J&K Government Enforces Immediate Ban on Substandard Frozen & Chilled Meat Items – Alfaaz – The Words

Srinagar: The Commissioner of Food Safety, Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, has issued an immediate ban on the manufacture, storage, distribution, transportation, and sale of frozen and chilled meat products that do not conform to the standards prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and its associated regulations.

This enforcement action, as per an order, follows a series of inspections conducted by Food Safety Officers and Designated Officers of the Food Safety Wing under the Drug & Food Control Organization, J&K. During these inspections, authorities uncovered large quantities of decomposed, rotten, and unlabelled frozen and chilled meat products at multiple locations across the Union Territory. The seized items were classified as “unsafe food” in accordance with Section 3(1)(zz) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and were destroyed as per legal provisions. The violations identified attract penal consequences under Chapter IX of the Act, including Section 59.

In addition to concerns over spoilage, the seized products were found to lack key labelling information mandated under the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020. Missing or illegible details included batch and lot numbers, dates of manufacture and expiry, prescribed storage conditions (such as frozen or chilled), the name and address of the manufacturer or importer, the FSSAI licence number and logo, and the non-vegetarian symbol. These omissions constituted clear violations of Regulations 4(1), 6, and 9 of the Labelling and Display regulations.

Further non-compliance was noted under the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. Inspections revealed that cold chain protocols were routinely violated. Frozen meat products were not maintained at or below the required temperature of -18°C, while chilled products often exceeded the safe range of 0–4°C. Moreover, raw meat, poultry, and seafood were frequently stored without proper segregation from processed or packaged foods, compromising food safety. Several establishments also failed to maintain documented or digital records of temperature monitoring, as required for safe handling during all stages—receiving, processing, cooking, cooling, packaging, storage, and distribution.

In response to these findings, the Commissioner reiterated the minimum statutory standards for the handling of frozen and chilled meat products. Frozen items must be stored and transported at or below -18°C at all stages, while chilled products must be kept between 0–4°C for short-term handling. The date of freezing must be clearly labelled, and such products must not be sold beyond twelve months from that date. In the case of e-commerce deliveries, products must have a minimum of 30 percent shelf life or 45 days remaining before expiry, whichever is earlier. Furthermore, all storage and transport facilities must be equipped with calibrated temperature-monitoring devices, and records must be accurately maintained. The Commissioner also emphasized that the specific animal species—such as goat, buffalo, or chicken—must be clearly identified on the product label.

Citing Sections 1(a), 18(1)(f), and 29(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the order underscores the State’s obligation to protect public health, raise awareness about food safety risks, enforce surveillance, and ensure adherence to safe food practices. Under Section 30(2) of the Act, the Commissioner of Food Safety is authorized to prohibit the manufacture, storage, distribution, or sale of any food article in the public interest for a period of up to one year.

Having reviewed the inspection reports and applicable legal provisions, the Commissioner concluded that a public health risk currently exists across the Union Territory, necessitating immediate preventive action. Accordingly, Ms. Smita Sethi, Commissioner of Food Safety (also Commissioner, Food & Drugs Administration, J&K), has invoked her powers under Section 30 of the Act to impose a complete prohibition on the manufacture, storage, distribution, transportation, and sale of frozen and chilled meat products that do not meet the prescribed safety standards.

This order shall remain in force until it is revoked or modified based on a future assessment confirming that the public health risk no longer persists.