Jisha Surya
January 9, 2014
Thiruvananthapuram: The Food Safety officials, who collected samples for statutory sampling during food safety raids, are in a Catch 22 situation. They have no clear idea on dealing with cases which are not grievous in nature. While the officials can move court for serious offenses such as adulteration that are injurious to health, minor offenses such as sale of substandard products or misbranding require adjudication. However, the government is yet to notify appointment of adjudicating officers. It has also failed to set up Food Safety Appellate Tribunal to hear appeal against the ruling of adjudicating officer.
Though government has designated charge of adjudicating officer to 21 RDOs in the state, it is yet to notify the decision. The department has conducted a preliminary training for the officials. “Even if the adjudicating officers are notified, absence of Appellate Tribunal is an injustice. Under FSSA act, vendors can be fined for Rs 1 lakh for offenses such as sale of substandard products or misbranding. Settling cases without giving a chance for appeal will be fair,” said an official.
Several cases of minor offenses are pending with various Food Safety departments and officials are waiting for the notification of adjudicating officers.
An Assembly panel study led by Majeri MLA M Ummer last year has stressed the need for setting up an appellate tribunal, special court and public prosecutor to deal with food safety cases. Ummer told TOI that he was planning to apply for a discussion in the Assembly on the report. “There has been a lot of progress in the department after we submitted the report. Food Safety officials were appointed in all constituencies. The department is waiting for central assistance to begin works to upgrade labs,” he said
January 9, 2014
Thiruvananthapuram: The Food Safety officials, who collected samples for statutory sampling during food safety raids, are in a Catch 22 situation. They have no clear idea on dealing with cases which are not grievous in nature. While the officials can move court for serious offenses such as adulteration that are injurious to health, minor offenses such as sale of substandard products or misbranding require adjudication. However, the government is yet to notify appointment of adjudicating officers. It has also failed to set up Food Safety Appellate Tribunal to hear appeal against the ruling of adjudicating officer.
Though government has designated charge of adjudicating officer to 21 RDOs in the state, it is yet to notify the decision. The department has conducted a preliminary training for the officials. “Even if the adjudicating officers are notified, absence of Appellate Tribunal is an injustice. Under FSSA act, vendors can be fined for Rs 1 lakh for offenses such as sale of substandard products or misbranding. Settling cases without giving a chance for appeal will be fair,” said an official.
Several cases of minor offenses are pending with various Food Safety departments and officials are waiting for the notification of adjudicating officers.
An Assembly panel study led by Majeri MLA M Ummer last year has stressed the need for setting up an appellate tribunal, special court and public prosecutor to deal with food safety cases. Ummer told TOI that he was planning to apply for a discussion in the Assembly on the report. “There has been a lot of progress in the department after we submitted the report. Food Safety officials were appointed in all constituencies. The department is waiting for central assistance to begin works to upgrade labs,” he said
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