Plea on food adulteration; SC issues notice to Centre, states

The Supreme Court today sought responses from the Centre and all states on a plea seeking framing of stringent law to prevent food adulteration in the country.
A bench of Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justices Arun Kumar Mishra and Amitava Roy issued notices to the Centre, the states and Union Territories on a PIL filed by lawyer Vineet Dhanda.
The plea has sought framing of guidelines to prevent adulteration of food and other consumables like fruits, vegetables, dairy products, edible oils, honey, meat, spices and pulses throughout the country.
"Existing laws regarding food adulteration are incapable of punishing the offenders who contribute to the menace of rising food adulteration by their wrongful acts and also the existing laws and guidelines are insufficient in totality to control the problem of adulteration of food and other consumable products in our country," the petition said.

It also sought a direction to the government to ensure the closure of those companies which are committing serious offence of food adulteration.
"Issue direction to Union of India and all the respondents to immediately formulate the guidelines and limits regarding the use of antibiotics, chemicals etc. As per international food standards and also immediately forfeit, seize and destroy those food products which are known to be violating the normal standards regarding use of antibiotics and chemicals," the plea said.
It added that the government was not doing anything to ensure the protection of lives of citizens from the menace.