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| Sell unsafe meat, face 6 years in jail: J&K's new food safety hammer falls | | | Atul Sharma
Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued stringent directives to all food business operators following the recent recovery of over 1200 kg of rotten and substandard meat across the Union Territory.
FDA Commissioner Smita Sethi announced harsh penalties for violations, including fines ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, seizure of non-compliant stock, and imprisonment of up to six years for selling unsafe food products. The comprehensive directive mandates strict adherence to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines for all stakeholders in the meat supply chain, including manufacturers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, cold storage operators, transporters, and e-commerce platforms.
Under the new directive, the sale of frozen meat products without proper packaging and labeling is strictly prohibited. Each package must compulsorily include the product name and ingredient list, batch/lot number, manufacturing and expiry dates, storage conditions, manufacturer/importer details, and FSSAI license number with logo and non-vegetarian symbol.
“In the interest of safeguarding public health and ensuring the highest standards of food safety, all Food Business Operators must strictly comply with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006," the official notice states.
The FDA has established specific temperature requirements for meat storage.
Any sale of frozen meat or meat products without proper packaging and labeling is now strictly prohibited.
Cl FDA Commissioner has announced harsh penalties for violations, including fines ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
The sale of frozen meat products without proper packaging and labeling is strictly prohibited.
Each package must compulsorily include the product name and ingredient list, batch/lot number, manufacturing and expiry dates.
Any sale of frozen meat or meat products without proper packaging and labeling is now strictly prohibited.
“Chilled meat” is fresh meat stored at temperatures between 0°C and 4°C to extend its short-term shelf life. “Frozen meat” refers to meat stored at -18°C or lower, ensuring long-term preservation.
All frozen meat and meat products must be maintained at this temperature throughout storage and transportation. Short-term chilled storage (at 4°C) is permitted only for up to four days before consumption, and frozen items must be used within 12 months from the date of freezing.
The notice further mandates that all establishments must be equipped with calibrated temperature monitoring devices and maintain both physical and digital records for inspection. These measures are aimed at ensuring transparency and traceability in the supply chain.
Commissioner Sethi emphasized the FDA's zero-tolerance approach toward food safety violations. "Non-compliant sellers face heavy fines and possible imprisonment. This is a serious matter of public health," officials warned.
The directive comes after authorities destroyed over 12,000 kg of substandard mutton, chicken, and fish during recent inspections across the Union Territory.
Food business operators have been urged to immediately upgrade their operations and withdraw any non-compliant products from both physical shelves and online platforms. The FDA has warned that legal action will follow without further notice for any violations. |
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