MoFPI to set up NIFTEM at Rs 244.6 crore

New Delhi, Aug 21: The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) proposes to set up the National Institute of Food Technology, Enterpreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) with an estimated cost of Rs 244.6 crore, MoFPI Minister Subodh Kant Sahai said today.

The institute, which was announced in the Union Budget 2006-07, will be made partially operational this year after obtaining necessary clearances.

Mr Sahai informed the Rajya Sabha that an integrated food law known as ''Food Safety and Standards Bill, 2006'' introduced by the ministry in Parliament on August 25, 2005 had been passed on August 2, 2006.

In a written reply, Mr Sahai said the bill aims to consolidate the laws relating to food, establish the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India for laying down scientific standards for food articles.

It also aims to regulate manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import of the food articles to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption and pool infrastructure, manpower, and testing facilities for better standard fixation and enforcement through their proper re-deployment, he said.

The minister also informed that the bill provides graded penalties as per gravity of offences. Stringent punishment has been provided for 'unsafe food'.

It also provides that any person who, whether by himself or by any other person on his behalf, manufactures for sale ,stores, sells, distributes or imports any food article, including packed foods for human consumption which is unsafe, shall be punishable with imprisonment varying from three to six months and also with fine varying from Rs one to ten lakh.

UNI