Srinagar, Aug 21 : The Jammu and Kashmir Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has issued a public notice making it mandatory for all food business operators to strictly adhere to the guidelines of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) with regard to the handling, storage, packaging and sale of frozen raw meat, chicken and meat products.
The FDA Commissioner, in the notification, said that the directions apply to all manufacturers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, cold storage operators, transporters as well as e-commerce platforms engaged in the sale or distribution of meat products. The notice clearly warns that the sale of packaged frozen meat or chicken without proper and complete labeling will be prohibited and strict legal action will follow against violators.
According to the FDA, there are clear definitions of fresh, chilled and frozen meat. Fresh meat refers to meat that has not been treated in any way for preservation and is sold soon after slaughter. Chilled meat means fresh meat kept at a temperature between 0°C and 4°C to extend short-term shelf life, permissible only for two to four days before consumption. Frozen meat, on the other hand, must be stored and transported at –18°C or lower, and such products should be consumed within 12 months from the date of freezing. Establishments have also been directed to install calibrated temperature monitoring devices and maintain accurate records, both physical and digital, for inspection.
The FDA has further clarified that under the Packaging and Labeling Regulations, 2020, every packet of frozen meat and chicken must carry the name of the product, a complete list of ingredients, declaration of non-vegetarian status with symbol, net quantity, batch or lot number, date of manufacture or packing, expiry or use-by date, storage conditions, the name and address of the manufacturer/packer or importer, along with the FSSAI license number and logo.
For products sold through e-commerce platforms, the regulations make it mandatory that at the time of delivery, at least 30 percent of the total shelf life should be available or a minimum of 45 days before expiry, whichever is earlier. All mandatory information about the product must be displayed online for consumers before purchase, while packaging material has to be of food-grade quality, safe and non-toxic to avoid contamination. If a product is labeled as Halal certified, which is voluntary, it must still meet all FSSAI safety, hygiene and labeling requirements.
The administration has warned of strict enforcement action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, against violators. Penalties include seizure of non-compliant stock, fines up to ₹5 lakh for sub-standard products, up to ₹3 lakh for misbranded products or missing label declarations, up to ₹2 lakh for operating without FSSAI registration and up to ₹10 lakh for operating without a license. Offenses involving unsafe food carry imprisonment up to six years along with a fine of up to ₹5 lakh.
The Commissioner has directed all food business operators to immediately review and upgrade their operations, ensure all records are updated and remove or delist any non-compliant products from their outlets and online platforms. The order cautioned that failure to comply with the guidelines would result in swift legal action without any further notice.
