SRINAGAR: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), J&K, has found 35 of 455 food samples non-compliant with prescribed labelling requirements during a special enforcement drive conducted across all districts of the Union Territory.
The samples were scrutinised for compliance with the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, covering packaged food products including spices, edible oils, dairy products, bakery and confectionery items, honey, rice, beverages, coffee and dry fruits.
The labels were checked for mandatory declarations such as the name and nature of the food, ingredients, nutritional information, batch or lot number, date of manufacture or packing, best before or expiry date, MRP, manufacturer or packer details, FSSAI licence or registration number and vegetarian or non-vegetarian logo.
Notices have been issued to the concerned food business operators (FBOs), directing them to rectify the deficiencies within the stipulated period. Further action will be taken in accordance with law in case of non-compliance.
The FDA also scrutinised health, nutritional and other claims made on food labels under the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018. FBOs were directed to remove or rectify claims found to be misleading or not in conformity with regulatory requirements.
Where violations are established, penal action will be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. A penalty of up to Rs 3 lakh may be imposed for misbranded food under Section 52, while Section 53 provides for a penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh for misleading advertisements. Section 61 provides for a penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh for furnishing false information.
The Designated Officers and Food Safety Officers concerned have been directed to ensure compliance and initiate further proceedings, including adjudication or prosecution, wherever warranted under the Act.
