SRINAGAR: Amid growing concerns over the quality and safety of meat supplied to consumers in Jammu and Kashmir, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Javed Ahmed Rana on Saturday said the government has launched coordinated operations involving multiple departments to ensure quality checks and prevent any compromise with public health.
Rana said that Legal Metrology also falls within the ambit of his department and plays an important role in checking quality and ensuring compliance with prescribed standards.
He said that although certain responsibilities had been transferred to the Health Department after 2019, the matter has now been taken up again, with the relevant departments being brought together for coordinated action.
The minister said a detailed meeting was held involving the Legal Metrology Department, Food Safety Department and Health and Medical Education Department to discuss their respective responsibilities and strengthen monitoring of meat quality.
He added that the government is keeping a close watch on the situation and has initiated joint operations to ensure that meat supplied to consumers meets the required quality standards.
“Nobody will be allowed to compromise with the quality of meat or play with people’s health,” the minister maintained.
The minister’s remarks come amid recent enforcement action in Budgam, where around 1,600 kilograms of rotten meat was seized at Budgam Railway Station following an alert by Railway Police to the Food Safety Department.(KNO)
