• HEALTH MINISTER ORDERS FOOD SAFETY OFFICIALS TO CLEAR BACKLOG OF LICENSEES /REGISTRATION BY 31 MARCH, 2018

CHANDIGARH, 9 FEBRUARY:

To bring transparency in the food safety department, Health & Family Welfare Minister, Punjab Mr. Brahm Mohindra here today launched an online inspection & sampling system to expedite the procedure of food sampling and testing. All the designated Officer (Food Safety), Assistant Commissioners (food), and Senior Officers of Food & Drug Administration and Health & Family Welfare, Punjab were present on the occasion.

Disclosing this here, Mr. Mohindra said that it is essential that food safety inspections is be conducted diligently and reports made available to all stakeholders in short span of time with quick response provision. He also ordered the food safety officials to clear backlog of licenses/ registration by 31 March 2018. He said that food businesses have a legal and moral obligation to ensure they are not contributing to the statistics of food borne illness and other diseases. He said that at the same time the Food safety team must be equipped well to address to such issues concerning the food security which directly protect the healthy life of State’s population.

Mr. Mohindra was apprised that the Punjab Government has made it mandatory for all the designated Officers (Food Safety), Assistant Commissioners (food) to use online inspection and food sampling system in their respective districts to expedite the procedure of sampling and testing. He said that the Food safety compliance verification platform was required to reduce the time of inspection process and validate the inspection reports to ensure that the inspections are actually done and without any deviations.

Mr. Mohindra said that it is innovative approach towards Eco-Friendly Paperless inspections which in turn helps in Real Time Digitization of the reports. It can be used via handheld device like Mobile phones, Tablets and Desktops. This platform enables in verifying the physical inspection taking place with features like Geo-tagging, time framed inspections and real time verification.

Among others who were present on the occasion incuding Dr. Jaspal Kaur, Director Health Services, Dr. Amritpal Warring, Nodal Officer Food & Drug Administration, Mr. Parveen Joint Director, FSSAI, Pankaj Roy, Deputy Director, FSSAI, Ms. Deepti Gulati, Head of Programmes, GAIN, New Delhi, Ms. Ranjeeta Project Launching of Online Inspection & Sampling System for Food Safety in Punjab.