Posted: August 11th, 2011 - 9:16pm
Source: The Times of India

NAGPUR -- Even before the Maharashtra government has begun implementation of the new Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 and Rules 2010 framed under it a section of trading and industrial community is up in arms against the Act. Manufacturers and traders are not opposing the act per se. They are demanding modifications in the standards in the context of present food production and manufacturing conditions instead of following the norms laid down way back in 1955. The trading community is also apprehensive that the Act would not be implemented in required manner due to absence of testing facilities and infrastructure.
The issue was debated at length on Wednesday at Vidarbha Industries Association (VIA) and the Nag Vidarbha Chamber of Commerce (NVCC) by all stakeholders with the director of Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) S B Dongre. The Act is being looked as giving a 'death blow' to domestic food industry. ity police commissioner Ankush Dhanvijay, who opened the seminar, too suggested that the harsh provisions of the Act should be implemented judiciously by the officers, at least in the initial months of its implementation.
Dongre, however, said that in changing scenario of food products, processes, food habits and lifestyle there was need to regulate manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import of food adhering to global standards. "There are not many changes in the Act. It is just that we are ensuring safe and quality food to consumers with better enforcement. Under existing Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act 1955 surveillance was not very strong. Now continuous and regular monitoring would be possible that would involve all central, state and local authorities," he said.