Mah govt cracks down on sale of spurious, adulterated products

Maharashtra government has launched a crackdown on sale of spurious drugs and adulterated food by conducting surprise raids all over the state and is also contemplating amendment in laws, to provide stringent punishment for offenders.

"Several truck loads of spurious drugs and adulterated food have been seized in the last few days in various parts of the state following a drive conducted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) department," food and civil supplies minister Naseem Khan said.

A total of 800 gunny bags of supari (beetle nut) worth Rs47 lakh and  85,000 tins of curd worth Rs36 lakh were among the spurious goods seized by the FDA from Nagpur and other places, the minister said.

Adulterated products such as milk, sunflower oil, ghee, spices, chocolates and cosmetics were being sold in large quantities all over the state, Khan said.

"Adulteration in food has become a matter of concern for the government and a special drive has been undertaken to curb such illegal practices," Khan said.

However, laws are not deterrent and officers do not have the powers to arrest offenders. The offences are bailable, the procedures cumbersome and FIR has to be filed in a court and not in police stations, he said.

Prevention of Food Adulteration Act and Food Drugs and Cosmetics Act are not stringent enough to penalise offenders.

Therefore the government is considering amendments to make offences non bailable and confer powers of arrest on the raiding officers, the minister said.

The punishment under the existing laws ranges from six months to six years. The maximum punishment of six years is  given to an accused in case of death of people due to consumption of these spurious drugs or adulterated food.