Ban follows discovery of rotten, decomposed, and unlabelled meat; strict compliance with FSS Act, 2006 and labelling, storage, and transport standards mandated to safeguard public health
Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar: DD, The Commissioner of Food Safety, Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, has issued a Prohibitory Order banning the manufacture, storage, distribution, transportation and sale of frozen and chilled meat products that do not meet statutory standards under the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006.
A prohibitary order issued by the Commissioner food and drugs administration UT of J&K a copy of which lies with news agency Kashmir News Corner — KNC follows extensive inspections by Food Safety Officers and Designated Officers of the Food Safety Wing of the Drug & Food Control Organization, J&K, during which large quantities of rotten, decomposed and unlabelled frozen and chilled meat products were found at several locations across the Union Territory. Unsafe stocks were seized and destroyed as per law.
The prohibited items were found to fall under the category of “unsafe food” as defined in Section 3(1)(zz) of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, attracting penal consequences under Chapter IX including Section 59.
Further, the seized products were found without mandatory labelling particulars required under the Food Safety & Standards (Labelling & Display) Regulations, 2020, such as: Batch/lot number; date of manufacture/packing and expiry/use-by date; storage conditions (frozen/chilled); name and address of manufacturer/packer/importer; FSSAI licence number and logo; and non-vegetarian symbol in the prescribed manner.
Many declarations were missing or illegible, thereby violating Regulations 4(1), 6 and 9 of the said regulations.
The order also cites provisions from the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing & Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011, highlighting critical requirements:
5.1.8: Receiving temperature of frozen food should be -18°C or below.
5.2.4: Raw meat, poultry and seafood must be cold stored separately from processed or packaged products, with proper temperature and humidity controls.
5.3.1.1: Food businesses must maintain systems ensuring strict time and temperature control at all stages — receiving, processing, cooking, cooling, storage, packaging, distribution and service.
To prevent recurrence of unsafe practices, the Commissioner reiterated minimum statutory standards for frozen and chilled meat products:
Frozen meat and meat products must be stored and transported at -18°C or below at all stages.
Chilled meat must be stored at 0–4°C for short-term handling.
Frozen meat must carry a “date of freezing” and not be sold beyond twelve months from that date.
E-commerce deliveries must ensure at least 30% shelf life or 45 days before expiry, whichever is earlier.
Storage and transport facilities must have calibrated temperature monitoring devices with documented/digital records.
The name of the meat product must clearly specify the animal species (e.g., goat, buffalo, chicken).
The order references key legal provisions under Sections 1(a), 18(1)(f) and 29(3) of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, emphasizing the obligation to protect public health, inform citizens of risks, enforce surveillance, and ensure safe food practices.
Under Section 30(2) of the Act, the Commissioner of Food Safety is empowered to prohibit, in public interest, the manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of any food article for up to one year.
Having considered the inspection findings and relevant statutory provisions, the Commissioner declared that a “health risk condition exists across the Union Territory requiring immediate preventive action.”
Accordingly, in exercise of powers under Section 30 of the Act, Smita Sethi, Commissioner of Food Safety (Commissioner, Food & Drugs Administration, J&K), has ordered an immediate prohibition on the manufacture, storage, distribution, transportation and sale of frozen and chilled meat products that do not conform to the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 and its regulations.
The order will remain in force until revoked or modified upon confirmation that no further health risk persists. (KNC)
