Calls for robust enforcement to safeguard public health
SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the functioning of the Food Safety Wing of the Drug & Food Control Organisation (DFCO) in the wake of recent seizures of rotten meat in various parts of J&K.
The meeting was attended by the Commissioner Secretary, FCS&CA; Secretary, H&ME; Commissioner, Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Commissioner, JMC/SMC; Director, FCS&CA, Kashmir; Director Health, Jammu/Kashmir, besides other concerned officers.
Underscoring the critical importance of public health, the Chief Secretary stressed on strengthening the enforcement machinery coupled with effective surveillance and strict regulatory controls to guarantee a safe and hygienic food supply across the UT.
He directed for intensification of inspections across all food businesses, particularly high-risk Food Business Operators (FBOs), and called for stricter deterrents against violators.
Highlighting the limitations of mere penalties, the Chief Secretary instructed that convictions, licence suspensions, and criminal proceedings be pursued vigorously to curb malpractices. He further directed the formulation of a robust enforcement action plan to ensure comprehensive implementation of the Food Safety & Standards Act.
During the meeting, Secretary, Health & Medical Education, Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah outlined the mandate of the Drug & Food Control Organisation under the Food Safety & Standards Act, which includes regulating manufacture, storage, sale, and distribution of food through surveillance, enforcement sampling, licensing/registration of FBOs, inspections, awareness campaigns, prosecutions, and issuance of prohibition orders wherever required.
Commissioner, FDA, Smita Sethi, presented the performance highlights of the Organisation. She informed that during the current financial year, the Department carried out 9,294 inspections, including 1,145 risk-based inspections, and lifted 2,477 legal samples, out of which 210 samples failed quality tests. Fines amounting to Rs 85.80 lakh have been realized from offenders.
She further revealed that under special enforcement drives, the Department conducted 1,081 inspections of meat and meat products, seizing 2,057 kgs and destroying 11,034 kgs of substandard meat, leading to 9 licence suspensions and 34 cases recommended for prosecution. In the Jammu division, 45,462 kgs of milk and milk-based products (paneer, sweets, etc.) were also seized.
To strengthen the Food Safety Wing, the Organisation has proposed expedited recruitment to address manpower shortages, establishment of two additional modern food testing laboratories and procurement of 10 additional Food Safety on Wheels (FSWs) with FSSAI support, besides setting up modern slaughterhouses, permanent inspection check-posts, and cold storage chains for frozen meat and poultry products.
For effective monitoring, the Organisation also proposed regular meetings of State and District Level Advisory Committees to ensure better inter-agency coordination and compliance monitoring across the length and breadth of the UT.
