Cabinet nod for Food Safety Act

The Delhi government is likely to enforce this month a new legislation that provides for a jail term and heavy penalties for vendors who provide substandard or adulterated food products.

The Delhi Cabinet on Monday approved rules for enforcing the Food Safety and Standard Act,2006,which classifies sub-standard food quality as a serious offence. The rules will be effective once the government notifies them. This process takes some time,but we expect to complete the job this month, a senior government official said.

The law provides for a heavy fine and punishment,including life imprisonment for defaulters,besides instituting a mechanism for speedy prosecution.

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Under the law,food business operators with an annual turnover of Rs 12 lakh or more will have to procure a licence to operate from the Central government,while those with lesser turnovers can apply for one with the state government.

The punishment for violations has been divided into two categories. In case of substandard or misbranded food or misleading advertisements about food products (not injurious to health),the cases will not go to the court. But offenders will be fined up to Rs 10 lakh, the official said.

In case of injurious food,the punishment will be imprisonment up to seven years,with a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh. In case of death caused due to adulterated food items,the punishment will range from seven years imprisonment to life,besides a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh.

The new Act will also have a provision of a compensation of injury or death, an official said.

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