SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly’s Committee on Petitions on Friday called for the establishment of state-of-the-art food testing laboratories in both Jammu and Kashmir regions, besides strengthening enforcement measures to curb adulteration of essential food commodities.
The committee, chaired by Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah, directed the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to intensify inspections, ensure timely testing of food samples, fill vacant posts and expedite the disposal of cases before adjudicating authorities.
Shah said food adulteration was a serious public health concern affecting the daily lives of citizens and called for a zero-tolerance approach towards the practice. He also stressed the need to strengthen existing laboratories and intensify information, education and communication (IEC) activities under Mission Safe Food.
Commissioner, Food and Drugs Authority J&K, Khalid Jahangir presented a status report detailing the organisation’s structure, staff strength, enforcement activities, IEC initiatives and action taken on the committee’s recommendations and directions issued on August 3, 2026.
The committee was informed that 11,720 inspections had been conducted during 2026-27 up to October, with 6,259 enforcement samples and 2,508 surveillance samples collected. A further 5,179 samples had been tested through Mobile Food Testing Vehicles (MFTVs).
The department had also conducted special enforcement drives between April and October 2026 covering fresh vegetables, packaged drinking water, nutraceuticals, edible oils and fats, ghee, honey, milk and milk products, spices, caffeinated drinks, meat products, bakery products and prepared food.
The committee also took up Petition No. 2 concerning alleged encroachment of land at Khimber in Tehsil Hazratbal, Srinagar.
It directed the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Srinagar, to verify revenue records, assess the ground situation and submit a comprehensive report on the alleged encroachments. The committee stressed the need to safeguard government and private land and take appropriate action in accordance with the law after due verification.
The meeting was attended by legislators Mir Mohammad Fayaz, Javaid Riyaz (Bedar) and Dr Sajjad Shafi, besides the Joint Commissioner, Food Safety; ADC Srinagar; Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Chadoora; Food Safety Officers; State Nodal Officer, FDA; and officers of the Assembly Secretariat.
