Normally PFA's Food Safety Officers serve improvement notices upon food operators in case of failure to comply with the rules and regulations. The notice must highlight the illegalities on the part of the operator & intimate measures to secure compliance & in case of consistent failure to compliance, the agency is empowered to take any action considered appropriate including suspension or termination of the license under S.16. Furthermore under S.18, the officer can order closure of the premise with or without specifying conditions or time period for the closure. Lastly the Director General can order immediate withdrawal of food from the market in case he is satisfied that the food is not in compliance of the relevant rules and regulations under S.19. The aggrieved party in this case can make an appeal to the agency in this regard set aside or modify such an order.
How can a food operator ensure compliance with the relevant rules & regulations?
PFA lays down science-based standards for food items and regulates their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and healthy food fit for human consumption. Furthermore under the provisions of section 15 of the Punjab Food Authority Act, 2011 every food operator is required to obtain a license to run a food business. Under rule 31 sub-rule 12 of the rules, every food license shall be renewed annually. Validity of license is from 1st January to 31st December. All the food business operators are required to be licensed. Hence the best course of action for a food operator is to apply for a license. He can further approach PFA for compliance with the necessary rules & regulations in relation to his food business.
Auhtor: M.N.Nekokara
