Dimapur, June 22 (EMN): Nagaland’s Health & Family Welfare department has noted ‘certain Food business operators are selling 20L/1L of packaged drinking water without obtaining BIS Certification of FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India).’
According to a press release from the department on Friday, “License/registration number in violation of regulation 2.2.1(7) (packaging and Labelling Regulation and Regulation 2.3.14 (17) prohibition and restriction on sales) of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Rules and Regulation, 2011 made thereunder; which is liable to be penalized, punishable with imprisonment and fine under Section 52 and 63 of the said Act.
“Further in violation of sub-sections (I) (II) (III) of Section 25 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations made there under, food business operators both whole and retail sellers are selling misbranded / sub-standards, imported food articles coming from neighbouring countries which is harmful for human consumption.”
Therefore, it stated, in exercise of sub-section (2) (a) of section-30 of stated Act, the government is prohibiting the manufacture, expose for sale offer for sale, store for sale or distribution of aforementioned food articles in the state with immediate effect.
“Non-compliance hereinafter would be an offence, punishable, imprisonment with fine under the said Act. The general public is advised not to purchase such misbranded and sub standard food articles or check the quality of the food and labelling before making purchased. They are also requested to kindly report to the chief medical officers / food safety officers of the districts, or food safety commissioner, department of Health and Family Welfare, or additional food safety commissioner, directorate of Health and Family Welfare, for any information on food adulteration.
“The designated officer (CMO) / food safety officers (FSOs) of the districts are directed to carry out inspection and checking of food business establishment under its jurisdiction and submit action taken report to the undersigned.”
Likewise, the establishment stated in a separate statement that certain food business operators are selling powdered spices adulterated with artificial non-edible colours, besides using carbide gas to artificially ripen fruits, which are harmful for human consumption.
“Therefore, in exercise of the power conferred under sub-section (3) of section-30 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and in pursuance of sub-clause (7) of Regulation 2.1.1. and sub-clause (15) of Regulation 2.3.14, the undersigned do hereby prohibit the powdered spices containing foreign substances, offer for sale, store for sale, distribution for sale and sale of powdered spices in loose form, except under packed conditions with proper labels with immediate effect in the state.
“Further, in pursuance of Regulation 2.3.5 of the said Act, prohibit the use of carbide gas for artificially ripening of fruits with immediate effect in the state. Non-compliance hereafter would be an offence punishable under section-59 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with imprisonment and fine,” it stated.
It has informed citizens ‘not to purchase goods which are suspected to be adulterated, or check the quality of the food items and labelling before making purchases.’
“The public are further requested to kindly report to the chief medical officers / food safety officers of the districts, or food safety commissioner, department of Health & Family Welfare, or additional food safety commissioner, directorate of Health & Family Welfare, for any information on food adulteration.
“The designated officers / food safety officer of the districts are also requested to carry out inspections and checking of food business operators under its jurisdiction and submit action taken report to the undersigned.”
