Haryana directs FDA to take samples of all food items

State Health Minister Anil Vij said an action plan has also been prepared to enhance the efficiency of Senior Drug Control Officers and Drug Control Officers

Haryana Government today directed state Food and Drug Administration to take samples of all kinds of food items and drinks available in the market.

At a meeting of the FDA, state Health Minister Anil Vij issued directions that various samples food and drink items should be taken to check adulteration and ensure that people get quality products, an official spokesperson said.

Vij said as there is no high-standard laboratory in the state for testing food samples, labs at Chandigarh and Karnal would be mordernised and upgraded while four new facilities would be set up at Gurgaon, Panchkula, Bhiwani and Hansi.

Apart from this, there is also a proposal to set up a laboratory to test Ayurvedic medicines, he said.

Vij said an action plan has also been prepared to enhance the efficiency of Senior Drug Control Officers (SDCOs) and Drug Control Officers (DCOs).

Under the plan, no officer would continue to function for more than a year at one station, he said, adding, they would be transferred every year to ensure efficiency and honesty.

Also the working of SDCOs and DCOs would be monitored and they would have to send their monthly progress report to their seniors.

The government would introduce online process of getting new licenses, their renewal and also information about testing of food items, the minister said.

Parveen Garg has been designated as a Joint Commissioner in the Food and Drug Administration to enhance the organisation's efficiency, he added.