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Jammu, Feb. 05: Chamber
had been making efforts with Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) to get
the Food Safety and Standards Act deferred and also to review the draconian
provisions of the said act, which are harsh for the trading community. The
CAIT and the Chamber has demanded the government to constitute a joint
committee of the officials and the trade leaders to make an in-depth study of
the act to recommend the government necessary changes in the said act. The
Food Safety and standard Act in the present shape is applicable not only on
the traders but has also wider implications even on common man as wherever
the food items are served for profit or non-profit motive like Restaurants,
Food Places, Religious places, wedding ceremonies, social functions,
seminars, meetings and social services like Midday meals etc of the
government will be under the purview of the Act. The continuation of Food
trade without registration will attract a fine of Rs. 5 lakhs and
imprisonment of 6 months.
Even the entrepreneurs / persons involved in processing, packing, storage, transportation, distribution etc of the food items will be liable to comply the provisions of the Act. Sh. Y.V. Sharma, President Chamber of Commerce & Industry expresses thanks to the Confederation of All India Traders especially Mr. Parveen Khandwal, Secretary General who undertook a massive exercise and finally succeeded in persuading Government of India especially the Hon’ble Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Sh. Ghulam Nabi Azad to postpone the implementation of the said act for atleast 6 months and appoint a select committee to review and recommend the amendments in the provisions of the said act. Ultimately the government has issued Notification No. 1/1/Enf-1/FSSAI/2012 dated 4th February 2014 extending the time line for seeking registration / conversion / renewal of existing licenses upto 4th August 2014. |
CCI wants Food Safety and Standard Act deferred
Delhi govt passing the buck on food safety, says lawyer
The court, which has been monitoring the issue since 2010,
has asked various ministries and departments to submit their responses by
March.
Slamming
reports filed by Delhi government’s Department of Food Safety that there is no
pesticide or chemical residue in fruits and vegetables in the Capital’s
markets, a senior lawyer appointed as amicus curiae in a PIL Wednesday told the
Delhi High Court that “no results” have been achieved despite 12 affidavits
being filed by the Centre and Delhi government since 2010.
“The
attempts have been to pass the buck,” said the report filed by senior advocate
Sanjay Jain, who said there is no coordination between various government
departments. The court has now issued notice to the central ministries of
agriculture, chemicals and petrochemicals, science and technology, environment,
health and family welfare, as well as the department of food safety to respond
to the report. “Delhi does not grow anything, everything comes from outside.
There has to be coordination,” said the court.
Delhi
government had filed an affidavit claiming it tested 59 samples from wholesale
and retail markets between August 2013 and January 2014, but did not find
pesticide residue or coloring matter in them. But Jain said the sample size was
too small. The court also observed that “pan India action” is required to
“educate farmers”. During arguments, advocate Sugriva Dubey, who filed the PIL,
said, “Distributors inject fruits and vegetables with chemicals to speed up the
ripening process and give color. Nothing is being done about that,” said Dubey.
The court, which has been monitoring the issue since 2010, has asked various
ministries and departments to submit their responses by March.
Delhi HC Concerned over Pesticides in Vegetables
The
Delhi High Court Wednesday expressed concern over a report that said pesticide
residues were found to be "beyond permissible limits" in vegetables
and edible items sold across the country.
A division bench of Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw, taking note of a report filed by amicus curiae Sanjay Jain, issued notice to the central and city governments on the issue.
It sought response from the department of agriculture and cooperation, department of agriculture research and education, department of chemicals and petrochemicals, department of biotechnology, ministry of environment and forests, food safety and standards authority, and department of food safety.
The court will hear the case March 5.
It said high content of pesticides in vegetables and fruits required a "pan-India" concerted effort.
Jain submitted a report and said pesticides are used in a "growing number of vegetables which have the potential to cause serious neurological problem, kidney damage, skin diseases, cancer and other diseases".
Going through the report, the court said: "India is not a country to allow such type of chemicals to be used in vegetables and fruits. The central government has to make the effort. It has to be pan-India effort."
Jain told the bench that the issue required efforts from all stakeholders, including various government departments.
Appearing for the Delhi government, advocate Zubeda Begum told the court that the Delhi Agriculture Marketing Board found "no pesticides residues beyond permissible limit" on 1,134 samples reviewed in a year, from January 2013 to January 2014.
The samples collected and tested by the government were very small and did not reflect the actual ground figures, said the amicus curiae, who was assisting the court in the matter.
He further said there was no effective public campaign to educate the farmers, despite the fact that ignorance of farmers was the fountainhead of the pesticide problem.
The high court had earlier taken suo motu cognizance on an NGO report that said the amount of pesticides used by farmers in India was as much as 750 times higher than European standards.
A division bench of Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw, taking note of a report filed by amicus curiae Sanjay Jain, issued notice to the central and city governments on the issue.
It sought response from the department of agriculture and cooperation, department of agriculture research and education, department of chemicals and petrochemicals, department of biotechnology, ministry of environment and forests, food safety and standards authority, and department of food safety.
The court will hear the case March 5.
It said high content of pesticides in vegetables and fruits required a "pan-India" concerted effort.
Jain submitted a report and said pesticides are used in a "growing number of vegetables which have the potential to cause serious neurological problem, kidney damage, skin diseases, cancer and other diseases".
Going through the report, the court said: "India is not a country to allow such type of chemicals to be used in vegetables and fruits. The central government has to make the effort. It has to be pan-India effort."
Jain told the bench that the issue required efforts from all stakeholders, including various government departments.
Appearing for the Delhi government, advocate Zubeda Begum told the court that the Delhi Agriculture Marketing Board found "no pesticides residues beyond permissible limit" on 1,134 samples reviewed in a year, from January 2013 to January 2014.
The samples collected and tested by the government were very small and did not reflect the actual ground figures, said the amicus curiae, who was assisting the court in the matter.
He further said there was no effective public campaign to educate the farmers, despite the fact that ignorance of farmers was the fountainhead of the pesticide problem.
The high court had earlier taken suo motu cognizance on an NGO report that said the amount of pesticides used by farmers in India was as much as 750 times higher than European standards.
CAIT, Chamber demands joint committee to analyse Food Safety and Standards Act
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and the
Chamber of Commerce and Industry has demanded the government to constitute a
joint committee of officials and trade leaders, to make an in-depth study of
the Food Safety and Standards Act and recommend necessary changes in it. The
Chamber hasbeen making efforts with the CAIT to get the Act deferred, and also
to review its strict provisions, which are harsh for the trading community.
The Act, in the present shape is applicable not only on traders, but also has wider implications on common man, as wherever the food items are served for profit or non-profit motives in restaurants, eating joints, religious places, wedding ceremonies, social functions, seminars, meetings and social services like midday meals, the government would be under the purview of the Act.
The continuation of food trade without registration would attract a fine of `5 lakh and imprisonment of 6 months.
Even the entrepreneurs/people involved in processing, packing, storage, transportation, distribution of food items would be liable to comply the provisions of the Act.
Chamber of Commerce & Industry president YV Sharma thanked the CIET, especially general secretary Parveen Khandwal, who undertook a massive exercise and finally succeeded in persuading the government of India, especially the union health and family welfare minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, to postpone the implementation of the said Act for at least 6 months and appoint a committee to review and recommend the amendments in the provisions of the said Act.
The government has issued notification no. 1/1/Enf-1/FSSAI/2012 dated February4,2014, extending the time line for seeking registration / conversion / renewal of existing licenses up to August4,2014.
The Act, in the present shape is applicable not only on traders, but also has wider implications on common man, as wherever the food items are served for profit or non-profit motives in restaurants, eating joints, religious places, wedding ceremonies, social functions, seminars, meetings and social services like midday meals, the government would be under the purview of the Act.
The continuation of food trade without registration would attract a fine of `5 lakh and imprisonment of 6 months.
Even the entrepreneurs/people involved in processing, packing, storage, transportation, distribution of food items would be liable to comply the provisions of the Act.
Chamber of Commerce & Industry president YV Sharma thanked the CIET, especially general secretary Parveen Khandwal, who undertook a massive exercise and finally succeeded in persuading the government of India, especially the union health and family welfare minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, to postpone the implementation of the said Act for at least 6 months and appoint a committee to review and recommend the amendments in the provisions of the said Act.
The government has issued notification no. 1/1/Enf-1/FSSAI/2012 dated February4,2014, extending the time line for seeking registration / conversion / renewal of existing licenses up to August4,2014.
Food safety license deadline extended
COIMBATORE: In a major relief to food business operators,
the deadline for getting registered with the food safety department has been
extended till August 4, 2014. The decision was taken in New Delhi on the basis
of a petition from Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) demanding an
extension, claiming that it would be a major relief for six crore traders
across the country. Though there were reports coming in on Tuesday evening
about further extension of the deadline, it was officially confirmed on
Wednesday.
"We have received instruction about the six month extension till August. As of now, there will be no further changes in other procedures and we will continue to seek applications online, carry out the necessary formalities for registration and issue licenses," said R Kathiravan, designated officer, food safety department, Coimbatore.
This is the third extension given to traders to comply with the norms of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulation 2011. The traders' associations have been claiming that the act is extremely stringent and impractical to follow, especially for domestic food producers.
"The norms of this regulation cannot be practically implemented. Besides, it will wipe out the entire small and medium scale food business operators. The fact that even outlets like provision stores, grocery stores and bakeries are included in its scope itself is not at all logical," claimed VC Natarajan, district secretary, Federation of Tamil Nadu Traders Association.
As on February 4, 2906 food business operators had got their license from the food safety department and another 6905 got registered as per the norm. In total, there are 22,000 food business operators in Coimbatore district. According to officials, they were facing maximum resistance from small and medium scale food business operators.
"As per the law, grocery stores are also supposed to get registered with the department. There are different parameters to analyse and confirm whether products like rice, pulses and cereals sold through these outlets could be certified as safe for consumption," said an official from the food safety department.
"We have received instruction about the six month extension till August. As of now, there will be no further changes in other procedures and we will continue to seek applications online, carry out the necessary formalities for registration and issue licenses," said R Kathiravan, designated officer, food safety department, Coimbatore.
This is the third extension given to traders to comply with the norms of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulation 2011. The traders' associations have been claiming that the act is extremely stringent and impractical to follow, especially for domestic food producers.
"The norms of this regulation cannot be practically implemented. Besides, it will wipe out the entire small and medium scale food business operators. The fact that even outlets like provision stores, grocery stores and bakeries are included in its scope itself is not at all logical," claimed VC Natarajan, district secretary, Federation of Tamil Nadu Traders Association.
As on February 4, 2906 food business operators had got their license from the food safety department and another 6905 got registered as per the norm. In total, there are 22,000 food business operators in Coimbatore district. According to officials, they were facing maximum resistance from small and medium scale food business operators.
"As per the law, grocery stores are also supposed to get registered with the department. There are different parameters to analyse and confirm whether products like rice, pulses and cereals sold through these outlets could be certified as safe for consumption," said an official from the food safety department.
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