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FDA chief calls for public awareness
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Sunday, 16 November, 2008, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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 By creating public awareness and involvement of food operators, the complex issues related to food safety & quality could be addressed. Once the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2oo6, comes into force, there will be a central Food Authority to regulate the sector, instead of the more than a dozen laws existing at present. Dhanraj Khamatkar, Commissioner, Food & Drug Administration, Maharashtra, in an e-mail interview with P N V NAIR, touches upon the FSS Act and the new role the FDA will play under the Act.
What are the salient features of the Food Safety & Standards Act?
Following are the salient
features of the Act.
● This is an integrated law for food business.
● The Act establishes an independent statutory authority - The Food Safety & Standards Authority -- which will be an apex body based in Delhi.
● The Food Authority will regulate and monitor the sale and import of safe and wholesome food.
● The statutory bodies will be the Food Authority, State Food Safety Commissioner, designated officers and food safety officers and food analysts.
● Procedure for enforcing the Act is laid down.
● The Act regulates for safe food but does not apply to farmers and fishermen in respect of crops or live stores or aquaculture.
● The powers given for compounding of offences against retailers, petty manufacturers hawkers etc.
● For the first time the Act provides compensation to affected.
persons for consumption of unsafe food resulting in death or injury or grievous injury.
What are the existing laws & regulations that govern food safety?
Following laws & regulations which are implemented /executed by various authorities will be covered under a single FSSA.
● The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954
● The Fruit Product Order 1955.
● The Meat Food Product Order 1973.
● The Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order 1947.
● The Edible Oil Packaging (Regulation ) Order 1948.
● The Solvent Extraction Oil. De-oiled Meat and Edible Flour (control) Order 1967.
● The Milk & Milk Products Order 1992.
● The orders issued under the Essential Commodities Act 1955 (10 of 1955) related to Food.
● Infant Milk substitute, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods Act 1992.
What are the food safety standards that required to be observed by the Indian manufacturers for the domestic market and also the global market?
The process of setting standards of food is in progress by the Central Government. Sec.03 provides definition: it is very exhaustive and self- explanatory.
Where do we stand in food safety & quality? Do you think in a poor country where almost one third of the population does not have enough to eat, food standards can be implemented successfully?
We are a developing country, and now nearing to a developed country. PFA enforcement since 1955 leads to the right way in respect of food safety.
What's FDA's role in ensuring Food safety & quality?
Since 1970, FDA is implementing the PFA Act 1954 very successfully in the state of Maharashtra. FDA will ensure and implement the FSSA 2006 in full swing in the state. There will be a Commissioner of Food Safety and implementing infrastructure.
What are the problems you face in implementing food safety regulations?
As of today the PFA is not repealed and the Food Safety and Standards Act has not been enforced & Rules are yet to be framed.
Most of the food processing units are in the unorganised sector, consisting of small and tiny units? Is this sector coming under your purview? If so how do you manage to monitor the vast and huge sector?
Agreed, it is a very difficult task. By increasing the potential of working FDA officials and by making public awareness and involvement of food operators it is possible to achieve. Public awareness is very important in the effective implementation of the law and the administration will try its best for increasing the public awareness.
Do you Act on public complaints about adulteration of food and food ingredients?
This is one of the most important features of FDA, apart from routine work of detection of adulteration. Every complaint is attended forthwith and outcome of the results of the complaint are informed to the complainant.
If a particular food product is found to be a health hazard, what action you take generally?
Such food articles are either prohibited or seized under intimation to concerned authorities.
Can you list some important cases involving food adulteration in which you have taken the initiative to uncover the racket?
No such rackets involved are noticed; however organised criminals are nabbed; for instance the modus operandi of tampering milk pouches of reputed brands was busted by carrying out continuous raids. Second as a news was flashed that milk products produced in China are contaminated with melamine, the FDA instantly prohibited / seized stock of imported chocolates and analysed them if melamine was present in the products.
What do you propose to overcome any loopholes in the law?
FDA is also pursuing with the state government to establish separate courts at district places and also separate government pleaders to conduct cases.
And last but not least, FDA Maharashtra has made all the offences under the PFA Act to be cognisable and non-bailable in the state that has made a deterrent effect on the offenders.
With the setting up of the FSSAI do you expect any change in your role?
The role of FDA will be of facilitator and then regulator.
Do you think that FSSAI can handle the food safety issues in a better way and the number of cases will come down?
Yes, this is the crux of FSSA 2006. Merely prosecuting the culprit will not serve the purpose. The FSSA 2006 gives an opportunity to improve in respect of the safety and quality of the produce. And other changes suggested, like compounding of offence, will speed up justice, and prosecutions will be warranted only for deserved case.
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