Srinagar : The Food & Drugs Administration (FDA), J&K conducted a special enforcement drive across all districts of the Union Territory to examine compliance with prescribed labelling and display requirements for food products, officials said. During the drive, 455 food samples were scrutinized and 35 samples were found non-compliant with prescribed labelling regulations. Notices have been issued to the concerned Food Business Operators (FBOs) to rectify deficiencies within the stipulated period, with officials warning that further legal action will be taken in cases of continued non-compliance.
The scrutiny was conducted under the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, covering packaged spices, edible oils, dairy, bakery items, honey, rice, beverages, coffee, and dry fruits, sources said. Labels were checked for mandatory declarations including nutritional information, batch numbers, dates, MRP, and FSSAI licenses, alongside claims examined under the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018. FBOs were directed to remove misleading claims, with officials noting that penal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 includes penalties up to ₹3 lakh under Section 52 for misbranded food, up to ₹10 lakh under Section 53 for misleading advertisements, and up to ₹10 lakh under Section 61 for furnishing false information. Designated Officers and Food Safety Officers have been directed to ensure strict compliance and initiate adjudication or prosecution wherever warranted.
