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Kathmandu Thursday January 03, 2002 Paush 19, 2058.
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Govt to amend Food Act,
Regulations
DFTQC takes action against a dozen firms
Post Report
KATHMANDU, Jan 2 The government is planning to
make amendments to the existing Food Act, 2023 (1966) and Food Regulations 2027 (1970)
with a view to make them more appropriate to the changing context so that consumers
interest could be better safeguarded.
Dr Tika Bahadur Karki, Director General at the
Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) said that the government is
amending the existing Food Act and Regulations in order to make it more relevant.
"We are drafting the Act and it may take
some time to finally make amendments to it as we are planning to put it at a public
consultation before giving it a final touch", said Dr Karki, speaking at a press meet
organized by the Department here today.
There are various issues in which the department’s
efforts alone would not be sufficient to control the quality of food and technology, due
mainly to lack of clear laws and coordination among the related departments.
The department can inspect and lab test the
quality of food stuffs and if found not following the rules it can file a case depending
upon the degree of violation of the rules. Many such cases are forwarded to the office of
the Chief District Officer (CDO) for settlement. And in some cases, it takes a long time
to settle the case, he added.
Of the total cases filed only about one per cent
is settled annually. In most cases, the defendants do not appear on an appointed day,
unnecessarily prolonging the case. Constraints of manpower is another factor which has
made it difficult to carry out desired activities as there are just 20 inspectors at the
Department to oversee the entire kingdom, he added.
During the press meet Director General Karki
also said that despite those problems the Department has been carrying out its regular
activity of quality control. According to a recent inspection made by the Department, 11
biscuit companies are found not following the rules of labeling.
Major biscuit and bread companies like Quality
Biscuit Udyog, Biratnagar, Krishna Biscuit Company Pvt Ltd, Kamalpokhari, Intep Food
Industries Pvt Ltd, Hetauda, Jaiswal Biscuit Udyog, Biratnagar, Lucky Food Products,
Siddarthanagar and Mayur Biscuit and Food Industries, Biratnagar are found not following
the labeling rules.
Similarly, Kumar Food Pvt Ltd, Bhaktapur,
Chahana Pauroti Udyog, Bhaktapur, Krishna Pauroti Udyog, Kamalpokhari, Baba Biscuit Udyog,
Biratnagar and Nepal Biscuit Company, Balaju are also found not following the rules,
states a press release issued on
the occasion.
He also informed the press that sample tests
carried out up to December end 2001 show that mustard oil, ghee and instant noodles were
found below standard. We have initiated process to take action against the wrong doers.
We are going to carry out our activities
regularly like in the past and are also going to brief the press regularly in the days
ahead, so that it would help to discourage such malpractice and safeguard consumers’
rights and interests, he further said.
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