A farmer sprays pesticides in a mustard field in Kamrup district of Assam on Thursday, November 30, 2023. (PTI Photo)
Food regulator FSSAI’s executive director G Kamala Vardhana Rao has asked states to set up an inter-ministerial panel to reduce the use of pesticides to ensure safe food for consumers.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) held its 44th Central Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting on August 22 and 23 under the chairmanship of its Executive Director, according to an official release on Friday.
The meeting was attended by over 50 officials including Commissioners of Food Safety (CFS), representatives of states and Union Territories (UTs), senior officials of FSSAI and members of the food industry and agriculture sector.
Rao “discussed the formation of an inter-ministerial committee to address concerns over the use of pesticides.”
The FSSAI executive director proposed that each state should “set up this inter-ministerial committee, which will focus on reducing pesticide use, implementing control measures and developing strategies to monitor and regulate pesticide application at the farmer level.”
The initiative aims to ensure that agricultural practices remain safe and sustainable, thereby protecting consumers from potential health risks associated with pesticide residues in food, the regulator said.
Rao stressed the ongoing inter-state zonal council meetings, focusing on filling up the vacant posts of Food Safety Officers (FSO) and Designated Officers (DO), and the urgent need to modernise food testing laboratories.
He asked states to submit proposals to establish new microbiology laboratories to improve testing capabilities.
Rao further highlighted the need to identify key locations within the states where mobile laboratories, Food Safety on Wheels (FSW), can be deployed.
These mobile labs would be instrumental in raising consumer awareness and disseminating crucial information on food safety practices.
FSW vans, equipped with testing equipment and RAPID kits, rapidly assess food quality and safety parameters in accordance with Food Safety Regulations and Standards.
Results are available within hours, allowing for rapid corrective action to ensure the safety of food products for public consumption.
The FSSAI Executive Director concluded with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to work together to ensure that food safety remains a top priority, reflecting the collective effort to provide safe and nutritious food to consumers across the country.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First published: August 23, 2024 | 21:50 IS
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