Dimapur, Sept 3 (MExN): Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) License would not be issued free of cost, as demanded by the Kohima Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The Chief Medical Officer’s office has informed the KCCI that the CMO is without the authority to issue the PFA license free of cost, since it is only an implementing agency of the PFA Act.
Writing in response to the demand of the organization, Chief Medical Officer Dr T Shuya clarified that officials have seized only the licenses of defaulting vendors, who have not yet renewed the same. With the distribution of a new format of license from the directorate, the same was being issue for renewal replacing the old format of licenses, the CMO stated.
Further, the amount collected is being “carried out” as per directions from the directorate, The amount collected is always deposited as government revenue under the head account ‘Medical-0210’ and the same is auditable annually. The CMO state that vendors were informed through a press release and over the radio dated January 16, 2007 for renewal of the PFA license. In spite of repeated reminders, the vendors did not turn up for the license. In this regard the CMO refuted the KCCI’s contention that traders were not informed.
The CMO also reminded that PFA is an Act and rules implemented throughout the country. In Nagaland, it was enforced in 1956 in Tuensang district. Tuensang and Mon were then placed under Naga Tribal Area and were changed to Tuensang Frontier Division by the North-east frontier Area regulation 1954. The area was administered by the central government through the Governor of Assam. The PFA act was then extended to Kohima and Mokokchung on June 6 1972. Subsequently the Nagaland Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules 1983 was framed and amended in accordance to the PFA Act, section 24 of 1954, the CMO informed.
.jpg)
