In a first-of-its-kind move in Maharashtra, the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a permanent, year-round enforcement calendar to tackle food adulteration and safety violations during festivals and religious events, Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said on Thursday. The “Festival Enforcement Calendar” will replace the existing practice of issuing separate enforcement orders ahead of individual festivals and will enable officials to begin surveillance and inspections well before demand for high-risk food products rises.
The framework covers major festivals and occasions including Ganeshotsav, Navratri, Diwali, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, Christmas, New Year, Makar Sankranti, Mahashivratri, Holi, Gudi Padwa, Janmashtami, Dahi Handi, Dussehra, Kojagiri Purnima, Tulsi Vivah and Guru Nanak Jayanti, among others.
High-risk foods targeted
The FDA will focus on products considered particularly vulnerable to adulteration during periods of increased demand, including milk, mawa, paneer, ghee, sweets, edible oils, dry fruits, meat and food items consumed during fasting.
Items such as bhagar, kuttu, sabudana and rajgira will be monitored around religious occasions when their consumption increases. Officials will also check the repeated use of frying oil.
Under the new system, vulnerable areas will be mapped in advance and laboratories alerted to prepare for increased testing. Enforcement teams will subsequently inspect manufacturing facilities, mills, mawa godowns and other production and storage centres.
The framework divides enforcement into different levels depending on the scale of festivals. Major occasions including Ganeshotsav, Navratri, Diwali, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, Christmas and New Year will be covered by comprehensive statewide enforcement.
Community meals under watch
The FDA will also monitor food served at large community and religious gatherings, including mahaprasads, langars, bhandaras and Iftar programmes, where large quantities of food are prepared and distributed.
Organisers of such mass-feeding programmes will be required to inform the FDA in advance, allowing officials to monitor food quality, hygiene and safety.
Food business operators have also been directed to display valid licences and Food Safety Connect QR codes prominently, preserve purchase bills for at least one year and obtain medical fitness certificates for food handlers. At least one FoSTaC-certified supervisor will be required for every 25 food handlers.
All inspections and sampling exercises will have to be uploaded on the FoSCoS portal. Once an analysis report is received, proceedings under the applicable food-safety provisions will have to be initiated within the prescribed period, with accountability to be fixed in cases of unjustified delay.
The FDA said the permanent calendar would allow authorities to shift from reactive festival-specific drives to advance planning and continuous surveillance throughout the year, while maintaining zero tolerance towards serious food-safety violations.