Online food licensing facility in limbo in 17 districts
DHANBAD: Food licensing process has completely been paralysed in 17 districts of state including Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad and Deoghar as their sub divisional magistrates (SDM) have not sent password to Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) even after 60 days of notification.
Principal secretary health Nitin Madan Kulkarni has shot off letter to SDMs directing them to send details of respective district so that password could be created for online food licensing and registration with FSSAI.
Jharkhand government has made the SDM as designated food officer (DFO) in place of additional chief medical officer (ACMO) in all districts. In this regard, the then principal secretary health Nidhi Khare had issued notification on September 5 directing SDM to take charge from ACMO.
But even after two months, SDMs of most districts have not created the password to make system online with FSSAI to give food licence to traders. Though most of them have already started drive against adulterated food and sent suspected samples for test at Namkum lab in Ranchi.
Under the Food Safety Standard Act 2011, it is mandatory for food outlets which have annual transaction of below 12 lakh to get registered and those above 12 lakh to take licence from food safety wing of health department.
Joint commissioner (food) department of food, Chandrakishore Oraon on Wednesday admitted that till date SDM of only seven out of 24 districts have sent their details for creating password.
Oraon said, licensing process in these districts has completely stopped for the last two months as they have not sent district disbursing office (DDO) code to initiate the process further.
“It is matter of concern that after notification (September 5) health department has sent six reminder letters between October 1 to November 29 but SDMs of 17 districts are yet to send their details. FSSAI would create password for online licensing process only after getting the required information. Unfortunately they have not even sent their DDO code,” said Oraon.