Maharashtra FDA implements year-round order to curb food adulteration

Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has issued a year-round standing order to combat food adulteration during religious and cultural festivals. The new framework establishes a standardized enforcement process across all regions, eliminating the need for separate orders for individual celebrations.

The order categorizes festivals by risk level. High-priority events include Ganeshotsav, Navratri, Diwali, Eid, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. Other festivals, such as Holi and Janmashtami, fall into a second category. Surveillance will be conducted in four phases: mapping and lab preparation, traffic checks, on-the-day inspections, and legal action where necessary. Specific focus will be placed on meat, bakery items, ice, and packaged water during Eid, Ramadan, and Christmas.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) CEO Rajit Punhani has endorsed Mundhe’s aggressive enforcement campaign, which has included thousands of inspections and hundreds of license suspensions in Maharashtra. Punhani noted that the campaign demonstrates effective enforcement is possible with existing resources and rejected the notion that food safety roles are merely ‘punishment postings’ for government officials.