(a) whether imported food items are being sold in the country even after their expiry date;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the reaction of the Government thereto?
(a) whether imported food items are being sold in the country even after their expiry date;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the reaction of the Government thereto?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. PANABAKA LAKSHMI)
(a) to (c):- No such specific complaint regarding sale of imported food items after their expiry
date has been received.
The implementation of the PFA Act, 1954 and Rules framed thereunder are entrusted with the Food
(Health) Authorities of the States/U.Ts. They have been instructed to lift samples of imported
food articles sold in the market and take action including prosecution of offenders in the cases
where the samples are found to be adulterated/misbranded or violating the labeling provisions
of the PFA Act, 1954 and Rules framed thereunder.
Further, as a preventive measure, the Department of Commerce has issued a Notification under
Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 that all edible/food
products, domestic sale and manufacture of which are governed by Prevention of Food
Adulteration Act, 1954 shall also be subject to the condition that at the time of importation,
the products are having a valid shelf like of not less than 60% of its original shelf life.
Accordingly All Port/Airport Health Officers & Custom Collectors at Ports/Airports have been
advised to ensure that all the imported food articles comply with all the provisions including
labeling requirement of the PFA Rules, 1955 and having a valid shelf life not less than 60%
of its original shelf life before the same are released into the country for human consumption.