The Food & Drugs Administration (FDA) in Jammu and Kashmir has significantly ramped up its food safety enforcement activities across the Union Territory, conducting a comprehensive drive that concluded recently. During this intensive operation, authorities carried out 140 inspections, a crucial step in ensuring the quality and safety of food products available to the public. As a direct outcome of these checks, 55 food samples were collected for rigorous testing against established quality and safety parameters. The scope of these collected samples was broad, encompassing essential food commodities such as milk and milk products, edible oils, and various spices, reflecting a commitment to scrutinizing a wide array of food items.
Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that this enforcement action also involved issuing 17 Improvement Notices to various Food Business Operators. These notices were served under Section 32 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, indicating specific areas where businesses need to rectify their practices to comply with regulations. Furthermore, 11 cases were compounded under Section 69 of the same Act, resulting in a total penalty of Rs 11,000 being levied. This demonstrates a tangible financial consequence for non-compliance, serving as a deterrent to potential violations. The FDA’s vigilance extended to the scrutiny of 97 food labels, ensuring they adhered to prescribed labelling requirements. Of these, two were found to be non-compliant with the applicable provisions, highlighting issues with product information and transparency. In a more severe enforcement measure, one food business registration was cancelled in the Reasi district due to contravention of the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, underscoring the administration’s resolve to take decisive action against significant breaches.
The comprehensive nature of these enforcement activities is further evidenced by the diverse range of establishments covered. The drive encompassed not only traditional food business establishments but also e-commerce entities that deal in food items. The specific product categories targeted included milk and milk products, edible oils, and spices, alongside imported food items, ensuring a holistic approach to food safety. Crucially, the FDA also extended its oversight to food supplied through vital public distribution channels, including the Public Distribution System, Mid-Day Meal schemes, and Integrated Child Development Services programs. This ensures that even the most vulnerable sections of the population are protected from substandard or unsafe food. The enforcement efforts were strategically deployed across multiple districts, including Jammu, Doda, Kathua, Samba, Reasi, Udhampur, Srinagar, Anantnag, Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal, and Budgam, ensuring a wide geographical reach for these critical safety checks.
A senior official involved in the drive emphasized the ongoing nature of these efforts. The concerned Designated Officers and Food Safety Officers have been explicitly instructed to maintain a consistent pace of inspections, sampling, label scrutiny, and other enforcement activities. They are mandated to take stringent action against any violations detected, strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the regulations framed thereunder. This directive indicates that the recent drive is not a one-off event but part of a sustained strategy to uphold food safety standards across Jammu and Kashmir. The official also highlighted the importance of public participation in ensuring food safety. Consumers have been actively encouraged to remain vigilant and to report any suspected cases of unsafe, adulterated, or substandard food. This can be done conveniently through the Toll-Free Helpline Number 104 or via email, empowering citizens to act as an additional layer of oversight and contributing to a collective effort in safeguarding public health. The FDA’s proactive stance and the collaborative approach with the public are vital components in maintaining a robust food safety ecosystem within the region.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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