic body is paying their salary, he said, adding that the food inspectors are not been included in state cadre.

"There is also no clarification on whether the revenue collected from registration and licences for food manufacturing and processing would be given to PMC. It would be proper to give the revenue to PMC if the responsibility has to be carried out by civic staff and it is also neccessary for every applicant to get clearances from various civic departments," he said, adding that the appointment of FDA officer brings an end to the powers of the civic health chief.He said the PMC food inspectors were effectively performing their duties. The Constitution encourages decentralisation of powers but the new rule is against it, Pardeshi said, adding that the civic official should be appointed as designated officer for implementing the Act. 

source: expressindia.com

FSSA, a ploy to eat small Indian businesses

The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, implemented on August 5, 2011, is not conducive to Indian conditions in which food business operators function. It is developed for the Western world, and there is a serious doubt that the Act could be a strategically concocted plot of the West to wipe out the small businesses of Indian food manufacturers. This was the fear expressed by a member of a delegation from the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Agro Food Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which met Sharad Pawar, union minister of agriculture and food processing industries, in New Delhi, recently.The motive was to urge Pawar to initiate talks with the health ministry, under which the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India falls, to review the implementation of the Act, given the untrained people in the local bodies, who shoulder the responsibility of enforcement and the shabby government infrastructure employed to execute the provision of the Act.S Rethinavelu, president, Agro-Food Chamber of Commerce, informed FnB News that small industrialists were not aware about the Rules of the Act.As the Act brings into its ambit all stakeholders involved in production, manufacturing, trading, storing and transportation of food, it might lead to innocents becoming scapegoats at the hands of food inspectors / food safety officers, Rethinavelu feared."For example, the Act entails to bring water used for manufacturing under scanner. We use the water supplied by the local bodies. This water is most of the time contaminated. Who will shoulder the responsibility in such circumstances,"Rethinavelu asked. He said that it was imperative to educate consumers and hold a number of discussions before executing the Rules and Regulations. The way the Act has to be implemented needs a lot of discussion as the fine levied is as huge as Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.The Chamber asked Pawar to implement the Act only after April 2014 after incorporating necessary changes and also creating adequate awareness and providing requisite training not only to traders and producers in cities but also in villages. It said the Act was stringent, harsh and impracticable to follow.Pawar in turn agreed that the Act could severely affect the business of small operators if implemented in the literal sense. He assured that he would speak to health minister Azad about the same.Further, the chamber urged Pawar that products from "Farm to Fork" should be tax exempted under VAT and GST. "Many states in our country offer VAT exemption to food grains so as to keep their prices in check for the welfare of the consuming public. However this tax exemption benefit should be extended to processed foods also i.e. from "Farm to Fork" both under VAT and GST so that the benefit to the common man is complete and unqualified," it said.
The Chamber has itemised some of such serious implications:
- At a time when restrictions on stock limits, licencing requirements and transportation have been removed in states like Tamil Nadu to facilitate hassle-free supply of essential food articles of daily use like rice, wheat, edible oil, sugar etc., the new Act makes it obligatory for food business operators from street vendors to those engaged in food processing and dealers of food products to register or obtain licenses under the Act, to carry on their activities, thus restoring the dreadful "Inspector Raj" in the country.
- The new Act and Regulations provide harsh punishment even for small infringements and omissions which would not cause any harm to the health of the ultimate consumers.
Penalty from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh and jail term from 6 months to 7 years are prescribed for transgression of the provisions of the Act.

- No guidelines are given for fixing the quantum of punishment for offences under the Act by the courts.

Enforcement of the Act and Regulations, would breed corruption more than preventing food adulteration. Honest traders and producers of agriculture-based products would be forced to close their business in apprehension of the stringent provision in the Act.

- Implementation of the mandatory obligations of the Act would increase business expenses and cause enhancement of the prices of food products. Farmers would also be severely impacted.

-- Complying with such rigorous requirements and rules by food business operators is possible only in places where the local bodies remove wastages and rubbish expeditiously daily and supply potable drinking water and maintain clean and healthy environment. In other words these conditions could be complied with only in developed countries.

As pointed out recently by the member of the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission and former vice-chancellor of Anna University E Balagurusamy, in our country where 200 million people go to bed hungry, 300 million people live below poverty line, 400 million people illiterate, 70 per cent of the people have no sanitation facilities and 30 per cent have no access to potable drinking water, it will not be possible for us to become a developed nation by the year 2020 as prophesised by former President A P J Abdul Kalam.

- So how can we enforce such an Act? Under such circumstances, these impracticable regulations and conditions are unseemly injudicious and definitely not compliable in our country. They will only tend to severely impede availability of food products then and there to the consumers at large.

Ground reality should be understood before enactment and enforcement of any law.

- In the definition of Food Business, in Section 3 (n) the word "transportation" should be removed as food business operators do not carry out any transportation activities as transportation is carried out only by the transport operators. How can the lorry transporters would be able to check up the quality before accepting for transportation.

- As per section 38 (6) of the FSS Act 2006, the Food Safety Officer is authorised to take samples of any adulterant found in possession of the food processor even during pre-processing stage. Food grains and pulses are transported to the food processors in bulk quantities in lorries and goods wagons. Such lorries and good wagons also transport base products like cement and coal. The processors should not be penalised for particles of such products found in the sample. Such extraneous matters will get automatically removed after cleaning, grading and sorting processes. Hence samples should be taken from the food processors only after these processes are completed and not from the raw material. Similarly water kept for cooking would be boiled before using and hence such water supplied by the local bodies should not be subjected to testing.

- Powers granted to seize any books of account or other documents found in possession of Food Business Operator under sub-clause (6) of Sec. 38 of FSS Act, 2006, should be removed as the duty of the Food Safety Officer is to deal with food products only.

- Food Safety Officer may inspect the premises at any time to confirm whether the products manufactured are in accordance with the FSS Act & Rules made thereunder. Otherwise, the Food Safety Officer may get copies of the records from the Food Business Operator instead of seizing the records.

- If the books of accounts were seized by the Food Safety Officer, food business operator will be severely inconvenienced to run his business without the books of accounts. Powers granted to seize the books of accounts and records will be an unnecessary harassment to the food business operator and this will lead to corruption and Inspector Raj.

- For renewal of licences, ascertaining the income of the applicant should not be the criterion for registration or renewal of licences. Finalisation of accounts before May 31 is very difficult and more time should be granted for the food business operators for filing annual return.

- Requirement of No Objection Certificate from municipal or local body and state Pollution Control Board except in notified in industrial area for registration / license is very difficult to be complied with by many food business operators.
- Competent food analytical laboratories are not sufficiently existent in our country to check the samples prescribed under the FSS Rules and Regulations.

- The requirement for removal of extraneous matters and wastages daily by non- perishable food processors is literally impracticable and can be undertaken only in stages. Hence processors should not be penalised for having such wastages in their premises.

- The Food Safety and Standards Rules 2011 prescribes various qualifications for appointment of Food Safety Officers and a person who has already been appointed as a Food Inspector under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 are allowed to perform the duties of the Food Safety Officers if notified by the state / central government, if he fulfils the conditions prescribed for the post by the state government.

Such persons shall undergo a specialised training within a period of two years from the commencement of the FSS Rules 2011. When two years has been given for training of the enforcing officials, it is imperative more time should be given for the innumerable food business operators who are mostly illiterate in the country to be fully acquainted with the provisions and the implications of the new Act Rules and Regulations. Otherwise, they will be subjected to severe hardships. Hence the Act and Rules should not be enforced for three years. 

source: fnbnews

ഹോട്ടലുകള്‍ക്ക് ഗ്രേഡിംഗ്: റസ്റ്റോറന്റ് അസോ. പ്രതിഷേധിച്ചു

സംസ്ഥാനത്തെ ഹോട്ടലുകള്‍ക്ക് ഗ്രേഡിംഗ് സമ്പ്രദായം ഏര്‍പ്പെടുത്തുവാനും നിയമാനുസൃതമല്ലാതെ ലാബുകളില്‍ ഭക്ഷണസാധനങ്ങള്‍ പരിശോധന നടത്തുവാനുമുള്ള സംസ്ഥാന സര്‍ക്കാരിന്റെ നീക്കത്തില്‍ കേരള ഹോട്ടല്‍ ആന്റ് റസ്റ്റോറന്റ് അസോസിയേഷന്‍ പ്രതിഷേധിച്ചു. ഗ്രേഡിംഗ് രീതിയും വില ഏകീകരണവും സംസ്ഥാനത്ത് അപ്രായോഗികമാണെന്നും, തീരുമാനം വസ്തുതകള്‍ മനസ്സിലാക്കിയും, കോടതി വിധിയുടെ വെളിച്ചത്തിലും പുനഃപരിശോധിക്കണമെന്നും ഭാരവാഹികള്‍ ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടു.
source: mathrubhumi.com

List of NABL accredited food testing labs - Southern region

Grading of hotels in Kerala

Ø¢ØíÅÞÈæJ çÙÞGÜáµ{ßW çd·Áß¹í ØdOÆÞÏ¢ È¿MÞAáæÎKí ÍfcêØßÕßW ØèƒØí ÎdLß ¿ß. ®¢. ç¼AÌí. ²çø çd·ÁáU çÙÞGÜáµ{ßæÜ ÍfÃJßÈí ØíÅßø ÕßÜ ÈßÖíºÏßAá¢. çÙÞGÜáµ{ßW ÍfÃJßÈí çÄÞKßÏ ÕßÜ §ì¿ÞAáKÄßæÈAáùß‚í ÎçÈÞøÎ ÈcâØí ÈWµßÏ ÕÞVJµæ{Já¿VKÞÃí È¿É¿ß. çÙÞGÜáµ{áæ¿ ¥ÎßÄ ºâ×â Ä¿ÏÞX µVÖÈ È¿É¿ßæÏ¿áAáæÎKí ÍfcÎdLß ÉùEá. Ø¢ØíÅÞÈæJ çÙÞGÜáµæ{ ¥Fá çd·Áí ¦Ïß ÄßøßAá¢. ØíxÞV çd·Áí ²ÝßæµÏáU çÙÞGÜáµ{ßW ØßÕßW ØæƒØí ÁÏùµí¿ùáæ¿ çÈÄãÄbJßW ÉøßçÖÞÇÈ È¿Jß ÈÞÜá çd·Ááµ{ÞÏß ÄßøßAá¢. ²çø çd·ÁáU çÙÞGÜáµ{ßW ÍfÃJßÈí ØíÅßøÕßÜ ÈßÖíºÏßAá¢. ÕßÜÕßÕøMGßµ dÉÆVÖßMßAÞJ çÙÞGÜáµZæAÄßæø §ÈßÎáÄW µVÖÈ È¿É¿ßÏáIÞµá¢. §ÄßÈí ®ÜïÞ ¼ßÜïÞ µÜµí¿VÎÞVAᢠÈßVçÆÖ¢ ÈWµßAÝßEá. ØàØÃáµ{ßW ÕßÜÕVÇßMßAÞX ØÞÇcÄÏá{{ÄßÈÞW æÙWJí §XØíæɵí¿VÎÞøáæ¿ ÉøßçÖÞÇÈ §AÞÜÏ{ÕßW ÖµíÄÎÞAá¢. ÉݵßÏ ÍfcÕØíÄáAZ µæIJßÏÞW ØßÕßW ØæƒØí ÕµáMßæa çµÞKßÏßæÜ ÜÞÌßW ÉøßçÖÞÇÈAÏÏíAá¢. ÉøßçÖÞÇÈ ùßçMÞVGßæa ÄàdÕÄÏÈáØø߂޵ᢠçÙÞGÜáµZæAÄßæø È¿É¿ßæÏKᢠÎdLß ÉùEá.
source: manoramaonline

Report rules out presence of endosulfan in land for central varsity

An examination of water samples taken from the land allotted for the construction of central varsity in Periya, Kasargod found no presence of Endosulfan in the water. The same examination was also held at CWRDM and there too the presence was not found. The results of examination were sent to state higher education department secretary.There was protest that the presence of endosulfan was found in the water in 310 acres of land allotted for varsity and there might be difficulties in setting up the varsity. In this the higher education secretary as per the direction of the center asked the Regional Analytical laboratory, Kozhikode to examine the water samples. As per the direction of food safety commissioner, Kasargod circle food inspector collected the samples from 6 wells and 4 bore wells in Panayal village, Pulloorperiya and Kakathodupara. The 10 samples were examined through methods like Thin Layer Chromatography and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy. The tests proved that the water is good and can be used. To substantiate the result, same tests were also held at CWRDM, which also proved that the water is safe. 

Source: mathrubhumi.com

Milk brands in Kerala Quality Check Results 2011

The Dairy Develoment Department, Government of Kerala has published the results of the Special Onam Milk Quality Testing drive which was conducted at various locations in the state.  The quality check has been conducted as per directions of Food Safety Commissioner from 1st September, 2011. In the study conducted at Trivandrum milk brands such as Laya, KCA, Aroma, Suprabhatham, Haritha, Wagamon, Pulari, Shashti, Cowma, Milway, KS were not conforming to milk quality standards. Parametres such as Fat %, SNF %, Acidity % LA, Preservatives, Neutralizers

Source:trivandrum.co.in

Trade body seeks CM's intervention in food safety Act implementation

The Oil and Oil Seeds Association while expressing its concern over the implementation of the new Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act and Rules and Regulation with its current provisions, enforced from August 5 throughout the country, has urged the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa, to take up the issue with the Chief Ministers of other States and help implement the said Act after a minimum of four years, necessary to understand the Act.Stating that the Act contained impractical and stringent provisions and would need proper understanding and awareness before implementation, the Association urged for a through analysis and holding of awareness campaigns to disseminate knowledge about the Act and withdraw simultaneously the stringent provisions and penalties proposed there in.In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, the Association said that the provisions appeared to favour multinational companies in the business and affected even the ordinary road side operators in food business even in remote rural areas with its demand for a license and high penal provisions for those who fail to comply with them, the penalty going up to Rs10 lakh and imprisonment even.Honest people would not be able to carry on the business and the said provisions would only promote corruption.

The Act has not been published in vernacular languages and the ordinary people would not be able to understand them.It said that a committee should be formed at the State level to analyse the provisions of the Act threadbare and further pointed out that no representation has been given for the operators in food business from the State in the committee set up under the Act.

Source:Businessline

Probe into adulteration cases held up as Jharkhand sits on implementation of central rules

 Fifteen students fell ill after eating chocolates at DAV Public School in Piparwar, Chatra, on Tuesday

• Adulterated food made 100 students of BIT-Mesra’s Deoghar extension centre complain of nausea on Wednesday

But food inspectors stayed away from both campuses on the bizarre pretext that they did not know what to do

An already laggard bureaucracy has received a shot in the arm with Jharkhand failing to bring into effect the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 & Rules 2011, which was notified by the Union government on May 5 this year for implementation within three months (i,e. by August 5) across the country.The Centre had passed the law in 2006 by repealing the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, to check the quality of food and hygiene at various outlets.The act mandates establishing a single statutory regulatory authority for the food sector in a state, the Commissionerate of Food Safety, that can order a manufacturer or wholesaler to recall a product from the market if it is found to be substandard.While most other states have brought the integrated law into force, Jharkhand has the safety of its 3.29 crore people mired in red tape.Chatra food inspector Sanjay Kumar, who also holds charge of Ranchi, Koderma, Garhwa, Latehar and Palamau, bared home truths. “The old act has been repealed and the new rules have not been implemented in the state as yet. We are caught in no man’s land. If we collect samples of adulterated food without knowing the rules, we will live in perennial fear of violating some provision of the act that may invite heavy fines,” Kumar said.Deoghar food inspector Krishna Prasad Singh — also responsible for Dumka, Seraikela-Kharsawan, East Singhbhum, Gumla, Simdega and Khunti — supported Kumar and expressed concern over the delay in implementation of the act. “We are unable to do our job,” he said.

Gulab Lakra, one of the seven food inspectors (the sanctioned strength is 37) in the state, echoed Singh. “I have not been able to work since August 5. My job is to collect food samples from Ranchi, Chaibasa, Godda, Pakur and Sahebganj. But, currently, am not authorised to do anything,” she said.According to health department sources, the 2011 rules had provision for food safety officers (FSOs) in place of food inspectors, and designated officers (DOs) of additional district magistrate rank who could relieve civil surgeons of additional charge. An IAS officer will be appointed as full-time food commissioner, reducing the burden on the health secretary.“The act also empowers DOs to impose a fine up to Rs 1 lakh on people selling adulterated food items. Earlier, there was no such provision and the civil surgeon had to take the help of court to punish the guilty,” a health department official said. He pointed out that if an official took a move while the law was not implemented, it would be difficult for him to prove his stand before the court of law.State food controller Dr T.P. Barnwal admitted the problems, saying that efforts were on to adopt the rules as early as possible.“The file on implementation of the act has been cleared by state health secretary K. Vidya Sagar. It will very soon be forwarded to health minister Hemlal Murmu, who will present it before the state cabinet for final approval. Once the go-ahead is given, rules will be implemented and collecting food samples will happen smoothly,” he said.Insiders at the Mineral Area Development Authority laboratory, Dhanbad, where samples collected by food inspectors are tested, however, alleged that indolent food inspectors and health officials were using the non-implementation of the act to their advantage.“There are 37 posts of food inspectors, but only seven are occupied. And these handful people do not work. It was the result of their poor performance that adulterated food was sold at Piparwar and Deoghar. During Sharvani Mela in the temple town, two people died while the inspectors failed to trace the source of adulteration. They never work in public interest in the first place. Now, the missing law is an excuse,” a source said.

source:The telegraph

K Chandramouli may replace Suvrathan as FSSAI chief

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) in India is likely to appoint K Chandramouli, as the new chairperson of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which is the apex regulatory body for the food and beverage industry.The appointment of Chandramouli was confirmed by one of the officials in the health ministry, though the source refused to divulge any detail without an appropriate government order.Chandramouli, who will be replacing P I Suvrathan, is the Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer of 1975 batch and has retired last month as union health secretary under the ministry of health and family welfare. He functioned in that post from December last year. Prior to that he worked as secretary, AIDS control, in the same ministry.The source said that Chandramouli's appointment is a good decision for the FSSAI but only that he comes from health industry background and may have to study the intricacies of the food industry deeply.However, his stint with the labour and employment ministry would provide him the required aid in managing the working of the FSSAI, which was yet in its infancy stage, added the source.

It has been learnt that the other contenders for the chairperson's post were R K Srivastava, director general of health services, and K Sujatha Rao, former health secretary.Chandramouli is likely to assume charge from September 9. Meanwhile, Suvrathan who is currently on medical leave will spend his last day in office today. He is expected to shift to his hometown in Kerala for good.

source: fnbnews

Karnataka ready with FSSA structure

Karnataka is now working out all modalities to ensure that the food companies, production plants and hotels, along with street food joints and cart vendors, adhere to the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, enforced from August 5, 2011. The transition to the FSSA from the old PFA (Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954) in the state, will be done through strategies like creating awareness and enforcing Food Safety Management in food business operations.These will include compulsory registration of food companies and outlets with a turnover of Rs 12 lakh or less.Further, a close watch will be kept on street food vendors among other small companies in the related service. Bogged down by the shortfall of dedicated qualified personnel, the state is gearing up to appoint an additional 144 food safety officers (FSOs) to oversee the operations of 176 taluks, seven corporations and other local bodies. Currently, 106 food inspectors of the Bruhut Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) have been re-designated as the food safety officers. One officer will be assigned to two or three taluks each. The FSSA mandates an extensive and an in-depth education drive for creating awareness about the norms of the Act. "In this regard, we have made every effort to ensure stringent inspections on all food processing and vending activities," said a senior official from the health and family welfare department. To begin with, Ram Prasad, the new health commissioner, will now be in-charge of the FSSA operations in the state. The department of health and family welfare has now proposed to the state government to recruit a team of district-level officers for the implementation of the FSSA who will be designated as deputy directors and joint directors of food safety. Presently 30 medical doctors, re-designated from District Surveillance Officers (DSOs) as District Level Officers (DLOs), are undergoing training under the FSSAI. The first such training programme was held from August 23 to 27, 2011, where 19 DLOs were trained along with the teams from Kerala, Pondicherry and Andhra Pradesh. The second batch constituting of 11 officers will be trained from September 12 to 16, 2011. "This would complete the training of the 30 DLOs," stated the senior official. On August 26, a one-day workshop was conducted for the 106 food safety officers. In order to ensure that these FSOs are thorough in their understanding, a session to update them on the FSSA, food sampling process, registration of units and issue of licenses will be held from October.
Further, the FSSA mandates the need for Adjudicating Officers at district level for which the Karnataka government has notified the appointment of Additional District Magistrates via a government order.
In addition, the new Act calls for the appointment of eight food analysts and five food testing labs. One laboratory will be set-up in Bangalore which will be under the ambit of the Public Health Institute and three divisional labs at Mysore, Belgaum and Gulbarga. A BBMP lab. has now been brought under the FSSAI. To man the FSSAI lab. located at the BBMP office, an official from the state health department has been appointed. The health department has also asked for the setting up of a Food Safety Appellate Tribunal which is now under clearance in the department of law.

source: fnbnews

ഭക്ഷ്യവസ്തുക്കളിലെ മായംചേര്‍ക്കല്‍: രാസപരിശോധന വഴിമുട്ടുന്നു

തിരുവനന്തപുരം: ഭക്ഷ്യവസ്തുക്കളിലെ മായംചേര്‍ക്കല്‍ കര്‍ശനമായി തടയുന്നതിനുള്ള ഫുഡ് സേഫ്ടി ആന്‍ഡ് സ്റ്റാന്‍ഡേര്‍ഡ് ആക്ട് പ്രകാരമുള്ള ഭക്ഷ്യവസ്തുക്കളുടെ രാസപരിശോധന വഴിമുട്ടുന്നു. പരിശോധകര്‍ പിടിച്ചെടുക്കുന്ന ഭക്ഷ്യസാമ്പിളുകളിലെയും ഫലവര്‍ഗങ്ങളിലെയും കീടനാശിനികള്‍, ഘനലോഹങ്ങള്‍ (ഹെവി മെറ്റല്‍സ്), സാക്കറിന്‍ പോലെയുള്ള കൃത്രിമ മധുരവര്‍ധിനികള്‍ എന്നിവയുടെ സാന്നിധ്യം കണ്ടെത്തുന്നതിനുള്ള സൗകര്യം സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ ലാബുകളിലൊന്നിലുമില്ലാത്തതാണ് കാരണം. പകരം ഭക്ഷ്യവസ്തുക്കളിലെ ഈര്‍പ്പം, ആസിഡുകളില്‍ ലയിക്കാത്ത പൊടിപടലങ്ങള്‍, ചാരം എന്നിവ സംബന്ധിച്ച പരിശോധനമാത്രം നടത്തിയാണ് റിപ്പോര്‍ട്ടുകള്‍ തയ്യാറാക്കുന്നത്. മനുഷ്യന്റെ ആരോഗ്യത്തിന് ഹാനികരമായ വസ്തുക്കളുടെ സാന്നിധ്യം സംബന്ധിച്ച പരിശോധന നടക്കാത്തത് ഭക്ഷ്യവസ്തുക്കളുടെ ഗുണനിലവാരത്തെയും ബാധിക്കുന്നു.ഭക്ഷ്യവസ്തുക്കളിലെ കീടനാശിനികളുടെയും ഘനലോഹങ്ങളുടെയും സാന്നിധ്യം സംബന്ധിച്ച എല്ലാത്തരം പരിശോധനയ്ക്കും വേണ്ട എല്ലാ ഉപകരണങ്ങളും തിരുവനന്തപുരത്തെ ഗവണ്മെന്റ് അനലിസ്റ്റ് ലബോറട്ടറിയില്‍ ഉള്ളപ്പോഴാണ് ഈ സ്ഥിതി. ഇത്തരം പരിശോധനകള്‍ക്ക് വേണ്ട ഹൈപെര്‍ഫോമന്‍സ് ലിക്വിഡ് ക്രോമറ്റോഗ്രാഫ് (എച്ച്.പി.എല്‍.സി.), ഗ്യാസ് ക്രോമറ്റോഗ്രാഫ് (ജി.സി.), അറ്റോമിക് അബ്‌സോര്‍പ്ഷന്‍ സ്‌പെക്‌ട്രേ ഫോട്ടോ മീറ്റര്‍ (എ.എ.എസ്.) എന്നീ ഉപകരണങ്ങള്‍ കഴിഞ്ഞ മൂന്നുവര്‍ഷമായി പ്രവര്‍ത്തനരഹിതമാണ്.ഫുഡ്‌സേഫ്ടി ആന്‍ഡ് സ്റ്റാന്‍ഡേര്‍ഡ് ആക്ട് നടപ്പാക്കുന്നതിന്റെ ഭാഗമായി ഫുഡ്‌സേഫ്ടി ഓഫീസര്‍മാര്‍ കേരളത്തില്‍ ഇപ്പോള്‍ ഭക്ഷ്യവസ്തുക്കളുടെ സാമ്പിളുകള്‍ വ്യാപകമായി ശേഖരിച്ചുവരികയാണ്. ഇത് കച്ചവടക്കാര്‍ക്കെതിരെ കേസെടുക്കാന്‍വേണ്ടിയുള്ളതല്ല.പരിശോധനാ റിപ്പോര്‍ട്ടിന്റെ ഫലം വിലയിരുത്തി കച്ചവടക്കാരെയും ഉപഭോക്താക്കളെയും ബോധവത്കരിക്കുമെന്നും ഭക്ഷ്യസുരക്ഷാ കമ്മീഷണര്‍ പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചിരുന്നു. എന്നാല്‍ ഭക്ഷ്യവസ്തുക്കളുടെ ശരിയായ രീതിയിലുള്ള രാസപരിശോധനയില്ലാതെ എന്തു ബോധവത്കരണമാണ് നടത്തുകയെന്നാണ് ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥര്‍ ചോദിക്കുന്നത്.സംസ്ഥാനത്ത് തിരുവനന്തപുരം ഗവ. അനലറ്റിക്‌ലബോറട്ടറി, കോഴിക്കോട് റീജണല്‍ അനലറ്റിക്കല്‍ ലബോറട്ടറി, എറണാകുളം റീജണല്‍ അനലറ്റിക്കല്‍ ലബോറട്ടറി, പത്തനംതിട്ട ഗവണ്മെന്റ് ലബോറട്ടറി എന്നിവിടങ്ങളിലാണ് ഭക്ഷ്യവസ്തുക്കളുടെ പരിശോധന നടക്കുന്നത്. ഈ ലാബുകള്‍ക്കൊന്നും ദേശീയ അംഗീകാരം (നാഷണല്‍ അക്രഡിറ്റേഷന്‍ ബോര്‍ഡ് ഫോര്‍ ടെസ്റ്റിങ് ആന്‍ഡ് കാലിബറേഷന്‍ ഓഫ് ലബോറട്ടറീസ് (എന്‍.എ.ബി.എല്‍.) ഇല്ല. തിരുവനന്തപുരത്തെ ലബോറട്ടറിക്ക് ഇത് ലഭ്യമാക്കുന്നതിനുള്ള പ്രവര്‍ത്തനങ്ങള്‍ എന്‍.ആര്‍.എച്ച്.എം. പദ്ധതിയുടെ ഭാഗമായി ആരംഭിച്ചിരുന്നുവെങ്കിലും പാതിവഴിയില്‍ ഉപേക്ഷിക്കുകയായിരുന്നു.
Source: mathrubhumi.com

New food chief replaced, paucity of food inspectors

New food chief replaced, paucity of food inspectors

S Selva Kumar, who took over as food safety commissioner, Karnataka, has been quietly replaced by Ram Prasad, on Friday.Kumar will now take over as director, National Rural Health Mission. Interestingly, not much is known about Prasad's background. While further details have been awaited on the development and speculation was rife over the reason, Kumar was not available for comments.Meanwhile, sources claimed that the Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Service had not yet issued guidelines on the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act. This is preventing the body from taking any action against retail outlets in the state selling date-expired imported products. Recently, a leading shopping mall in the city was found to sell products, which were well past the expiry date.Prior to the Act, the food inspectors in Bangalore came under the purview of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the city's municipal corporation.

According to Siddaiah, an IAS officer who heads the BBMP, creating the rules is the initial effort for the implementation of the FSSA 2006, 2011, which is now the basis for booking anyone tampering with food products. In the absence of the rules, the culprits go scot- free.The Union government introduced the FSSA Bill in 2006 and it was passed as an Act on August 5, 2011 and we would need to work out the procedures and implement it soon. It cannot be left idle for too long, stated an official of the BBMP.BBMP is yet to ascertain whether the rules and the regulations have been framed by the state department. Besides even if the rules are framed and the state begins to implement the Act, the lack of food inspectors will continue to hamper its efficient execution. Currently, there are 6 food inspectors on deputation from the health department as BBMP has only 27 inspectors for food safety.In a discussion between BBMP and the state government, it has been decided that the desired number of inspectors will be provided in three months. Going by the paucity for access to qualified inspectors, the state government has opted to source them through a recruitment drive via the Karnataka Public Service Commission.Sources from the industry, observing the FSSA implementation, pointed out that in all probability, the BBMP would have settled for reducing the intake to ensure speedy selection and appointment of enforcement officers.In 2009-10, the BBMP insisted on 40 inspectors from the state government to oversee its 100 wards. But the irony is that now it has requested for a mere 27 to cover the whole of the jurisdiction including the former community-municipal corporations.Senior officials from the University of Agricultural Sciences and the Central Food Research Technological Institute (CFTRI) stated that standard prerequisite would be 120 inspectors to allow efficient working system and help keep a watch on violators of food safety. 

Source: fnbnews

Food safety - Kerala

 ÄßøáÕÈLÉáø¢: Õß×¢ ÉáøI ÍfcÕØíÄáAZ ÕßÉÃßÏßæÜJá KÄá Ä¿ÏÞX ÆfßçÃLcX Ø¢ØíÅÞÈB{áæ¿ ¯çµÞÉÈJßÈá çµø{¢ dÖ΢ Äá¿Bß.  ÍfcÕØíÄáA{áæ¿ Øáøf ¥Äßæa ©ùÕß¿B{ßW ÄæK ©ùMá ÕøáJáKÄßÈá ÎáçKÞ¿ßÏÞÏß ÆfßçÃLcX Ø¢ØíÅÞÈB{ßæÜ ¦ çøÞ·c ÎdLßÎÞøáæ¿Ïᢠ¦çøÞ·c æØdµGùßÎÞøáæ¿ÏᢠÍfcØáøfÞ µNß×ÃVÎÞøáæ¿ÏᢠçÏÞ·¢ Õß{ßAÞX ØVAÞV ÄàøáÎÞÈß‚á.
¥¿áJ ÎÞØ¢ È¿AáK çÏÞ·JßW çµø{JßçÜæAJáK ÍfcÕØíÄáA{áæ¿ Øáøf ©ùMáÕøáJáKÄá Ø¢Ìtß‚á ÕcµíÄÎÞÏ ÄàøáÎÞÈæοáAá¢.ÉáÄßÏ ÍfcØáøfÞ ÈßÏ΢ È¿MÞAáKÄá Ø¢Ìtß‚á Îxá Ø¢ØíÅÞÈB{áÎÞÏß ¯çµÞÉÈ¢ ©IÞAáKÄßÜâæ¿ µà¿ÈÞÖßÈß µÜVK ÉÝ¢êÉ‚Aùßµ{áæ¿ÏᢠçÙÞVçÎÞY µáJßÕ‚á Õ{VJßæÏ¿áAáK çµÞÝßµ{áæ¿ÏᢠآØíÅÞÈçJAáU ÕøÕá Ä¿ÏÞæÎKÞÃá µÃAáµâGW.µà¿ÈÞÖßÈß µÜVK ÉÝB{ᢠɂAùßµ{ᢠ¥ÇßµÕᢠÕøáKÄá ÄÎßÝíÈÞGßW ÈßKᢠµVÃÞ¿µÏßW ÈßKáÎÞÃí. µà¿ÈÞÖßÈß ÈßçøÞÇÈ¢ ¥¿AÎáU µÞøcBZ çµø{JßȵJá ÎÞdÄ¢ æºÏíÄÄáæµÞIá ËÜÎ߈. ¥ÄáæµÞIÞÃí ¥ÏW Ø¢ØíÅÞÈB{áæ¿ ØÙµøâ çÄ¿áKÄí. É‚AùßµZ ©WÉÞÆßMßAæM¿áK çÕ{ÏßW ÄæK ¥Äßæa Øáøf ©ùMÞAÃæÎKÄÞÃí ¦ÕÖc¢. ÎÞøµÎÞÏ µà¿ÈÞÖßÈßµZ ÈßçøÞÇßAáµÏᢠ©ÉçÏÞ·¢ Ä¿ÏáµÏᢠçÕâ. §ÄßÈí ¥ÏW Ø¢ØíÅÞÈBæ{ ØKiøÞAáµÏÞÃí çÏÞ·Jßæa Üfc¢.Ø¢ØíÅÞÈJá µßGáK ÉÝB{ßÜᢠɂAùßµ{ßÜᢠçµÞÝßÏßù‚ßÏßÜᢠ¦çøÞ·cJßÈá çÆÞע溇áK ¸¿µBZ ® dÄçJÞ{¢ ¥¿BßÏßGáIí ® KÄßæÈMxß ËáÁíçØËíxß ²ÞËßØVÎÞV ÉÀÈ¢ È¿JßæAÞIßøßAáµÏÞÃí. Ø¢ØíÅÞÈJßæa ÕßÕßÇ ÍÞ·B{ßW ÈßKá ØÞ¢Éß{áµZ çÖ~øß‚á ÕßÕßÇ ÜÞÌáµ{ßW ÉøßçÖÞÇÈ ÉáçøÞ·ÎßAáKá. §ÕÏáæ¿ ùßçMÞVGáµ{ßW æÄ{ßÏáK µÞøcBZ ¥ÏW Ø¢ØíÅÞÈæJ ÎdLßÎÞøáæ¿ dÖiÏßWæM¿áJá¢.ÄÎßÝíÈÞGßæÜ ÈÞÎAÜßW ÈßKí ®JáK çµÞÝßµZ çÙÞVçÎÞY µáJßÕ‚á Õ{VJßæÏ¿áAáKÕÏÞÃí. çµÞÝßAáEáBZ æÉæGKí Õ{øÞX çÕIß µáJßÕÏíAáK çÙÞVçÎÞÃáµZ ÎÈá×cøáæ¿ ¦çøÞ·cJßÈá Íà×ÃßÏÞÃí.  çÙÞVçÎÞY µáJßÕÏíÉí ²ÝßÕÞAßÏáU çµÞÝßÕ{VJW È¿MÞAÃæÎK ¦ÕÖc¢ ÄÎßÝíÈÞ¿í ØVAÞøßæa ÎáXÉßW ÕÏíAÞÈᢠ¦çÜÞºÈÏáIí.

Source: manoramaonline

നിലവാരമില്ലാത്ത പാല് വില്പ്പനയ്ക്കെതിരെ കര്ശന നടപടി

ഓണക്കാലത്ത് അന്യസംസ്ഥാനങ്ങളില്‍ നിന്നും കേരളത്തിലെത്തുന്ന പാലിന്റെ ഗുണനിലവാരം പരിശോധിച്ച് ഉറപ്പുവരുത്തുന്നതിന് ഫുഡ് സേഫ്റ്റി കമ്മീഷന്റെ നിര്‍ദ്ദേശ പ്രകാരം ക്ഷീരവികസന വകുപ്പ് പാലക്കാട് ജില്ലയിലെ വാളയാര്‍, മീനാക്ഷിപുരം, ഇടുക്കി ജില്ലയിലെ കുമിളി, കൊല്ലം ജില്ലയിലെ ആര്യങ്കാവ്, തിരുവനന്തപുരം ജില്ലയിലെ പാറശ്ശാല എന്നീ ചെക്ക്പോസ്റുകളില്‍ സെപ്തംബര്‍ ഒന്നു മുതല്‍ പാല്‍ ഗുണനിലവാര പരിശോധന ആരംഭിച്ചു. കേരളത്തില്‍ വിറ്റഴിക്കുന്ന പാലിന്റെ ഗുണനിലവാരം പരിശോധിച്ച് ജനങ്ങളെ അറിയിക്കുന്നതിനും ഉപഭോക്താക്കള്‍ കൊണ്ടുവരുന്ന പാലിന്റെ ഗുണനിലവാരം പരിശോധിച്ച് നല്‍കുന്നതിനും എല്ലാ ജില്ലകളിലും ക്വാളിറ്റി ഇന്‍ഫര്‍മേഷന്‍ സെന്ററുകളും പ്രവര്‍ത്തനം ആരംഭിച്ചു. ഗുണനിലവാരമില്ലാത്തതോ ആരോഗ്യത്തിന് ഹാനികരമായതോ ആയ പാല്‍ വില്ക്കുന്നവര്‍ക്ക് എതിരെ ശക്തമായ നിയമ നടപടി സ്വീകരിക്കുമെന്ന് ഫുഡ് സേഫ്റ്റി കമ്മീഷണര്‍ അറിയിച്ചു