Latest news with #FSDA
Time of India
21 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
DC orders fire safety compliance in hosps
Lucknow: Hospitals in the city will have to conduct regular fire safety drills in compliance with the fire and electrical safety norms. These directives were issued by divisional commissioner Roshan Jacob during a review meeting held on Wednesday for health infrastructure and care. Jacob said that hospitals must be equipped with fire safety systems, valid safety certificates and alternative emergency exits. She mandated fire safety training for all hospital staff and ordered regular mock drills with routine electrical safety checks. The mandatory presence of doctors, full-time night OPDs, maternity services and effective operation of Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been emphasised. Regular inspections of these centres are to be conducted by the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA). A drive has been launched to issue identity cards to senior citizens above 70 years of age, noting that only 37,113 out of 1,42,967 eligible persons received them so far. The monthly distribution of iron syrup to pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girls and children has been emphasised under the Anaemia Mukt Bharat initiative. Further directives include ensuring adequate hospital staffing, full operation of health ATMs, routine monitoring of diagnostic services and the organisation of screening camps and vaccination drives in every village. The meeting was attended by joint development commissioner KK Singh, additional director (health) Dr GP Gupta, chief medical officer and others.
Hindustan Times
24-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Fewer labs, pending cases ail Uttar Pradesh's food safety system?
The 'delay' in making public the test report of food items' samples collected during the surprise raid by Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) at nearly 20 outlets in Lucknow on May 14 is not only adding to public anxiety but also raising concerns about the efficiency of state's food safety system even as officials concerned cite backlog at food testing laboratories as the reason for it. Uttar Pradesh has six existing food testing labs in Lucknow, Agra, Meerut, Jhansi, Gorakhpur and Varanasi. 'Massive backlog at food testing laboratories has severely hampered the FSDA's ability to carry out timely testing and enforcement,' said an official of FSDA on the condition of anonymity. The raids sparked widespread debate on social media with consumers expressing concern over the quality and safety of the food being served at the outlets. The step was expected to serve as a wake-up call, prompting swift action and transparency from authorities. However, due to the delay citizens continue to unknowingly consume potentially unsafe food. The lack of a rapid testing mechanism exposes a gaping hole in the state's food safety infrastructure. Without timely results, these sampling drives serve no purpose. Officials acknowledge that as per the FSDA Act 2006, food sample test reports are legally required to be released within 14 days. However, in reality, this timeline is rarely met. This delay often benefits adulterators, while honest establishments suffer reputational damage as their names remain under suspicion for extended periods. Commissioner, FSDA, Rajesh Kumar said, 'Yes there are some pending samples in the six labs. However 12 new labs are expected to start in state soon. These labs will significantly boost the state's testing capacity—up from the current 36,000 samples annually to nearly 1.80 lakh.' 'Currently, there is pendency of around 2000 samples in every lab and that's why they are taking longer time to give results of testing. The expansion aims to drastically reduce delays in testing food and drug samples, which currently take up to two months in some cases due to limited capacity in our six existing labs in Uttar Pradesh,' he added. 'The coming up of new labs will also ensure safer, higher-quality food and drug products for the public, enhancing consumer safety and regulatory enforcement in the state,' Kumar said. Adulteration thrives amid delays According to officials, the delay stems from a massive backlog in the state's food testing laboratories. Most of these are have pending cases, lack modern equipment and operate with limited technical staff. As a result, even urgent samples collected during raids face long delays in processing—making timely enforcement nearly impossible. As consumers grow increasingly uneasy, the situation underscores the urgent need for strengthening the state's food safety infrastructure and improving transparency in public health governance. While adulterated or substandard food may still be served across the city, consumers remain in the dark. Public health experts warn that inaction in such cases endangers lives. Outlets' owners for quick reports, transparency 'There are still no test results, no updates, and no accountability—raising serious questions over the purpose of the entire exercise,' said the owner of a food outlet from where the samples were collected last week. Another restaurant owner from Hazratganj, urging anonymity, said FSDA officials collected samples from his establishment nearly a month ago but the report is still pending. 'If FSDA cannot act with urgency in matters that directly affect consumer health, one must ask—who is this system really protecting?' he said. 'Our demand is clear: The FSDA must not only accelerate its testing processes but also ensure transparency,' the restaurant owner said. New labs hold the key? The new laboratories are being set up in Aligarh, Azamgarh, Prayagraj, Kanpur, Chitrakoot, Devipatan, Ayodhya, Basti, Bareilly, Mirzapur, Moradabad and Saharanpur districts, said officials. 'Installation of advanced equipment is already underway. Three of these labs are expected to start functioning in month of July,' they added. A key feature of the new labs is the inclusion of advanced micro-testing machines, allowing in-state testing of products like honey, fish, and meat—analyses that earlier required sending samples to cities like Pune and Kolkata.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
UP CM Adityanath directs officials to address growing concerns over food safety, adulteration
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a crucial meeting on Wednesday with officials from the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department in Lucknow. The meeting addressed growing concerns over food safety and adulteration in the state. CM Yogi emphasised that the health of the ordinary people is the top priority of the state government, and this responsibility should be fulfilled with complete transparency and commitment. During the meeting, CM Yogi directed officials to take strict action against food adulteration and fake medicine trade , terming these acts as "social crimes" that significantly threaten public health . He instructed that offenders' photos be displayed at major intersections to deter others and raise awareness. The Chief Minister reviewed the progress of the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, noting the expansion of food and drug laboratories across the state. Twelve divisions, including Aligarh, Ayodhya, and Varanasi, have established new laboratories, and existing ones in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, and Jhansi have been upgraded. Modern microbiology laboratories have also been established in Lucknow, Meerut, and Varanasi. CM Yogi emphasised the importance of transparency and accountability in the food safety process. The FSDA has implemented a password-protected barcode system to ensure the confidentiality and impartiality of sample analysis. A mobile app, "Food Safety Connect," and a toll-free number have been introduced to encourage public participation. The meeting also discussed investment and job creation in the medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors. Proposals worth Rs 1,470 crore were approved in the last three years, resulting in direct employment for over 3,340 people.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Food adulterators to be named and shamed in UP, says Yogi
1 2 Lucknow: Calling adulteration of food items and medicines a "social crime", CM Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said those found indulging in such activities should be publicly shamed with their photos displayed at major crossings in a meeting of the department of food safety and drug administration, he said identifying offenders and displaying their photos would deter others. He also directed officials to take the strictest possible action against the culprits in such cases. "Daily consumables like oil, ghee, spices, milk and cheese should be tested, preferably at the production units. Special teams should be formed for intensive checks on milk and dairy products, ensuring continuous monitoring," he addition to this, the CM said, professional blood donors should be identified, and effective control should be established in this area. During the meeting, officials told the CM that in addition to the six major divisions in which food and drug laboratories were previously operating, new laboratories and offices were established in Aligarh, Ayodhya, Azamgarh, Bareilly, Basti, Chitrakoot, Kanpur, Mirzapur, Moradabad, Prayagraj, Saharanpur and Devi Patan divisions. The laboratory buildings in Lucknow, Gorakhpur and Jhansi were also modern microbiology laboratories were set up in Lucknow, Meerut and Varanasi, where testing for microorganisms, protozoa, viruses, bacteria, mycotoxins and other pathogens can be carried out. Testing has already started in Lucknow and Meerut. The CM said that a corpus fund could be set up for the operation and maintenance of these laboratories. To control the trade of fake drugs, the CM directed the department to closely coordinate with the police department for better implemented a password-protected barcode system to make the food safety process transparent and accountable, ensuring the confidentiality and impartiality of sample analysis, said an official. He added that each sample is tested digitally by scientists and is considered valid only after approval from senior officials. The department also introduced a mobile app called 'Food Safety Connect' and a toll-free number 1800-180-5533 on which complaints can be said that investment proposals worth Rs 1,470 crore were approved at FSDA in the last three years, resulting in direct employment for over 3,340 people. An official said that an unprecedented increase in pharmaceutical manufacturing units, medical device production, blood banks and retail medicine sellers took place recently, and over 65,000 new jobs were created in retail drug stores alone in the past three years.
India Gazette
14-05-2025
- Health
- India Gazette
UP CM Adityanath directs officials to address growing concerns over food safety, adulteration
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 14 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a crucial meeting on Wednesday with officials from the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department in Lucknow. The meeting addressed growing concerns over food safety and adulteration in the state. CM Yogi emphasised that the health of the ordinary people is the top priority of the state government, and this responsibility should be fulfilled with complete transparency and commitment. During the meeting, CM Yogi directed officials to take strict action against food adulteration and fake medicine trade, terming these acts as 'social crimes' that significantly threaten public health. He instructed that offenders' photos be displayed at major intersections to deter others and raise awareness. The Chief Minister reviewed the progress of the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, noting the expansion of food and drug laboratories across the state. Twelve divisions, including Aligarh, Ayodhya, and Varanasi, have established new laboratories, and existing ones in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, and Jhansi have been upgraded. Modern microbiology laboratories have also been established in Lucknow, Meerut, and Varanasi. CM Yogi emphasised the importance of transparency and accountability in the food safety process. The FSDA has implemented a password-protected barcode system to ensure the confidentiality and impartiality of sample analysis. A mobile app, 'Food Safety Connect,' and a toll-free number have been introduced to encourage public participation. The meeting also discussed investment and job creation in the medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors. Proposals worth Rs 1,470 crore were approved in the last three years, resulting in direct employment for over 3,340 people (ANI).
