Feb 6, 2015

Minutes of the Fifteenth Authority meeting held on 20th August, 2014







Bird Flu Scare Brings Out The Poor Quality Of Poultry


Bird Flu Scare Brings out Poor Quality of Poultry
According to World Health Organization (WHO) most bird flu viruses do not infect people except the A (H5N1) and A (H7N9) viruses. Though some new virus have been discovered yet the most common virus that infects human being either from dead or alive poultry is the A (H5N1) and A (H7N9) so controlling the disease in birds is important. However, people need to understand that the disease mostly spreads from poultry to poultry. The virus can infect only those people who are in direct contact with the infected birds. The disease rarely spreads from one person to another. Most cases of bird flu in humans are a result of direct contact with the infected birds or surfaces that are contaminated with secretions or excretion from infected birds.
Bird flu has been reported from all over the world particularly from China (Hong Kong), Japan, Britain, USA, Egypt, Germany, Italy and Libya. Japan and Hong Kong have culled lakhs of birds. China and India have both banned the import of poultry from the USA. In India Kerala culled 3lakh ducks followed by Chandigarh where the ducks in the Sukhna Lake were found to be infected with the A (H5N1) virus strain. While Tamil Nadu stopped the inflow of poultry from Kerala Uttar Pradesh stopped inflow of poultry from other states.
Since Chandigarh is close to Simla, the death of 300 chickens the fear of the spread of bird flu gripped them even though later the birds tested negative for bird flu. However, the bird deaths brought to light how Health, Food Safety Standard (FSS) Regulatory Authority, municipal bodies and Animal Husbandry Department are playing with consumers’ health.
Since Himachal has put chicken and meat on the essential commodities list, it falls on the Food Safety Authority to ensure quality supply of these items but consumers say that their health is being endangered as there is no mandatory testing and checking as required under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006. Private suppliers have a free hand as they are not checked by authorities and so they supply cheap and poor quality chicken to make quick money. They are also breaking all health and safety norms as they
  • Get certificates from unauthorized veterinarian doctors
  • Transport meat in pick-up vans, packed in unhealthy gunny bags instead of chilled vans
  • Do not cull birds imported from Haryana and Punjab even for three bacterial infections, and use chemical sprays to de-feather the birds
Since chicken supplied from Municipal slaughterhouses is 15% to 20% higher, the shopkeepers also do not care and mix both good and bad quality chicken for selling to consumers. In Himachal the Directorate of Health Safety and Regulation is responsible for implementing the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, and Rules 1955 and Food Safety Standard Act, 2006.
Food Safety officials say that it is the responsibility of the district administration to check all slaughter houses including the MC ones. This case may be related to Simla only but the story can be true for most of India as the condition of slaughterhouses and irregularities is a common factor in many other states in India.
According to health experts, lack of information and knowledge about the virus is adding to the scare. Though duck consumption dropped in Kerala there is no need to panic as Kerala has taken all steps to curb the spread of virus. The samples from Himachal were not found to be infected.
Poultry in Chandigarh is also unaffected and is safe for consumption. The government has taken all possible precautionary measures to check any spread of virus in birds and all is under control say officials.
Health organizations like the WHO, FDA and AIIMS in India support the evidence that bird flu cannot be spread by cooking food. However, those food business operators, who serve cooked poultry in their restaurants and catering businesses, must ensure that meat is not left partially cooked or served raw. Experts say, poultry should be cooked for at least half an hour at 70°C so it is safe for consumption.
Food Safety & Standards Regulations mentions; Paultry should be cooked thoroughly (core temperature 75° C for at least 15 seconds or an effective time/temperature control e.g. 65°C for 10 minutes, 70°C for 2 minutes).
Here are some tips given by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that FBOs can follow in order to ensure they are serving the consumer disease free meat and eggs. Ensure that your employees are following these precautions.
  • Wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and warm water after handling raw poultry and eggs
  • Clean cutting boards and other utensils thoroughly with soap and hot water so that poultry does not contaminate other foods
  • Use cooking thermometer to make sure poultry is being cooked at 75°C s consumers are likely to prefer that poultry is cooked at a higher temperature. Eggs should be cooked till the whites and yolks are both firm

Drive to prevent swine flue begins in Imphal


MU NEWS/IMPHAL, Feb 05 :
Officials of the Food Safety and Standards Wing of Imphal West district today cracked down meat selling non-licensed vendors in and around Imphal town. The team also collects the sample of the meat from the vendors and asked to close down till a license of food safety is issued against them.
The team led by Food Safety officer designates Chief Medical Officer(CMO) of Imphal West district Dr S Bimolakumari and Sub Divisional Police Office (SDPO) Imphal West A Ghnashyam along with other officials of the Food Safety and Standards Wing.
They visited the vendors of Nagamapal, Singjamei Chingamakha, Keishamthong and others place in the district.
Speaking to the media on the sideline of the day’s drive, CMO Dr Bimolakumari said that the drive was conducted under the Food Safety Standards Act, 2006 , Rules and Regulations 2011.
The wing had received the complaint from the general public that the unhygienic meat are sold in some meat vendors. She also said the department has kept alert on the prevention of spreading of swine flu. She asked to the vendors to register properly under the Act to the department.

DINAKARAN NEWS


DINAKARAN NEWS



கோவில்பட்டியில் டெங்கு தடுப்பு நடவடிக்கை ஓட்டல்கள், பார்களில் சுகாதார துறையினர் அதிரடி சோதனை சுகாதார குறைபாடு நிறுவனங்களுக்கு 24 மணி நேரம் கெடு


கோவில்பட்டி, பிப். 6:
கோவில்பட்டியில் டெங்கு காய்ச்சல் வராமல் தடுக்கும் வகையில் ஓட்டல்கள், லாட்ஜ்கள் மற்றும் டாஸ்மாக் மதுபான பார்கள், எண்ணெய் நிறுவனங்கள், விடுதிகளில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் அதிரடி ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டனர். சுகாதாரமற்ற நிலையில் செயல்படும் நிறுவனங்கள் 24 மணி நேரத்திற்குள் சுகாதாரத்தை கடைப்பிடிக்காவிட்டால் சீல் வைக்கப்படும் என மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் டாக்டர் ஜெகதீஷ் சந்திரபோஸ் எச்சரிக்கை விடுத்தார்.
தூத்துக்குடி மாவட்டத்தில் டெங்கு காய்ச்சலை தடுக்கும் வகையில் பல்வேறு முன்னெச்சரிக்கை நடவடிக்கைகள் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டு வருகிறது. இதன் ஒரு பகுதியாக கலெக்டர் ரவிக்குமார் உத்தரவின் பேரில் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை நியமன அலுவலர் டாக்டர் ஜெகதீஷ் சந்திரபோஸ், கோவில்பட்டி நகராட்சி கமிஷனர் (பொறுப்பு) முத்து ஆகியோர் தலைமையில் கோவில்பட்டி நகரில் மெயின்ரோடு பகுதியில் உள்ள ஓட்டல்கள், லாட்ஜ்கள், டாஸ்மாக் பார்கள், டீக்கடைகள், பெட்டிக் கடைகள், கல்லூரி விடுதிகள், எண்ணெய் நிறுவனங்களில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அலுவலர்கள் மாரிச்சாமி, பொன்ராஜ், முத்துகுமார், சுகாதார ஆய்வாளர்கள் முருகன், வள்ளிராஜ், காஜாமுகைதீன், சீனிராஜ் மற்றும் துப்புரவு பணியாளர்கள் அதிரடி ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டனர்.
இந்த ஆய்வின்போது மதுபான பார்களில் மூட்டை மூட்டையாக குவித்து வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த காலி மது பாட்டில்கள், பிளாஸ்டிக் கப்புகளை அப்புறப்படுத்தினர். மேலும் ஓட்டல்களில் உள்ள சமையலறைகள் சுகாதாரமாக உள்ளதா என ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டனர். ஒரு ஓட்டலில் உள்ள குளிர்சாதன பெட்டிக்குள் சிவப்பு கலர் சாயம் பூசப்பட்ட 15 கிலோ சிக்கனை பறிமுதல் செய்தனர்.
மேலும் ஓட்டல்களில் உள்ள கழிவுகளை பிளாஸ்டிக் பேரல்களில் மூடாமல் போட்டு வைத்திருப்பதை கண்ட மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் டாக்டர் ஜெகதீஷ் சந்திரபோஸ், பேரல்களின் மேற் பகுதியில் மூடி போட வேண்டும் என உத்தரவிட்டார்.
இது குறித்து மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் டாக்டர் ஜெகதீஷ் சந்திரபோஸ் கூறுகையில், �கோவில்பட்டி நகராட்சி பகுதியில் உணவகங்கள், பார்கள், எண்ணெய் நிறுவனங்கள், பெட்டி மற்றும் டீக்கடைகள், கல்லூரி விடுதிகள், டயர் கம்பெனிகள் உள்ளிட்ட 18 நிறுவனங்களில் டெங்கு காய்ச்சல் வராமல் தடுக்கும் வகையில் தேவையற்ற பொருட்கள் நகராட்சி துப்புரவு தொழிலாளர்கள் மூலம் அப்புறப்படுத்தப்பட்டது. இதில் சுகாதாரமற்ற நிலையில் செயல்படும் 5 நிறுவனங்களில் நோட்டீஸ் ஒட்டப்பட்டது.
இந்த நிறுவனங்கள் 24 மணி நேரத்திற்குள் குறைகளை சரிசெய்யா விடில் சீல் வைக்கப்படும்� என்றார்.


கோவில்பட்டியில் உள்ள ஒரு ஓட்டலில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் சோதனை நடத்தினர்.

U.S. FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg to step down

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Dr. Margaret Hamburg, who as commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for almost six years has overseen public health initiatives ranging from tobacco control and food safety to personalized medicine and drug approvals, is stepping down, the agency said on Thursday.
Hamburg, one of the longest-serving FDA commissioners in the modern era, told Reuters in an interview that her decision was prompted by the heavy demands of the job and the sheer length of time she has held the position.
"This is a very challenging job full of opportunities to make a huge and enduring difference," she said, "but it is 24/7 and there are really really difficult decisions to make."
The 59-year-old, nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in May 2009, was last year named the world's 51st most powerful woman by Forbes magazine.
Hamburg's resignation comes at a crucial time for the FDA as Congress pushes initiatives to speed new drug development, and food safety advocates, backed by Obama, back the creation of a separate agency combining the food safety functions of the FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Under Hamburg, the agency introduced multiple measures to speed new products to the market. In 2014, the FDA approved 51 new therapies, the most in almost 20 years. In a blog post on Wednesday, Hamburg called the achievement "a testament ... to FDA's innovative approaches to help expedite development and review of medical products that target unmet medical needs."
A spokesman for the White House, Josh Earnest, told reporters at a briefing that Obama's nomination to replace Hamburg would have impeccable scientific credentials and merit bipartisan support. The nominee must be confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate.
Late last month, the agency named Dr. Robert Califf, a prominent cardiologist and researcher from Duke University, to oversee its drug, medical device and tobacco policy. Califf is viewed by many as a potential successor to Hamburg, whose resignation takes effect in March.
Dr. Stephen Ostroff, the FDA's chief scientist, will fill Hamburg's position until a new commissioner is named.
CAREER IN PUBLIC HEALTH
A long-time public health official with extensive experience fighting AIDS and tuberculosis, Hamburg, who graduated from Harvard Medical School, previously served at the National Institutes of Health before becoming New York City's health commissioner. That public health focus endeared her to patient advocates.
"Commissioner Hamburg, from day one, has been committed to being a champion for patients," said Ellen Sigal, founder and chair of Friends of Cancer Research. "She has fostered the growth of science and innovation across the agency and really changed how FDA and industry collaborate."
Under Hamburg, the FDA, which oversees products representing more than 20 cents of every dollar spent by U.S. consumers, has proposed measures to improve nutrition by limiting dangerous trans-fats in food and requiring restaurants to post calorie counts on menus. It also has beefed up inspections of food and drugs from overseas.
"She really had an active and visible role on the global stage not only from a medical products perspective but from a food safety perspective," said Erica Jefferson, former acting assistant commissioner for media affairs.
During her tenure the FDA has confronted major public health issues, including the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the abuse of opioid painkillers, the emergence of electronic cigarettes and the outbreak of Ebola and other infectious diseases.
Her ride has not always been smooth. She faced hostile questioning by Republicans in Congress following a fungal meningitis outbreak in 2012 that killed dozens of people and sickened hundreds more.
In 2011, then Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius overruled the FDA's decision to allow an emergency contraceptive known as Plan B to be sold over the counter to young teenagers. Hamburg insisted Plan B was safe for use and it was approved two years later.
Hamburg, whose mother was the first African-American woman to earn a degree from Yale University School of Medicine, was never a crusading commissioner in the way of one of her predecessors, Dr. David Kessler, who fought to bring tobacco under FDA regulation. The FDA eventually gained authority over tobacco in 2009.
Hamburg's tenure has disappointed some drug watchdogs, who say the FDA has too often succumbed to industry pressure.
"Throughout Hamburg's tenure, the FDA has grown even more cozy with the industries that it regulates," Public Citizen said in a statement.
Yet it was Hamburg who, in 2011, revoked approval for Roche Holding AG's drug Avastin as a treatment for metastatic breast cancer after the company failed to prove that the benefits outweighed the risks. The drug remains on the market for certain types of colon, lung, kidney and brain cancer.
And she began a crackdown on poor-quality generic drugs and drug ingredients from India, China and elsewhere.

FSDA TN seizes 58 bottles of popular powdered health drink, soft drinks

As part of a food safety campaign, Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA), Tamil Nadu, conducted several raids and patrols in Coimbatore and Namakkal districts of the state recently, seizing food products past their best before dates, sold in both retail and wholesale shops, and warning outlets maintaining poor hygiene. Most of the confiscated items were beverages, which included powdered health drinks and soft drinks.
While 58 canned bottles of a popular powdered health drink, well past their best before dates, were confiscated from Coimbatore, FSDA raided and seized soft drinks from Namakkal district. During the campaign, some bakery items past their expiry dates were also found. 
The FSDA explained it as a continuous process that started after receiving complaints and conducting investigations. According to FSDA, there is a tendency to sell food items past their best before dates at a discount to minimise losses. But under the regulations of FSSAI, selling of any food products past their best before dates can invite fine or punishment.
Hygiene was another problem reported by designated officers from the field. They alerted food business operators, especially, bakeries, to ensure necessary hygiene in the premises. 
Kumar Jayant, commissioner of food safety, Tamil Nadu, said, “FSDA of Tamil Nadu is conducting raids and patrols in different parts of the state to check food safety, as part of a continuous process started after consumer complaints and departmental investigations. Every district designated officer is directed to conduct immediate and secret raids, according to the investigation reports and complaints received in each district.” 
K Tamil Selvan, FSDA district designated officer, Namakkal, said, “Our team is conducting continuous patrol and raids in different parts of the city as per complaints and investigations. We alerted bakery business operators about the hygiene and products sold from their shops to avoid adulteration and selling expired food products.

Only 40 per cent of food business operators obtain licence

A day after the deadline for obtaining licence and registration certificate by Food Business Operators (FBOs) was extended till next year, only 40 per cent of the FBOs have completed the procedure in the district
As per the Food Safety and Standards (Licencing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011, it is mandatory that traders whose annual turnover is less than Rs. 12 lakh need to obtain registration certificate from the District Designated Food Safety Officer by enclosing a challan for Rs. 100 along with the application. Traders whose annual turnover is more than Rs. 12 lakh has to obtain licence by paying Rs. 2,000 or Rs. 5,000, depending upon the productivity.
There are about 28,000 food business operators in the district. But so far, after the online system was introduced in July 2013, only 1,790 have obtained licence while 9,565 have received registration certificates.
Operators include all food manufacturers, hotels, restaurants, food transporters, wholesalers, distributors and food processing units.
After the Act was implemented from August 5, 2011, operators were asked to complete the procedure within a year.
But they were given three extensions with final deadline given till February 4, 2015.
But operators are reluctant to go for licence or registration as they fear of inspections by Food Safety officers.
Adulteration in food items, use of banned chemicals and violation of the act by many operators continues in the district and hence operators are avoiding the procedure.

Banned tobacco products seized

Food safety officers displaying banned tobacco items which were seized in Udhagamandalam on Thursday. 
With complaints relating to the availability of banned tobacco products in various parts of the district mounting, officials of the Food Safety Department cracked down on a wholesale outlet inside the municipal market here on Thursday.
They found banned tobacco products worth Rs. 45,000 in the shop.
Stating that they were seized and destroyed, Food Safety Officer D.Sivakumar told The Hindu that the raid followed a tip-off. Pointing out that it was one of the biggest seizures, he said that without the cooperation of people, the ban could not be enforced effectively.
People should come forward to expose violators.
He added that surprise checks would be carried out frequently.

Unit producing packaged drinking water sealed


Stern action:Food safety officials examine an illegal mineral water making plant in Erode on Thursday.

The plant was operating during night hours
Officials of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) sealed a water plant located at Lakshmi Narayanan Nagar in the city limits on Thursday.
The owner had reportedly ran away after learning about the inspections being conducted a team of BIS officials from Coimbatore.
The BIS team recommended the Food Safety Department to initiate appropriate action since the plant was functioning without ISI certification.
According to a senior official of Food Safety and Drug Administration, the plant was functioning unauthorised after its failure to secure an ISI certification. The unit had been operating during night hours, the official said. The plant was one among the seven units that were ordered to close down during an inspection last year. The other units had revived production after securing the ISI certification, officials said.

Meat stalls inspected

Imphal, February 05 2015: A joint team of Food Safety Officers of the State Govt conducted a drive against illegal meat shops today at different places of the State.
Besides seizing the meat put up for sale, the team also ordered closing down of many illegal meat and fish shops during the drive today.
The drive was conducted under the supervision of Designated Officer (Food Safety)/CMO and Food Safety Officer (Food Safety and Standard Wing) Imphal West.
The team began the drive at roadside meat (pork) shops located at Keishamthong Kabui village.
All the owners of the 11 shops there were found running the business without registration or possessing requisite license under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 .
All the shops were ordered to close down until they possess valid license.
The shop owners were also told to get the meats tested at relevant laboratory.
Designated Officer (Food Safety)/CMO Imphal West, S Bimolakumari Devi said that all food businesses are responsible for the safety of food and licensing and registration is mandatory under the FSSA.
Food (meat and fish) must be safe and it must not be injurious to health or unfit for human consumption.
Proper hygiene should be maintained by the shop owners, she said.
She also said that obtaining a valid license and getting registration with the competent authority is mandatory for any person or Food Business Operator (FBO) who wishes to start food business.
Th Sunilkumar, FSO Churachandpur said that any person committing offence of storing, selling, distributing or importing of unsafe food is liable for imprisonment upto 6 months and a fine upto Rs 1 lakh.
The drive was also conducted at Chingamakhong, Nagamapal Kangjabi Leirak Machin, Kakhulong.
All the dressed meats, fishes and eggs including those imported from Moreh side were seized by the team.
The drive was also joined by FSOs, SP (Imphal West).
Similar drive would be carried on.
It may be mentioned that FSSA 2006 (34 of 2006), Rules and Regulations, 2011 came into force with effect from August 5, 2011.The Act extends to the whole of India.
The Act is mandated to lay down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import, to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
Licensing and registration of FBOs is mandatory under the Act.
Carrying out food business without registration and license is liable to attract punishment and prosecution including imprisonment and fine under the FSSA 2006 .

ஜவ்வரிசி ஆலைகளுக்கு மறைமுகமாக திராவகம் விற்கும் கடைகள் மீது நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும் போலீஸ் கமிஷனர் அலுவலகத்தில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரி புகார்

சேலம், பிப்.6-
ஜவ்வரிசி ஆலைகளுக்கு மறைமுகமாக திராவகம் உள்ளிட்ட ரசாயன பொருட்களை விற்கும் கடைகள் மீது நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கக் கோரி போலீஸ் கமிஷனர் அலுவலகத்தில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரி புகார் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர்.
கலப்படம்
சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் உள்ள ஜவ்வரிசி ஆலைகளில், ஜவ்வரிசி வெண்மை நிறத்திற்காக ரசாயன பொருட்கள் கலப்பதாக புகார் கூறப்பட்டது. இதைத்தொடர்ந்து உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகள் ஜவ்வரிசி ஆலைகளில் சோதனை நடத்தினர். அப்போது, கலப்படம் செய்த ஜவ்வரிசி ஆலைகளுக்கு அதிகாரிகள் ‘சீல்‘ வைத்து நடவடிக்கை எடுத்தனர்.
இதை கண்டித்து ஜவ்வரிசி வியாபாரிகள் ஏலம் எடுப்பதை புறக்கணித்தனர். இதனால் லட்சக்கணக்கில் ஜவ்வரிசி தேக்கம் அடைந்தது. இதைத்தொடர்ந்து அதிகாரிகள் நடத்திய பேச்சுவார்த்தையில் உடன்பாடு ஏற்பட்டதை அடுத்து மீண்டும் ஏலத்தில் வியாபாரிகள் கலந்து கொண்டனர்.
திராவக கடைகள்
இந்த நிலையில், வட மாநிலங்களில் ஜவ்வரிசி சீசன் தொடங்கி உள்ளதால் தற்போது மீண்டும் ஆலைகளில் ரசாயனம் கலப்பதாக புகார் எழுந்துள்ளது. சேலத்தில் 32 கடைகள் உரிமத்துடன் ரசாயன பொருட்கள் விற்பனை செய்து வருகின்றன. இவர்கள் யாருக்கு எல்லாம் ரசாயன பொருட்கள் வழங்கி உள்ளார்கள் என்பதை எழுதி வைக்க வேண்டும் என்ற விதிமுறைகள் உள்ளது.
ஆனால் சிலர் விதிமுறைகளை மீறி ஜவ்வரிசி ஆலைகளுக்கு மறைமுகமாக திராவகம் உள்ளிட்ட ரசாயன பொருட்களை விநியோகம் செய்வதாக உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகளுக்கு ரகசிய தகவல் கிடைத்தது. இதைத்தொடர்ந்து உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரி மறைமுகமாக ஆலைகளுக்கு திராவகம் விற்கும் கடைகள் மீது நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கக் கோரி போலீஸ் கமிஷனர் அலுவலகத்தில் புகார் கொடுத்துள்ளார். அதன்பேரில் போலீசார் விசாரணை நடத்தி வருகின்றனர்.

Food safety hit: Govt extends regn deadline again

Chennai:
Despite protests from consumer activists, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has extended the deadline for food outlets to enroll with the food safety department till August 4, 2015.The earlier extended deadline expired on Wednesday .
The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 has set new licensing and registration norms for food businesses -hotels, restaurants, canteens, hostels, roadside eateries, dairy shops, tea shops, meat shops, juice shops and vegetable and fruits vendors.
The latest extension is the fifth since the implementation of the act on August 5, 2011. Bimal K Dubey , director (enforcement) said they have received several representations from food operators to extend the deadline for obtaining the license and registration by another year. “But we have decided to extend the deadline by six months, up to August 4, to ensure more food businesses to renew or convert existing licences or registrations.“
As per the act, a licence is compulsory for any food business with an annual turnover of more than `12 lakh. Those with a lower turnover must register with the state food safety de partment.
While traders welcomed the extension of the deadline, consumer activists said the extension could not be justified. T Sadagopan, a consumer activist said FSSAI is diluting the importance of the act. “The lethargic attitude of government has resulted in poor enforcement.The enrollment of food operators will remain low if there is no enforcement by authorities.“
Tamil Nadu Hotels Association Secretary R Srinivasan said only 20% of the food operators in the state have been enrolled under the Act. “We have been asking the government to amend the existing act in consultation with food operators.Many provisions in the act are not suitable for Indian conditions.“
Statistics show less than 10,000 of the 50,000 restaurants in the city have enrolled with food safety department. A food safety official admitted that numerous extensions have dampened the spirit of the act.

CCI hails extension for obtaining registration / renewal of licenses

Jammu, Feb 5 : Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCI) Jammu welcomed the decision taken by the Union Government to extend the date for obtaining registration / renewal of Licenses by the businessmen dealing in Food items under Food Safety and Standards Act upto4-08-2015. In meeting held today at Chamber House under the Presidentship of Rakesh Gupta, wherein the Chamber team said that all has happened with the Joint efforts made by CCI Jammu and CAIT, New Delhi. Chamber further appreciated the efforts made by Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) especially by Parveen Khandelwal, with whose efforts the date has been further extended. Chamber feels that the extension of dates for obtaining Registration/ renewal of licenses under F.S.S.A is not a permanent solution, but at the same time we are hopeful that during the extended period, we shall succeed in getting the required amendments suggested by CCI Jammu and CAIT, 
New Delhi incorporated in the said act to make the act universally acceptable by all sections of the society. The office bearers present in the meeting include Sham Lal Langer, Sr. Vice President, Deepak Aggarwal, Jr. Vice President, Arun Gupta, Secretary General, Rahul Mahajan, Secretary and Ashu Gupta, Treasurer.

DINAMALAR NEWS