Solitary food testing laboratory caters to 4.70 cr population: Orissa HC expresses concern

Expressing deep concern over the abysmally low infrastructure of food safety mechanism for safeguarding public health, the Orissa High Court has summoned Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, and the Secretary, Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Department for personal appearance for the apparent lack of adequate institutional response on the part of the State.

The Single Bench of Justice Sanjeeb Kumar Panigrahi, in an order pronounced yesterday, expressed serious apprehension, observing that “this Court is constrained to note, with deep concern, that there exists only a single Food Testing Laboratory in the entire State, headed by one Chief Food Analyst and assisted by a limited number of Analytical Chemists. The said solitary laboratory is presently catering to the needs of nearly 4.70 crore population of the State”.

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Such an arrangement can scarcely be considered commensurate with the statutory obligation cast upon the authorities to ensure food safety and safeguarding public health. The existing infrastructure appears grossly inadequate to meet the growing demands of effective enforcement, timely analysis, and quality control, Justice Panigrahi stated in the order.

This Court is therefore of the considered view that the matter calls for urgent and serious attention at the governmental level, the order states further.

The State must take expeditious steps to substantially augment the infrastructure by establishing well-equipped Food Testing Laboratories in every district, supported by sufficient and duly qualified technical manpower, so as to ensure robust implementation of food safety laws and effective protection of the health and well-being of the citizens.

”In view of the foregoing, this Court directs the Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, and the Secretary, Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Department, to remain personally present before this Court on 24 February next at 2.00 PM through Virtual mode and to apprise the Court of the prevailing state of affairs on the food safety front, including the reasons for the existing infrastructural deficiencies and the apparent lack of adequate institutional response on the part of the State,” Justice Panigrahi concluded posting the matter for further hearing on 24 February.