In a crackdown on food adulteration, the Delhi government on Wednesday said that a new law with stringent provisions, including life term, would come in force in three months’ time in the city. The government has stated that the rules in respect of the new law have been notified.
The law will make registration of all food businesses in the city mandatory so as to make the enforcement hassle-free.
Delhi health minister, A.K. Walia, on Wednesday said that the government is gearing up to enforce the new Food Safety and Standard Act within next three months as the rules under the Act have been notified.
He said that with the enforcement of the new Act, food adulteration will become “almost impossible” as it is going to attract heavy fine and punishment, including life term.
The strict provisions with high deterrent value have been included in the act, said the minister, while adding that after enforcement of the new law the fear of severe punishment will deter the traders from indulging in food adulteration.
Dr Walia, while giving details of the new law, said that all the food business operators will have to get them registered or licenced. “The petty shopkeepers will also have to apply for registration, whereas other business establishments will have to get licence. Under the new law, the punishment has been divided into two categories,” said Dr Walia.
In case of sub-standard, misbranded food and in case of misleading advertisement about food products (not injurious to health), the cases will not go to the court and only fine up to maximum of `10 lakhs shall be imposed, said the minister.
“In case of unsafe food, the punishment will be imprisonment up to 7 years with fine of `10 lakhs. In case of death caused due to adulterated food items, the punishment will be 7 years’ imprisonment and maximum life imprisonment and fine up to `10 lakhs,” said Dr Walia.
The new law will also have provision of compensation for injury or death. “In case of death, compensation will be not less than `5 lakhs, in case of grievous injury not more than `3 lakhs and in case of minor injury not more than `1 lakh. The department will be authorised to recall injurious food and punishment will be doubled for subsequent offences,” added Dr Walia.