Food safety inspection in Kohima flags missing FSSAI licences, incomplete labels, expired registration details and non-compliant imported products
DIMAPUR — Several provisional stores in Jail colony, Kohima, were found selling or displaying food products with missing licences, incomplete labels and other mandatory details during an inspection conducted by the Food Safety Team, Kohima Zone.
The inspection, led by the designated officer and food safety officer under the Chief Medical Office, Kohima, was carried out to check compliance with food labelling requirements and create awareness among food business operators.
According to an official press release, many shops inspected did not have a valid FSSAI licence or registration certificate, which is mandatory for food businesses. The department reminded that operators are also required to display the licence or registration certificate prominently at their premises.
The inspection also found several home-based food products without complete labelling. Some lacked mandatory details such as best-before dates and the address of the food business operator, while some products carried expired FSSAI licence or registration numbers.
The department directed the operators concerned to renew or update their licence details.
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Some shops involved in repacking food products were also found without the required label declarations, including the FSSAI licence numbers of the manufacturer and repacker. The department stated that repackers are additionally required to obtain a medical fitness certificate from a registered doctor.
Imported food products without the requisite FSSAI licence number were another concern. The food safety administration said operators selling or storing imported products must ensure that the products carry the name and address of the importer along with the applicable licence number.
The inspection further found food items being sold individually even though they were not meant to be sold loose after being removed from their main packets. Such products were displayed without the required label information.
The department stated that the exercise was conducted as an awareness and compliance drive, and the operators concerned were warned to correct the violations.
Officials marked the non-compliant food articles and directed that they be kept aside for return.
It warned that continued non-compliance during subsequent inspections could lead to seizure or detention of the concerned food products.
The food safety administration also urged consumers not to purchase food products without proper labels and asked them to report violations to the authority concerned.
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