He then said that it would be great challenge for the state to set up and carry the tests for which they would have to recruit more food safety officers and that around 500 food safety officers (FSOs) would be appointed for the task of checking estimated 60,000 food and drug samples per annum.
"Our FSOs will collect the samples from across the state on a regular basis and an annual report would be sent to the FDA," said Pol, adding that the mobile labs would also help the FSOs to immediately act on the emergency cases such as food poisoning in the region that currently the country lacked.
The FSOs would then punish the illegal proprietors and also take stringent action against them as per the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, he said.
Surprisingly, in terms of registration and issue of licences to food operators, it is reported that out of the 45 lakh food operators in Maharashtra, only 1.6 lakh possessed valid licences or were registered with FDA.
According to media reports, FDA has started a special drive to ensure that all food operators with an annual turnover of above Rs 12 lakh possess a licence and those who earn less than Rs 12 lakh a year get a registration certificate as per FSSA, 2006.
The reports stated that more than 16,000 food licences in the state had been issued and only 37,000-odd licenses had been issued outside Maharashtra.
On the other hand, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) also informed through its website that the body had given accreditation to a number of food labs, in this regard.
Speaking on the same, Prabodh Halde, vice-president, Associaton of Food Scientists and Technologists of India (AFSTi), confirmed that around 32 labs have been accredited and the process was still going on.
