Overview
- Food and Drug Administration minister Narhari Zirwal told the assembly the campaign issued 5,776 improvement notices, suspended 167 licences, cancelled one registration and compounded 840 cases.
- The FDA’s enforcement capacity has been bolstered with 197 new recruits after earlier staff shortages slowed inspections.
- Testing infrastructure is being upgraded, with Nagpur’s lab shifted to a new facility and new laboratories in Pune and Nashik nearing operation within about three months.
- Targeted inspections will cover street food vendors, particularly Chinese food carts in urban areas, with strict action promised for violations.
- A high-level meeting is scheduled to set next steps, while any changes to the central Food Safety and Standards Act will still require Union government approval.