DIMAPUR, MAY 25: Nagaland Food Safety Commissioner, Y Kikheto Sema has expressed concerned over the influx of large adulterated, misbranded and sub-standard food items from Mynamar into Nagaland and said that it has to be tackled urgently.
Attending the 40th National Meeting of Central Advisory Committee FSSAI at FDA Bhawan, New Delhi, on May 25, Kikheto highlighted that there is only one State Public Health Laboratory established in 1983 at Kohima, which is the only food testing laboratory in the State notified by FSSAI under sub-Section 43 of the FSS Act, 2006 for food certification and accredited by NABL in chemical testing as per global standard ISO/IEC 17025:2017.
According to a DIPR report, Sema further stated that topographical challenges along with poor road connectivity in the far-flung areas cause big hurdles while sending and receiving samples, resulting in delays in appropriate legal action.
The Food Safety Commissioner, while acknowledging the constant support and guidance of the FSSAI, Ministry of H&FW, urged to consider setting up 5 Basic Food Laboratory to cater to the need of the whole State for effective implementation of Food Safety.
Sema also requested to provide 5 Modified Food Safety on Wheels (MFSW) ie, (Food Testing Mobile Van) as the existing 3 MFSWs could not effectively cater to the needs of the State.
The State Food Safety Commissioner was accompanied by the State Programme Officer, Food Safety, Dr. John Kemp.
(Page News Service)
