Centre rapped for delay in implementing food safety act

The SC on Monday took the Government to task for its failure to implement the Food (Safety and Standard) Act, 2006. “This is not proper. The Act is being delayed by executives just to suit their own convenience,” a Bench comprising Justices A K Mathur and Dalveer Bhandari observed while hearing a PIL by Centre for Public Interest Litigation, an NGO.

Expecting the Government to follow its own affidavit, which stated that the new act would be implemented by January 2009, the Bench directed it to “do it expeditiously”. While the Government will implement the new law on safety standards for packaged food from next year, the court asked the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to submit a report on ill-effects, if any, of drinking colas and the additives on public health.

The report shall be submitted within six months, it said.

The Bench came down heavily on the Centre for its lackadaisical attitude in implementing the new food safety law. “It’s your own legislation, you have to respect and implement it,” it reminded the Additional Solicitor General arguing for the Government.