No compromise on food quality be tolerated: Asstt Commissioner Food & Safety Deptt

Says, since March 2020, 10539 cases registered, 16 Lac fine collected

Says, since March 2020, 10539 cases registered, 16 Lac fine collected

 

Sajad Lone

Srinagar, Dec 31 (KNS): Assistant Commissioner Food & Safety Hilal Ahmad Mir on Thursday said amidst Covid19 pandemic the department directed all manufacturing units operating across Kashmir to stritcly adhere upon Covid19 guidelines.

In an interview to KNS, the officer said since noval Corona started, the Department issued guidelines, recommended by WHO, the department issued the guideines to all manufacturing units operating across the Kashmir and directed them to strictly adhere upon. "We directed our officers that these guidelines should be followed, implemented everywhere. Our prime focus were manufacturing units and distributors who were told to use sanitizers besides following SOPs, and also maintaining social distancing to keep the pandemic away", Mir said and added the department achieved success in implementing the guidelines on ground.

To a query, the officer said that the department is regularly conducting inspections so that there will be no compromise with quality issues in food items. "Just few minutes ago, we sealed a manufacturing unit in Bemina, Srinagar where unhygeinic items were being sold", he added.

He added that whenever any violation comes to our notice, we swung into action swiftly. "Since March 2020, the department lodged 1539 cases against different violators and
collected 16 lac fine from them. "We found 311 shops ungyeinic, 226 without possesing valid documents and also closed down 12 shops inviolating norms set by the department", he said.

The officer urged people don't shy away from filling compalints against sub standard quality of food items. "It is our message to people to come up against violations. File reports, we will act upon", he said.

He said it is imperative for food processing units to get registered with Food Safety Department under “Food Safety and Standard Act”. "A person without obtaining a license is doing offence and can be booked under “Food Safety and Standard Act” with imprisonment of six-months besides penalty of 5 Lac rupees", he said and added we have online registration to earn license.

While clarifying, he said the registration is for only those who have business turnover of around 12 lac per annum, and all necessary formalities for providing a license to a manufacturing unit holder would be completed within a months and there is no issue of time consuming.

Asked about food adulteration, he said it is one of prime concern of ours because people are fond of wazwan in Kashmir. "The inspection of restaurants and food outlets is aimed at ascertaining the usage of synthetic food color and mono-sodium glutamate in food preparations. "The department has issued strict instructions to all food business operators in the Kashmir particularly in Srinagar city to maintain hygienic conditions. Through your medium the owners of the restaurants and other food joints are being strictly warned against usage of chemicals in their preparations. It is food and don’t let it become poison for public", he added.

About people living in rural areas, he said we want to aware them that not to consume anything that’s open and unhygienic. "Our team is on job to trap these poison makers. At the end the responsibility also lies on people. They have to coporate with us. If there is any food manufacturing unit in a hygienic form, please communicate us the same", he urged.

To a query, he said the the department is often carrying out awareness programmers among people that what to consume and what not.

The officer said that all activities are being done on the clear instructions of Commissioner Food & Drug Administration, Shakeel-ur- Rehman, that there will be no compromise on food quality. "On his directions, the department is conducting regular inspections across kashmir. (KNS) 

To Top