‘Mechanism soon to reduce FDA workload’

Does the premier state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) organisation lack teeth? This reality was accepted officially, probably for the first time, recently when minister of state FDA Satej Patil accepted that the administration officials were overworked. He, however, assured that a mechanism was being worked out to offload paperwork-related burden from their shoulders.

Patil held a meeting of consumer groups, NGOs and activists in the FDA headquarters to chalk out a strategy to curb the menace of milk adulteration in the city. After the meeting, he said that the administration has received a number of feedbacks which, if implemented, can improve the conditions of the administration. “I am aware that due a shortage of staff, matters such as follow up of cases in the courts have been a major cause of concern. However, I intend to make certain drastic changes to improve this situation,” said Patil.

Speaking about different ways to curb milk adulteration, Patil said that consumers need to be careful while buying branded milk. “The plastic bags used to package milk are not tamper-proof till now. The state government is also in talks with different milk manufacturers asking them to provide tamper proof bags,” informed Patil. He added that the FDA was planning to start a helpline to curb adulteration.

He further said that he will be having separate meetings with milk manufacturers and distributors. “We are thinking of giving identity cards to the delivery boys. Often the delivery boys are not known to the consumers and hence are prone to be a part of adulteration rackets. We also expect the milk manufacturers to have their own vigilance squads,” said Patil.