Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 12 Sep: In view of approaching Navratri festival, the Uttarakhand government tightened the regulations around the sale of buckwheat flour, a staple food consumed during fasting. Under the direction of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a special state-wide drive to ensure strict compliance with food safety norms. FDA Commissioner Dr R Rajesh Kumar today declared that buckwheat flour cannot be sold without a valid licence or registration, and it must only be sold in sealed packets carrying all necessary details, including the packing date, expiry date, manufacturer’s or re-packer’s address, name of the establishment, and licence number. He warned that strict punitive action would be taken against those violating these requirements.
In addition, Dr Kumar also directed FDA in-charges, assistant commissioners, and the designated officers across districts to strictly implement provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and Rules 2011 during the manufacture, packaging, storage, distribution, and sale of food products, particularly buckwheat flour ahead of and during Navratri. The campaign will be conducted in multiple phases. In the first phase, wholesalers, departmental stores, and retailers engaged in the storage and sale of buckwheat flour will be identified, and along with product inspection, meetings will be held with them on proper storage, maintenance, and labelling practices. This process will be completed before the start of Navratri. The second phase will focus on both surprise and routine inspections of identified establishments before and during the festival period.
The new SOP provides for strict packaging rules and prohibits the manufacture, packaging, storage, or sale of buckwheat flour without a valid food business licence or registration. Special monitoring will be done to detect flour sold openly in loose quantities, which will be discouraged in the interest of consumer health and safety. The new SOP further mandates that food business operators maintain written records of every purchase and sale of buckwheat seeds and flour. The enforcement will extend to online platforms supplying food products to businesses and consumers. Any violation of food safety rules will invite stern legal action.
Dr Kumar shared that quick response teams (QRTs) will be formed in every district in coordination with the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) cells functioning under the Chief Medical Officer’s office to promptly act upon any reported illness linked to buckwheat flour consumption. Food samples collected during Navratri will be tested on priority at the Food and Drug Analysis Laboratory, and reports will be made available without delay to support swift administrative action.
Additional Commissioner Tajbar Singh Jaggi stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Health Minister Dhan Singh Rawat, the government is fully committed to providing safe and pure food products during the festive period. He clarified that the drive is not symbolic but will be carried out in a coordinated and rigorous manner covering every aspect from manufacture, packaging, storage, and distribution to retail sale and online supply.
