Merchants Demand Amendments to Food Safety Law, Submit Memorandum in Bareilly

बरेली उत्तर प्रदेश | इज़हार आलम

Merchants Voice Concerns Over Food Safety Law Challenges

In Bareilly, merchants have raised their voices demanding resolutions to the challenges they face under the Food Safety and Standards Act. A delegation, led by District President Akram Khan, presented a memorandum to Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Kumari Poonam Bhaskar, addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of the Food Safety and Standards Authority.

The memorandum outlines 15 key demands aimed at introducing practical improvements to current regulations and providing relief to businesses from unnecessary legal actions. These proposed changes seek to streamline processes and ensure a fairer operating environment for traders.

Demand for Improvements in Sample Testing Procedures

A significant portion of the merchants' memorandum focuses on the need for improvements in the sampling and testing procedures for food products. They have clarified that when food samples are taken, a copy of Form 5-A must be promptly provided via registered post if the manufacturer is involved.

Furthermore, the traders are demanding that sample testing reports be issued within 14 days. They have also urged that any action to seize or destroy food items should only be taken after receiving the report from the central laboratory, to avoid issues arising from hasty decisions.

Call for Relaxation of Standards and Relief

The memorandum also proposes that minor deviations in standards should be classified as 'sub-standard', while food items should only be declared 'unsafe' if they contain elements harmful to health. The merchants argue that such stringent actions for minor discrepancies cause undue hardship.

The delegation strongly advocated for halting immediate actions based on reports from private laboratories and for making government survey reports public. They believe these measures will create a more transparent and just system for businesses.

Concerns Raised Over Quality of Agricultural Products

Merchants also expressed concern over the increasing impact of pesticides and contaminated water in agriculture. They have urged the government to establish quality standards for agricultural products, considering these factors, to ensure consumers receive safe food and farmers receive proper guidance.

The memorandum emphasizes that while ensuring compliance with regulations, the administration's priority should also be to protect businessmen from unnecessary harassment. Hundreds of merchants, including Kamal Gupta, Dr. Mudit Pratap Singh, Pradeep Garg, Advocate Ashu, Gaurav Garg, Zakir Hussain, Parvez Alam, Javed Alam, Ubaish Akhtar Ansari, and Tehsim Raza, were present during the submission.