Advertisement

Updated March 1st, 2020 at 22:58 IST

Punjab mandates hygiene rating for online supply of food from FBOs & OFSAs

Keeping in view the interest of public health, Punjab Food & Drug Admin prohibited the online food supply from FBO and OFSAs which are not hygienically rated

Reported by: Gloria Methri
Punjab
| Image:self
Advertisement

Punjab Food and Drug Administration (PFDA) on Sunday prohibited the online food supply from food business operators (FBOs) and online food supply aggregators (OFSAs) which are not hygienically rated.

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner KS Pannu said prohibition orders are being issued, keeping in view the interest of public health.

Thus, the distribution/supply/sale of food items through OFSAs from those FBOs who have not been rated on hygiene has been prohibited.

In a statement, KS Pannu said: "It is the moral responsibility of FBO and OFSAs to ensure quality and hygiene of food delivered."

"However, the duty is also cast upon the state authorities to ensure safe food to the public under Section 18(1)(a) of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006," he said.

READ | Punjab CM Amarinder Singh Terms Sukhbir Badal's Comments On State Budget 'bizarre'

FBO must secure at least three out of five 'smilies'

The PFDA Commissioner said that all OFSAs had been advised to ensure that the FBO from where they source food for distribution has a good hygiene rating. The OFSAs are allowed to source and supply the food from only those FBOs who secure at least three smilies out of five smilies in the matter of hygiene rating.

"The date of getting the hygiene rating of the FBOs done was extended to October 31, 2019.

However, it has been observed that even after creating awareness regarding the importance of hygiene rating, OFSAs have not taken the matter seriously, resulting in consumers continuously facing the potential of delivery of unsafe/unhygienic food," a Punjab government release said.

READ | 'Punjab Could Have Boosted Infra Had CCL Debt Account Not Been There': State FM

This mechanism of distribution of food by OFSAs has relaxed the responsibility of maintaining the quality of food, which to date was being directly verified by the consumers, the release said.

It further stated that with the introduction of OFSAs, it has become important to ensure that the aggregators supply only good quality and proper hygienic food items to the consumers.

KS Pannu said that the prohibition orders would be effective in the entire state of Punjab for the period of one year, starting from April 30.

READ | Punjab To Reduce Govt Employees' Retirement Age To 58 Years, Give Free Education Up To Class 12

READ | Indian Vegan Food: Do You Know The List Includes Dishes Like Masoor Dal & Chana Masala?

(With inputs from ANI)

 

Advertisement

Published March 1st, 2020 at 22:58 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar
a few seconds ago
AIMIM
2 minutes ago
NC leadership’s presence at Mehbooba’s Iftar sparks talks of INDI alliance reconciliation
13 minutes ago
Secret weddings
15 minutes ago
Tata Steel
20 minutes ago
Alaya
25 minutes ago
Penn Badgley
32 minutes ago
Astrology
39 minutes ago
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo