*CM BHAGWANT MANN LED PUNJAB GOVT ADOPTS ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY AGAINST FOOD ADULTERATION*

 *CHIEF SECRETARY CONVENES HIGH-LEVEL MEETING TO ASSURE SAFE AND HEALTHY FOOD OF PUNJAB RESIDENTS*

Chandigarh, November 11

On the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, to provide safe food and healthy diet to the people for Punjab, Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua on Tuesday has convened the meeting with the concern about unethical practices of adulteration in Food and Milk Products and measures to control it.

Chief Secretary Mr Janjua said that there are strict instructions from the Chief Minister that people’s health will not be compromised. He also gave a message of the Chief Minister for zero tolerance about adulteration and no one will be spared and stern action will be initiated against delinquents.

Commissioner of Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Dr. Abhinav Trikha apprised the Chief Secretary about activities being carried out by Food Safety Wing that includes Awareness Generation among FBO’s & Consumers, Licensing /Registration, Inspections, Sampling, Eat Right Certification.

Chief Secretary emphasized the infrastructural development of FDA including recruitment of staff, provision of vehicles for regulatory officers, and opening of more labs across the state. He has directed FDA to increase monitoring of enforcement activities and also run stringent drives for Butter, Panner and Desi Ghee. In this regard, the checking teams will also be increased.

The meeting was attended by Financial Commissioner Cooperation Ravneet Kaur, Secretary Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Arshdeep Singh Thind, MD Milkfed Amit Dhaka, MD Punjab Agro Manjit Singh Brar, MD Markfed Ramvir, Vice Chancellor Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana Dr Inderjeet Singh, Director Labs Ravneet Kaur and Joint Commissioner Food Manoj Khosla.