Photo Courtesy: Image by Nico Franz from Pixabay | For representational purpose only
Kohima, September 14 (MExN): Food safety authorities in Kohima have conducted an inspection drive on provisional stores in Jail Colony, raising concerns over widespread violations including missing FSSAI licences, incomplete labelling, and illegal repacking of food products.
The Food Safety Team, Kohima Zone, under the establishment of the Chief Medical Office, Kohima, led by the Designated Officer and Food Safety Officer, carried out the exercise amid a spike in home-based businesses and rising demand for imported food products, on one hand, and increasing risk of food adulteration on the other.
The drive was aimed at checking misbranded food products and creating awareness and warning among Food Business Operators (FBOs).
During the exercise, officials found that many shops were operating without valid FSSAI License/Registration Certificate, which is mandatory under the Food Safety & Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. Defaulters will attract penalty under the appropriate section. FBOs are required not only to obtain the licence but also to display it prominently on the premises.
Many home-based food products kept in the premises were found without complete labelling, including best-before dates and address of the FBOs, where mandatory declarations are applicable under the Food Safety & Standards (Labelling & Display) Regulations, 2020. Some products carried expired licence/registration numbers on their labels. The concerned FBOs have been directed to immediately renew or update their licences to avoid further action.
Certain shops engaged in repacking of food products were found without any label declaration and without the FSSAI Licence number of the manufacturer and the re-packer. Such re-packers are also required to obtain a Medical Fitness Certificate from a registered doctor before repacking.
Some imported food products were found stored or displayed for sale without the requisite FSSAI Licence Number. Any FBO storing or selling such products must ensure that the imported food product contains the name and address of the importer along with the licence number, failing which such products are deemed sold illegally. Certain food articles not meant to be sold loose from the main packet were also displayed for sale as individual products with no label.
“In view of being an awareness exercise, the Food Business Operators were warned for self-compliance and to be cautious about what food products are to be sold under his control,” Kezhangulie Yimchunger, Designated Officer, Food Safety Administration, Kohima, Nagaland, stated in a press release.
Sections 26 and 27 of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 lay down the responsibilities of every FBO, failure of which will invite appropriate penalty. Officials have marked the defaulting food articles to be kept aside for return. However, non-compliance in subsequent inspections will attract seizure or detention of the non-compliant food articles.
The authorities have also urged the public not to buy any products without proper labelling and to report defaulting persons to the concerned authority. Similar exercises will continue, and all FBOs have been cautioned accordingly.
For any query, the public may visit the Chief Medical Office, Para-Medical Colony, Kohima.
