SRINAGAR: In a significant achievement, Jammu and Kashmir has maintained its first rank in the UT category in the Food Safety Index 2022-23.
The Department of Food and Drugs Administration, J&K received the award for the third time in a row for 2021, 2022, and 2023.
The index is released annually by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to measure the performance of states and UTs on various parameters of food safety. The award was received by Food Safety Commissioner Shakeel-ul-Rehman from Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, in the presence of Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar and Professor Satya Pal Singh Baghel, Union Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare, Chairman FSSAI, Rajesh Bhushan, and CEO FSSAI, G. Kamala Vardhana Rao.
Jammu and Kashmir also won the first prize for having the maximum number of Eat Right Mela districts in the country. These districts have implemented various initiatives of FSSAI to promote healthy and safe food habits among consumers. This reflects the commitment and dedication of the UT administration and the public towards ensuring food safety and hygiene in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Food Safety Index is a dynamic quantitative and qualitative benchmarking model that provides an objective framework for evaluating food safety across all states/UTs. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) began the State Food Safety Index evaluation process for 2022-2023 by corresponding with Food Safety Commissioners of all UTs/States to provide the data for statistical evaluation. The critical indicators on the basis of which the evaluation is done include Human Resource, Compliance Levels, Food Testing Infrastructure and Surveillance, Training and Capacity Building, besides Consumer Empowerment.
The award has been conferred for exemplary performance in the implementation of the FSS Act, 2006, as well as Eat Right initiatives in the financial year 2022-23, under which the department has conducted 29,342 inspections, tested 11,848 legal samples, filed 1,606 prosecutions, imposed a penalty of Rs. 14,805,850, compounded 774 cases with a fine of Rs. 1,104,300, and conducted 11,380 tests, 155 trainings, and 414 awareness programs through Mobile Food Testing Vans.
J&K has also received special recognition for implementing Eat Right initiatives, including 162 License/Registration melas, 43 FoSTaC training programs, 588 certifications under the Hygiene Rating of Hotels, Restaurants, Dhabas, Meat Shops, and Sweets Shops, 50 Certifications under Eat Right Campuses, 07 Certifications under Eat Right Places of Worship, 15 Certifications under Eat Right School, and lifting 16,998 Kg of Used Cooking Oil from the Food Markets for its diversion for biodiesel manufacturing.
The Commissioner FDA, J&K, has attributed the award to the selfless and committed efforts put in by the functionaries of the department who are empowered to perform statutory duties under the FSS Act, 2006, Rules, and Regulations made thereunder, in the UT. He has acknowledged the overwhelming support provided by the Government of UT of J&K and FSSAI in terms of capacity building by providing sufficient financial assistance to the department for supporting the cause to ensure food safety and healthy food practices.
He called upon the stakeholders, including Food Business Operators, consumers, civil society, and aligned departments, to join hands towards achieving the objective of a healthy nation. (GNS)
