CS consults NITI Aayog for stronger food safety regime in J&K

JAMMU : Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, on Thursday held high-level consultative meeting with Member, NITI Aayog, Dr. V.K. Paul, along with senior experts and advisors from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), to deliberate on a comprehensive strategy for strengthening and augmenting food safety mechanisms across the districts of J&K.
The meeting was attended by Secretary, Health & Medical Education (H&ME); Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Director, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), Jammu/Kashmir; Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and other concerned senior officers.
During the discussions, Dr. V.K. Paul shared expert insights on framing a future-ready roadmap aimed at ensuring uncompromising food safety standards across Jammu and Kashmir. He, along with FSSAI experts, outlined a six-point strategic framework to be pursued in the coming months for strengthening both awareness and enforcement mechanisms under the Food Safety regime.
The roadmap emphasized the launch of a vigorous Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign to create widespread public awareness about food safety practices, consumer rights, and statutory provisions under the Food Safety and Standards Act. This would be complemented by simultaneous efforts to plug gaps in enforcement mechanisms, including necessary notifications and regulatory measures to empower the Food Safety Organization with stronger enforcement authority.
A key focus area discussed was capacity building of human resources, along with strengthening of food testing infrastructure. It was agreed that priority would be accorded to upgradation and strengthening of existing laboratories in the first phase, with expansion to follow in a calibrated manner.
The meeting also resolved to constitute a joint panel of experts from FSSAI and J&K, Health Department to prepare a detailed action plan within the next three months, with implementation scheduled to commence from April 2026.
Earlier, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo highlighted the specific requirements of Jammu and Kashmir for developing a comprehensive and long-term roadmap to make the food safety system among one of the best in the country.
He sought guidance from NITI Aayog on preparing a multi-year blueprint for optimal utilization of the Food Safety Act to safeguard public health. He also requested expert recommendations on strengthening laboratory infrastructure, enhancing human resources, improving training and capacity building, and addressing systemic bottlenecks to make the Food Safety Organization more effective and empowered during this period.
Providing an overview of the current scenario, Secretary, H&ME, Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah, presented the status of food safety enforcement in the Union Territory. He briefed the experts on existing institutional mechanisms, including the functioning of two Food Safety Appellate Tribunals and two NABL/FSSAI-accredited laboratories at Jammu and Srinagar, and underscored the need for the present consultations to further strengthen enforcement outcomes.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to reinforcing food safety governance in Jammu and Kashmir through coordinated institutional efforts, robust enforcement, and sustained awareness for the safety and welfare of its people.