No one can colour your apples red

With the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, vegetable sellersu00a0 can no longer get away with using chemicals to colour and ripen your fruits and vegetables

The use of carbide gas and hazardous chemicals to artificially ripen and colour your fruits and vegetables will not be a routine affair anymore. With the implementation of the much-awaited Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) in the state of Maharashtra from August 5, anyone found engaging in such activities can face a maximum punishment of life imprisonment, and a penalty ranging from Rs 50,000 up to Rs 10 lakh, said a Mantralaya official, on condition of anonymity.

He adds that according to FSSA, which repeals the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, provides for the kin of someone who dies due to the consumption of adulterated food to receive a minimum financial aid of Rs 5 lakh, and in case of grievous injury, minimum aid of Rs 3 lakh.

The state government will also reward alert citizens who tip them off about cases of adulteration. Maharashtra is one among a few states like Gujarat, Punjab, Harayana and Madhya Pradesh to implement the FSSA act, which was pending since 2006.u00a0

State Minister for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Satej Patil confirmed the move. "The implementation of FSSA has bestowed more power to the department. We have already provided required training to existing food inspectors who, under the new regulations, will be referred as food safety officers. New laboratories too will be set up across the state in phases."

"The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act required every case of adulteration to be resolved in court. Test reports of food samples had to be submitted within 40 days. Now, the FDA will adjudicate cases where penalty needs to be imposed. Only cases where the punishment could be imprisonment will be handled by the court.

Under the FSSA, citizens can demand compensation from the food retailer if consumption results in death or health complications," the officer added. The new act will also integrate separate food laws for meat, milk, edible oil, fruits and vegetables.

"At present, the BMC issues licenses to food manufacturers, restaurants, hotels and hawkers until now in, but under the FSSA, it will be the FDA who will be the sole licensing authority, thereby bringing everything under one umbrella," Patil added.

What it means
> Cases will be compounded and adjudicated to expedite their disposal.
> Training and awareness programmes for food business operators will be conducted.
> FSSA becomes the single reference point for all matters related to food safety, regulation of standards and enforcement.
> Compensation for victims, rewards for informers.

What it applies to
> Health food supplements and nutraceuticals
> Tap drinking water, alcoholic drinks, chewing gum, and any substance which uses water during manufacture, has also been classified as food, and has been brought under the purview of the FSSA