Assembly Speaker Urges Review of Food Safety Law to Strengthen Enforcement | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Friday called on the government to review the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, to empower the Food Control Organisation and give more authority to food safety officers.

During Question Hour, the Speaker told Minister Sakina Ittoo that while the Act has known weaknesses and officers currently lack powers, it is the government’s responsibility to amend the law. “Members can give suggestions, but the government itself should review the Act and provide more teeth to food safety officers,” he said.

MLA Tangmarg Farooq Ahmad Shah raised concerns that rotten food is a leading cause of colon and gastro cancers in the Valley, adding that the Food Control Organisation is largely ineffective due to a shortage of manpower and lack of enforcement powers. Currently, officers are posted in only 60 medical blocks without supporting staff, leaving many areas unmonitored.

MLA Pampore, Justice (retd.) Hasnain Masoodi, also highlighted the problem of acquittals in food adulteration cases, pointing to deficiencies in sampling or prosecution.

The discussion underscored calls for stronger legislation, better enforcement, and stricter deterrence against food adulteration in Jammu and Kashmir.