The year declared as 'Food Safety and Quality Year'.

New Delhi, May 01 (UNI) The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to the year 2008/2009 being declared as 'Food Safety and Quality Year'.

The initiative is aimed at ensuring safe, healthy and sustainable food supply, bringing about awareness amongst consumers to demand safe and quality food as well as promoting practice of good hygiene amongst consumer, producers and processors, Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters here after the Cabinet meeting.

The following schemes will be implemented during the year.

-Establishment of a mega food park with integrated value chains to facilitate linkage of farmers to the processors/industry and the market.

-Setting up of integrated cold chain facilities to enhance shelf-life of perishable products and link them to market.

-Modernisation of abattoirs including scientific and hygienic slaughtering practices and availability of quality meat to industry and consumers.

-Setting up / upgradation of food testing / quality control laboratories.

-Upgrading hygiene and quality of food street vendors and food streets.

-Awards for innovation in food quality, safety and product development.

-Developing quality and safety standards for various food products.

-Organising awareness programmes through publications / advertisements, workshops / seminars, on food safety and quality and Launching of postage stamp to commemorate Food Safety and Quality Year 2008/2009.

UNI NAZ RP KP2023