Synopsis

Maharashtra FDA has mandated strict food safety compliance across the entire milk supply chain, from farms to retailers. New guidelines aim to prevent adulteration and ensure uniform standards. Violations like operating without licenses or making false claims can now incur fines up to Rs 10 lakh. The FDA emphasized accountability for all stakeholders, including transporters, and warned of license cancellations for non-compliance, following similar actions in the hospitality sector.

Listen to this article in summarized format

Mumbai, The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday issued compliance orders for the entire milk supply chain to curb adulteration and improve food safety, warning that violations like adulteration, false claims and illegal operations could attract fines of up to Rs 10 lakh.

FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the department issued the compliance orders for the entire milk and milk products ecosystem after consolidating multiple existing regulations into a single set of guidelines to ensure uniform implementation across the sector.

"Earlier, compliance orders were issued for hotels. Similarly, we have now issued orders for milk and milk products. Regulations applicable to the entire chain -- from farm to table -- have been compiled into compliance guidelines. These are not meant to ban any establishment but to ensure compliance with food safety standards. The orders have been issued today," Mundhe told reporters here.

Offences, such as operating without registration or licences, misleading advertisements, making false claims and milk adulteration, could attract penalties of up to Rs 10 lakh, he said, adding that the FDA would impose maximum permissible fine to act as a deterrent, he said.

He said the fresh guidelines cover every stage of the supply chain, including milk collection centres, cooling units, pasteurisation and homogenisation facilities, ultra-high temperature treatment plants, packaging and filling stations, distributors, wholesalers, loose milk vendors, automatic vending machine operators, manufacturers of milk products and retailers.

The commissioner said the move followed consultations with milk producers and manufacturers, during which the FDA conducted training programmes for industry personnel on food safety standards and precautionary measures.

According to the compliance orders, all the establishments will have to carry out mandatory hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) assessments and update them regularly. They must use food-grade stainless steel utensils, storage tanks and equipment that can be cleaned easily, while licence holders must also ensure effective pest control measures.

Mundhe said all entities involved in milk procurement and transportation would have to maintain records of registered operators. Milk tankers must undergo cleanliness checks, and if a vehicle fails inspection, the authorities must report it to the FDA. Both - transporters using such tankers and businesses receiving supplies through them - would be held equally accountable if violations are detected.

Referring to earlier action against the hospitality sector, he said the FDA had found that some hotels and eateries had submitted fake pest control certificates to mislead the department.

Such establishments would face cancellation of their licences, he warned.