THE NEW FOOD LAW IN INDIA-ARE THE STATES READY?

The new food safety and quality Act which is supposed to have come into effect from August 5, 2011, is projected as a panacea for all the woes consumer is facing vis-a-vis food adulteration and fraud. What is not realized is that no matter how powerful the Act, enacted by the Central Government, is, it has no chance of being effective unless the State administrative apparatus is geared to implement the same. Here is a classical example of what a well administered state can do, if it is sincere to preempt the activities of the food "criminals" who never miss a chance to exploit the weakness of the authorities to make a fast buck at the expense of the consumer.

'The next time you visit your favourite chai, pani puri or bhel puri stall, or any other small-time food seller, don't be surprised to see the vendors sport aprons and hand gloves. For, according to the new Food Safety Act, hawkers, food vendors and temporary stall owners must follow minimum standards of food safety or pay a maximum fine of Rs 1 lakh. The new Central Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006, replaces the existing Prevention of Food Adulteration Act; the State Food Safety Act came into effect in Maharashtra from August 5, 2011. With the implementation of the new rules, even vegetable or fruit sellers who use chemicals to ripen their products will be liable for punishment."

In sharp contrast look at the pitiable condition in a scam affected state like Karnataka which has not yet put in place an operative mechanism to punish the food safety violators under the new Central Act. It was amusing to read a recent news item implicating a premier Hyper Market in Bangalore which was selling date expired food products after super imposing a new expiry date and still getting away without even a warning because the local food authority could not take legal action in the absence of a corresponding state law!. To cap it the civic authority says it has only 8 food inspectors to monitor food safety for a population of more than half a million in the city! Do those sitting in the office of the FSS Authority of India realize this while talking big about its consumer safety program in the country? No chance!

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com