Prevention of Food Adulteration Act amendment on anvil

Thane, Jan 25 (UNI) Food and Drug Administration commissioner Dhanraj Kamathkar has said that an amendment to the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, was in the anvil.

He was speaking at a meeting organized here today by the Thane FDA.

Mr Kamathkar said the Act would be amended so as to encompass all items barring milk. The amendment will entail that all offences punishable under the Act shall be cognizable and non-bailable.

The amendment also proposes that any police officer, not below the rank of an inspector, may arrest without warrant any person against whom a reasonable complaint has been made or credible information has been received of his having been concerned in any of the offences punishable under this Act.

Meanwhile, Mr Kamathkar urged people to adopt a healthy food culture. In order to spread awareness on this, the FDA will embark on a massive publicity campaign within a month, he said.

He said there was large-scale adulteration in milk products.

The FDA has procured 60 instruments for testing for milk adulteration and the citizens should also go in for such testing equipments which cost only Rs 700, he advised. He informed that mobile testing vans will also be introduced.

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