The Commissioner of Food and Drug Administration, Jammu and Kashmir, has issued a public notice directing all businesses handling frozen raw meat, chicken, and meat products to strictly comply with FSSAI guidelines.
The directive aims to protect public health and maintain the highest standards of food safety across the region.
The notice covers a wide range of Food Business Operators (FBOs), including manufacturers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, cold storage operators, transporters, and e-commerce platforms.
It strictly prohibits the sale of packaged food products without proper and complete labeling. The notice also defines fresh meat, chilled meat, and frozen meat according to their specific storage temperatures and conditions.
The notice specifies that frozen meat and meat products must be stored and transported at a temperature of -18°C or below at all stages, from production to sale. Short-term chilled storage at 4°C is allowed for a maximum of two to four days before consumption.
It further requires all establishments to be equipped with calibrated temperature-monitoring devices and to maintain accurate records for inspection purposes.
Non-compliance will lead to strict enforcement under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, including seizure of non-compliant stock and monetary penalties. Penalties may reach up to Rs 5 lakh for sub-standard products, Rs 3 lakh for misbranded products or missing label declarations, and Rs 10 lakh for operating without an FSSAI licence. The notice also clarifies that offences involving unsafe food can attract imprisonment of up to six years, along with a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh.
Food Business Operators (FBOs) are instructed to immediately upgrade their operations, ensure full compliance, maintain updated records, and remove non-compliant products from both outlets and online platforms. Failure to comply will invite swift legal action without further notice.
In recent weeks, food safety departments have intensified inspections of food items, including meat and chicken. During these checks, a rotten meat scandal was uncovered, leading to the destruction of 12,000 kg of sub-standard meat. (Agencies)
