The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to prepare a plan for๊ sa💦mpling and testing of all food products in the national capital.
A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan said the FS𝐆SAI, being the apex authority on food safety, must come up with a plan for carrying out a food safety audit in Delhi.
"You are giving broad general guidelines. Get it (specific guidelines) made for Delhi at least. We will get it implemented," the bench, also comprising Justice Manmeet P൲S Arora, said.
"Since FSSAI is the apex body dealing with food safety, this court directs it to prepare a plan for sampling and testing of all food products in Delhi. Let a plan be placed on re☂cord. We will get it implemented by the Delhi government," the bench stated.
The c🦩ourt's order came on a suo motu case initiated by it in 2010 following a news report on the use of certain pesticides for growing vegetables that potentially cause serious neurological problems, kidney damage, skin diseases, cancer and other grievous diseases.
The amici curiae appointed in the matter to assist the court emphasised that no action has been taken 🦩by authorities on the issue and seve��ral fruits and vegetables being sold in the market contained pesticides beyond the prescribed level.
The issue of the use of "carbide" to artificially ripen fruits was also raised before th🧜e bench.
On an earlier occasion, the high court was also told that✨ carbide ripening detection kits were yet to be procured and no testing was being done to check for non-permitted 𓆏wax.
During the hearing, the court asked the counsel for the Delhi government and FSSAI to state how much testing was being done in the city as well as the 🍬number of kits available for this purpose and the budget allocated for the same.
Delhi government counsel said testing kits are provided by the FSSA𓆉I and so♑ught time to take instructions.
"In markets in Delhi, you can go and do testing. Take a few policy decisions on how many sampling must be done," the court said as it asked the govern🌸ment lawyers to take instructions.
The court asked the Delhi government counsel to state whether the "Pesticide Residu𝓀e Management Cell" was🌠 functional.
The matter would be heard next on May 8.
