IMPHAL, Jun 8: Adjudicating Officer (Food Safety)/Additional District Magistrate, Imphal East has imposed a penalty of Rs 3 lakh on the proprietor of M/s Ajay Stores for misbranding and adulterating Kaziranga tea.
The proprietor has been identified as Ajay Prasad (35) s/o Hargovind Prasad of Khurai Telipati in Imphal East.
According to an order passed by Adjudicating Officer/ADM, Imphal East yesterday, Ajay Prasad has been found violating Section 26 (2) (ii) of the Food Standards Act, 2006 read with Section 3 (1) (zf) (A) & (B) of the said Act and Regulations 2.10.1 (1) of Food Safety and Standards (Food products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 which is punishable under Section 52 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The order mentioned that owner/proprietor of M/s Ajay Stores must deposit the penalty amount to the State Health Department within seven days from the date of passing the order failing which the amount would be recovered as arrears of land revenue.
The order further said that if M/s Ajay Stores wishes to continue its business, the firm should get registered/licensed at Food Safety and Standards Authority of India with O/o the Designated Officer (Food Safety Administration)/Food Safety Officer, Imphal East.
The order further said that once the firm is registered, the ban imposed on them would be lifted under the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations, 2011.
Samples of Kaziranga tea were collected from M/s Ajay Stores on April 16 last and analysed by the Food Analyst of Public Health Food Testing Laboratory, Medical Directorate, RD Wing complex, Lamphel.
The report given by the Food Analyst regarding the samples said, “The sample bearing Code No and Serial No 8/DO/IE/31 of Imphal East does not conform to the standard and is misbranded as per Food Safety and Standard Regulation 2011.”
The Food Safety officers and police personnel, who raided M/s Ajay Stores also came across the machine used by its proprietor Ajay Prasad in adulterating Kaziranga tea with other low grade tea.
The Kangleipak Students’ Association had busted the food adulteration case.
