Implementation of Food Safety Regulations
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 7: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking implementation of Food Safety Regulations issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India with regard to edible and non-edible ice blocks being manufactured by industrial units, a Division Bench of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court comprising Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice MA Chowdhary has directed the Director/Controller, Drugs & Food Control Organization to ensure that the order dated 25.04.2017 regarding guidelines for ice coming in contact with food products are strictly implemented in its letter and spirit.
“The present petition came to be filed in July 2019 and the objections on behalf of Drugs and Food Control Organization came to be filed in October 2019 averring therein that the Deputy Commissioner, Food Safety & Drugs Administration issued a communication on 25.09.2019 requesting all the designated officers, Food Safety of all the districts of Jammu division to carry out special drive for one week with effect from 27.09.2019 to 04.10.2019 and take action against the manufacturers indulging in selling of non-edible ice without colour for distinguishing it from edible ice”, the DB observed.
“As per the report received from the designated officers, district Jammu and district Kathua, the manufacturers of non-edible ice are adding colour as per the guidelines issued by the FSSAI. Further, a public notice/advisory on edible/non-edible ice as per the guidelines issued by the FSSAI was published in newspapers for the awareness of the general public including manufacturer of edible/non-edible ice”, the DB further observed.
The DB said, “though the grievance, as projected by the petitioner, is of grave concern, yet in view of the reports of designated officers, it seems the concern raised by the petitioner in the present petition has already been addressed as, in view of the reports, the manufacturers of non-edible ice have been adding colour as per the guidelines issued by the FSSAI so as to distinguish non-edible ice from edible ice”.
Accordingly, DB disposed off the PIL with a direction to the Director/Controller, Drugs & Food Control Organization to ensure that the order dated 25.04.2017 regarding guidelines for ice coming in contact with food products, issued by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India, is strictly implemented in its letter and spirit.
“However, if, at any stage, the petitioner feels that the guidelines are being flouted by manufacturers of non-edible ice blocks, he is at liberty to approach this court again”, DB said.
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