A meeting of District Level Advisory Committee (DLAC) on Food Safety and Healthy Diets was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Dr. Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat at Meeting Hall of the DC Office Complex here to review the measures in place to ensure quality food to people in the District.
At the outset, DC took a comprehensive review of the functioning and achievements of the Food Safety Department with regard to public health.
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 measures in place 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 the well-being of the public, the DC issued instructions to Officers to ensure availability of quality and hygienic food 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 and upgrade the laboratories for conducting tests of food items. He assured all possible support from District Administration for the purpose to ensure quality and hygienic food items to the people.
Dr Bilal stressed on 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 the safety of human lives. He instructed for taking strict action under law against the FBOs 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 bakery items, milk, edible oil, spices, meat, poultry products 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.
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 1400 inspections were conducted, while 1967 legal as well surveillance samples were lifted during the same period. In addition, various cases have been filed before the competent courts and an amount of Rs 177000/-has been imposed as fine on violators.
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.
The meeting was attended Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Syed Ahmad Kataria; General Manager DIC, Assistant Commissioner Food Safety, Chief Education Officer, Chief Agriculture Officer, AD FCS&CA, other concerned Officers and representatives of Bakers Association, Spice Association, Hoteliers, Industrial estate Khonmoh.