Punjab Government on Thursday announced to provide Rs 5 crore for the modernisation of its Food Safety Department while initiating the first-ever mobile testing lab facility to check the adulterated food products across the state.
“Food adulteration is a cause of concern as it is directly connected with the health and life of citizens,” noted the state Health and Family Welfare Minister Brahm Mohindra, on the occasion of capability building programme organized by the health department.
He said in a bid to provide relevant and practical insights into food safety standards, management system, modern techniques and related legal provisions under Food Safety Standards and Regulations Act 2006 and 2011, the Punjab Government has decided to organise capability building programme-cum-special training for the assistant food commissioners, food safety officers and designated officers of the health department.
“The previous Government had never imparted any such training to the officers of food safety department...After attending this training programme, the officers would be able to attain uniform pattern of Food Safety and Standards Act across the State,” he added.
Mohindra said the State Government is all set to recruit 20 food safety officers for the smooth functioning of food safety branch. He said the drive against adulteration has already been intensified in the State and zero tolerance would be maintained against adulteration of food articles.
He ordered the concerned officers that all complaints regarding food adulteration should be addressed on priority basis within stipulated period of time.
The Minister also said that in the last 10 years, quality of food had gone downward at large scale. “1458 samples of food items were found unsafe and adulterated in the state during 2016. The licensing and registration fee had never been used by the previous government and now, the Congress government has decided to use public money for the benefit of public,” he added.
Principal Secretary, Health, Anjali Bhawara instructed the officers to ensure sensitisation of public through information, education & communication activities and registering their complaints against adulteration over online portal of department.