Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain laying emphasis on strict compliance of Food Security Act 2006 directed the District Magistrates to ensure its strict compliance. He asked the officers concerned to prepare structure of Food Security Department and submit the requisition to Public Service Commission. He also directed the Food Inspectors to conduct regular testing of food items to check adulteration.
Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain was reviewing the meeting of Food Security Act at Secretariat on Friday. He said that a Food Security Appeal Tribunal would be constituted at Dehradun and Haldwani for which approval has been received from the High Court. The Tribunal Judge would be equivalent to District Judge. He said that the authority to penalize for food adulteration rested with Additional District Magistrate and the Chief Judicial Magistrate could sentence the defaulters to jail. The Chief Food Inspectors would conduct tests for food adulteration in their respective districts. They would directly work under District Magistrate. The Chief Secretary directed the District Magistrates to keep an eye on food adulteration as nobody could be allowed to play with the people's life.
Chief Secretary Jain expressed his concern over non compliance of Food Security Act. So far only one case has been lodged in Dehradun. He said that District Magistrates be informed about the law made for the security of human lives and Food Inspectors told about their rights and duties. As per the Act Principal Secretary Health is Food Safety Commissioner and Additional Secretary the Joint Director. The Chief Secretary has given 15 days time to the Food Safety Commissioner to effectively implement the Food Security Act. He expressed his discontentment over weak implementation of the Act in the State and advocated strict implementation.
It may be noted that for the safety and security of human life and their health a strict law had been chalked out in the Act under which the defaulters could be fined or sentenced to jail. In case of use of harmful colours, drugs, pesticides and other harmful materials in food items by any one would face strict action and also the action would be taken against use of misguiding advertisement, wrong claims, packaging and labeling. Food Safety Commissioner would keep an eye on production, marketing and sale. The officials concerned with Food Security would be trained and people made aware. The Food Inspectors, as soon as they get information, would conduct raid and send the samplings for analysis in the lab and if found guilty would recommend for action. The businessmen involved in food business would be issued license.
