DC Srinagar chairs meeting of District Level Advisory Committee (DLAC) on Food Safety

Stresses on intense inspections to curb sale of unhygienic/ misbranded food items in City

Asks FSD to strengthen intelligence network, Testing regime

SRINAGAR :- A meeting of District Level Advisory Committee (DLAC) on Food Safety was held under the Chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner(DC) Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad here at Conference Hall of the DC Office Complex to review the measures in place to ensure quality food to people in the District.

At the outset, the Deputy Commissioner took a comprehensive review of the functioning and achievements of the Food Safety Department.

The meeting held a detailed deliberation on the crucial issues related to food safety standards and hygiene being followed by the Food Business Operators in the District.

On the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner, who is also the Chairman of DLAC was apprised about the current status of food safety in Srinagar District and various proactive measures undertaken by the Food Safety Department to ensure the provision of safe and healthy food for the public.

Underlining the importance of maintaining high standards of food safety for wellbeing of the public, the Deputy Commissioner issued instructions to Officers to ensure hygienic food availability in the market. He emphasized the need for inspection squads to monitor and curb the sale of unhealthy and expired food products, especially those targeted at children, besides to give focused attention towards curbing sale of misbranded food items.

The DC exhorted upon the Srinagar Food Safety Team to strengthen the intelligence network to gather the critical and sensitive information about unhygienic/misbranded food items.

The DC stressed on conducting intensifying market checking across the District and laid emphasis on increasing the volume of lifting the food samples by adopting scientific procedures for study and sharing the findings with the Administration for further course the safety of the human lives. He instructed for taking strict action under law against the FPOs involved in violation of the Food Safety Act.

The DC also stressed further strengthening the Complaint Redressal Mechanism in Srinagar District to encourage the genuine complaints of the consumers and taking timely action against the violators to control the most vital and concerned area related to the public health.

In addition, the DC directed the Officers to conduct awareness programs involving all stakeholders to educate the public on the importance of safe food and maintaining a healthy diet. He asked them to ensure effective implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Rules and Regulations framed there under by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

The DC also stressed on conducting special drives for enforcement of milk, edible oil and other daily consumables in the City markets.

With regard to FOSTAC, the DC asked for building a culture of self-compliance through systematic training and capacity building of food businesses under the food safety and certification system.

The meeting also discussed the Eat Right Challenge a flagship program of FSSAI and other schemes under this flagship programme like RUCO, Surveillance & Enforcement drives, Licensing & Registration drives, FOSCORIS inspections, Special Camps for consumer Awareness, FosTac Trainings, Hygiene Rating, Hub Certification, Eat Right School & Campuses. While implementation of COTPA was also deliberated in detail.

Earlier, Assistant Commissioner Food Safety Srinagar Yamin ul Nabi, who is also the Member Secretary of the committee gave a detailed presentation about the functioning and achievements of the Department.

The meeting was informed that for the purpose of implementation of Food Regulatory Laws, about 1500 inspections were conducted during April to October 2023, while 1215 legal as well surveillance samples were lifted during the same period. In addition, 141 cases have been filed before the competent courts out of and an amount of Rs 680300/-has been imposed as fine on violators since April 2023. Further a good number Food Business operators have been brought within the ambit of Food Licensing & Registration System.

The meeting was informed that a dedicated toll free number 104 is working for registering complaints of the consumers to address the same in a time bound manner.

Besides, Superintendent of Police, Arif Shah and Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Syed Ahmad Kataria, the meeting was attended by Assistant Commissioner Food Safety, Chief Education Officer, Functional Manager DIC, AD FCS&CA and other concerned Officers.