Directs for intensified vigil against adulteration across the districts

JAMMU: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo chaired a high-level meeting to comprehensively review the performance of the Food Safety Organization and deliberate upon future strategies aimed at curbing the supply of adulterated food items and ensuring safe, hygienic and quality food for consumers across all districts of the Union Territory.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Finance; Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir; Secretary, Health; Secretary, Law; Commissioners, JMC and SMC; Commissioner, Food & Drug Administration; DG, Budget and other senior officers concerned.

The Chief Secretary underscored the critical importance of continuous monitoring and stringent enforcement of the legal framework to protect public health. He stressed that food safety is a non-negotiable aspect of public welfare, as food is consumed daily and has a direct and lasting impact on the health of citizens.

He called for a robust, technology-driven and proactive enforcement mechanism to eliminate adulteration and ensure compliance with prescribed quality standards.

The meeting assessed the department’s overall activities carried out under the mandates of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), highlighting significant progress in surveillance, inspections and legal action against violators.

Commissioner, Food & Drug Administration, SmethaSethi informed the meeting that the department has substantially intensified its surveillance operations. Against an annual target of 7,080 samples, the department has already lifted 10,620 surveillance samples, achieving over 150% of the target, reflecting a strong commitment toward consumer safety.

In terms of enforcement, Food Safety Officers conducted 1,423 Risk-Based Inspections and 13,944 Routine Inspections across the Union Territory. To ensure infrastructure and hygiene compliance, 943 Improvement Notices were issued to Food Business Operators (FBOs) under Section 32 of the FSS Act, surpassing the target of 625 notices.

The Chief Secretary was apprised that strict legal action is being taken against violators. Under the civil adjudication process (Section 30), a total of 718 prosecutions have been launched, of which 671 cases have already been decided, resulting in penalties amounting to Rs 84.33 lakhs. Additionally, 21 criminal cases pertaining to unsafe food have been filed, with convictions secured in 10 cases involving fines and imprisonment.

The meeting also reviewed the outcomes of special enforcement drives conducted during November. A dedicated drive on Ghee led to the seizure of 80.78 kg of stock. Of the 41 samples tested, 12 failed to meet quality standards. Consequently, Prohibition Orders have been issued against the manufacturers of the failed products and the information has been shared with FSSAI and concerned States including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat for action at the source.

Similarly, a drive on Poly Pack Milk saw 95 samples tested, out of which only 2 failed, indicating high compliance levels. Meanwhile, 32 samples of Packaged Drinking Water were collected and their test reports are awaited.

The meeting further reviewed the department’s roadmap for strengthening the food safety ecosystem in the UT. Key strategic decisions included upgrading laboratory infrastructure to enhance testing capabilities. The FSSAI-NABL integrated assessment for the State Food Testing Laboratory (SFTL), Jammu is scheduled within one month, while the upgradation of laboratories in Jammu and Srinagar for advanced antibiotic and microbiological testing is targeted for completion within three months.

Regarding expansion of infrastructure, proposals have been submitted for establishing two additional state-of-the-art food testing laboratories and procuring 10 more ‘Food Safety on Wheels’ mobile vans to enhance outreach and surveillance in remote and rural areas.

To enhance consumer awareness and promote responsible food practices, the department will roll out “Eat Right Initiatives” and structured training programmes for street food vendors across all districts within the next quarter.

The Chief Secretary directed the concerned officers to maintain strict vigil on the market, especially with regard to high-risk commodities, and expedite rationalisation and strengthening of enforcement staff to bridge manpower gaps. He emphasized that sustained vigilance, strong enforcement and public participation are essential to ensuring a safe and healthy food ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir.