Fines of hundreds of thousands of rupees had been imposed and over 7,000 bottles had been destroyed in the last 30 days, says Ashraf. PHOTO: FILE
The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) destroyed thousands of bottles in a crack down against food adulteration.
Deputy Director Operations Dr Masud Ashraf said the Authority had made raids around the city. He said they had imposed fines, sealing and destroying food items that violated Pure Food rules. He said fines of hundreds of thousands of rupees had been imposed and over 7,000 bottles had been destroyed in the last 30 days. The Punjab Food Authority Act 2011, however, does not give the Authority the right to destroy food items even if they violated adulteration rules.
PFA Director General Asad Islam told The Express Tribune that destroying the bottles wasn’t the standard operating procedure but added that it was done in the best interest of the public. He said food safety officers used their judgment in the matter. Islam said the bottles were either forged or carried expired products.
He said the bottles were destroyed with the permission of the factory owners which made the entire exercise legitimate.
On March 9, the PFA destroyed 2,000 juice and beverage bottles in Yadgar Chowk and Lorry Adda. They claimed that the expiry dates on these had passed. According to the Act, the bottles should have been confiscated and samples sent to the laboratory.
If the laboratory reports showed the contents to be adulterated, then under the Act or otherwise substandard, the factory owners would have challans written against them. The court could then order the destruction of the bottles.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 22nd, 2013.
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