‘Food products illegally entering into Nagaland’

February 17, 2023 35 Views No Comment

Our Correspondent
Kohima | February 17

The Nagaland Department of Health and Family Welfare (DoH&FW) today informed that despite of government standing prohibition notification on illegal import of misbranded, sub-standard and expired food item for sale, distribution etc, “more and more food products are being smuggled or illegally entering into Nagaland in violation of Food Safety and Standards Act’2006 Rules and Regulation 2011 and flooded in every nook and corner of the state.”

In this, in exercise of the power conferred under section 30(2) (a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act’2006, the state DoH&FW prohibited the illegal import of food products, for sale, exhibit for sale, stored for sale or distribution of any form of Adulterated, misbranded, sub-standard food products imported from foreign countries and states with immediate effect.

Informing through a notification issued here by Y Kikheto Sema, Commissioner of Food Safety to the Government of Nagaland, the food business operators have been warned to desist from such illegal food business.

It stated that non-compliance to the notification will be an offence, punishable with penalty under Section 51, 52 and 59 of the said Act. Section 51– penalty upto Rs 5 lakh, Section 52 – penalty upto Rs 3 lakh and Section 59 – Penalty upto Rs 10 lakh and with imprisonment upto 7 years.

The general public/consumer have also been advice to check the labelling provisions of the food products before purchase and to be aware and remain alert about such food products.

The department also asked the designated officers, food safety officers of the districts to carry out inspection and sampling for analysis.

This is issued in the interest of public health, it stated.