SRINAGAR: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Jammu and Kashmir, has ordered the immediate closure of two paneer manufacturing units in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district after inspections revealed serious violations of food safety and hygiene regulations, officials said.
The action was taken following a specific complaint, which led a team of Food Safety Officers to inspect the two units at Talangam in Pulwama. During the inspection, officials detected several violations of the sanitary and hygienic requirements laid down under Schedule IV of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
The FDA said the units were found using non-food-grade plastic material, lacked adequate pest control measures and did not have proper temperature-controlled storage facilities for perishable milk products.
Two samples of paneer were collected during the inspection and sent to an NABL-accredited notified food laboratory for testing against the prescribed quality and safety standards under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
Citing the serious food safety deficiencies and the potential risk to public health, the FDA issued Prohibition Orders under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, directing both units to cease manufacturing operations with immediate effect until all deficiencies are rectified and compliance with the prescribed sanitary and food safety norms is ensured.
The FDA has appealed to the public to report suspected food safety violations through its toll-free helpline 104 or via email at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).
The action was notified through an official order issued on July 14, 2026.
