The Right to safe food is like right to life and liberty and the right of the consumer to get the required food on exchange of money should be guaranteed and implementation of the Act should be done fully in ‘letter and spirit’ said Collector Anshul Mishra.

Delivering the valedictory address at the workshop on the Food and Safety Standards Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations 2011, held by Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Madurai and Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chennai, he said that the whole idea of the Act is to ensure that safe and hygienic food is available for the people at the prescribed rates.

Coverage of registration is essential for effective implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act.

All hotels, eateries and roadside food vendors should register their particulars with food safety officials at the office of the Deputy Director of Health Services, he said.

Earlier in the day, technical sessions were held on the subject where experts from the various fields made presentations. Lalitha Gowda, Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) Mysore, gave a presentation on regulations of the Food Safety and Standards Act and explained how referral laboratories would analyse a sample of contaminated food. She said that the technical staff members involved in testing the samples are well equipped and sophisticated.

A. Sakthivel, former chairman, Marine Products Export Development Authority, spoke about the sea food industry and the intricacies involved in maintaining safety and standards.

A. Savitri, manager, corporate, scientific and regulatory affairs, Britannia Industries Limited, Bangalore, gave a presentation highlighting issues of labelling, packaging, registration and penal provisions.

R. Srinivasan, secretary, Tamil Nadu Hotel Owners Association, spoke on safety and standards in hotel industry.

Somi Hazari, executive committee member, SICCI presided over the valediction.

N. Jegatheesan, president, Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry delivered the welcome address and J. Rajamohan, secretary, Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry proposed a vote of thanks.