The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) warned the importers and manufacturing companies to stop labelling products in any language other than 'Urdu/English' saying that strict action will be taken against violators besides confiscation of products.
A notice issued by Director General Office here on Tuesday reads that PFA has given two months deadline to all importers which will end on May 31. The notice further warns that the PFA shall be taking indiscriminate action against importers for overcoming the food safety issues especially related to imported products after the deadline. The notice also explained that chances of purchasing wrong food products increase because of foreign language label and people prefer such products without knowing its specification and uses.
Speaking to the media, Director General Punjab Food Authority Noor Ul Amin Mengal said the PFA is very much conscious about the mode of labelling for which they are utilizing all available resources and ensuring the 'mode of labelling of pre-packed foods' should be in line with the Punjab Pure Food Regulations 2017. He said that no person can sell or display for sale any pre-packed food unless a true statement is fixed on products.
According to Punjab Pure Food Regulations 2017 (Part-III), section 8, the company should be legible and appear conspicuously in a prominent position on the label. If the food is pre-packed in more than one wrapper, the label shall be marked on attached to the innermost wrapper or container. If it is not clearly legible through the outermost wrapper a label bearing statement shall be marked on the outermost wrapper.
The DG said no person can prepare or advertise for sale or sell any food specified in sub-rule (5) unless the package containing such food beats a date marking in any of the forms specified in sub-rules (3&4). He added that the PFA has also bounded formula companies before this to label "it is not a substitute of mother milk" on 15 percent area of the product. He said the PFA will not spare anyone found guilty of dereliction of duties and to sell products by deceiving the customer or wrong labelling. The PFA stance is very clear from day one about labelling. He said all those companies who are selling products by disseminating misleading information and glossy language on their products and in advertisement campaigns, they are doing "white collar crime", he warned.
Meanwhile, the food safety teams caught red-handed Ahmed Fat Rendering Unit for extracting oil from animal wastes and fats and lodged an FIR against them on Tuesday. Besides, the PFA also sealed Faizan Milk Shop for its failure to meet the food standards during operation held against food business operators in the metropolis.
The PFA also launched a province-wide crackdown and closed nine food businesses. It also issued fine tickets of Rs 470,000 to 73 food points.
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