Following the recent 'rotten' meat controversy, which has severely affected businesses in the food industry across the Kashmir Valley, the authorities enforced a strict compliance order on all entities dealing with intra-state frozen raw meat and chicken products.
The directive is issued to safeguard the highest standards of food safety in the region. It came after the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court sought a response from the government over the ongoing adulterated food supplies in the region.
The rotten meat controversy has affected the food sector hard, with major brands reporting up to an 80 per cent decline in sales.
The order applies to a wide range of Food Business Operators (FBOs), including manufacturers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, cold storage operators, transporters, and e-commerce platforms.
The sale of packaged food products without proper and complete label declarations has been strictly banned in the region. The order also stated that frozen meat and meat products must be stored and transported at -18°C or below at all stages, from production to sale. Short-term chilled storage at 4°C is permissible only for a maximum of two to four days before consumption.
The government has warned that non-compliance will not only lead to strict action against the violators under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, but also invite heavy penalties on the businesses. Violations include fines of Rs 5 lakh for substandard products, Rs 3 lakh for misbranded products or missing label declarations, and Rs 10 lakh for operating without an FSSAI licence.
Further, offences involving unsafe food will be punishable with imprisonment of up to six years, along with a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh.
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