Establishments without licenses will not be allowed to operate, special task force will be set up for food safety inspection: Minister Veena George

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister Veena George on Thursday said that a special task force will be formed for surprise inspections at the state level. This task force can conduct inspections in any part of the state. The minister said that the food safety officials of respective areas will also be a part of this team. The minister was speaking at a meeting of food safety enforcement officers.

Officials ranging from food safety officers to commissioners attended the meeting. The meeting assessed that the actions of the food safety department were strengthened after Covid. The food safety department has done a lot of activities in the last one year compared to the previous years. 18,845 inspections were conducted in 2019, 23,892 inspections in 2020, and 21,225 inspections in 2021 during the period from July to December. However, about half a lakh inspections were conducted in the last six months. The food safety department has closed down 149 establishments in the last six months. This number is way higher when compared to the number of establishments that were closed down in the previous years.

"Establishments without licenses will not be allowed to operate in the state. If the license is revoked, it can be restored only after the Commissioner inspects the establishment. Inspections should be carried out at regular intervals. Thorough inspections should be conducted at check-posts and fast food shops at night," the minister said.