Srinagar: The Jammu & Kashmir Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a stern public notice mandating strict adherence to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) norms for businesses dealing in frozen raw meat, chicken, and related products.
The directive applies to manufacturers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, cold storage operators, transporters, and e-commerce platforms.
Officials have banned the sale of unlabeled meat products and set strict storage conditions — frozen products must be maintained at -18°C or below throughout the supply chain, while chilled meat can only be stored at 4°C for a maximum of four days.
The FDA warned that violations will invite strict action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Penalties include fines of up to ₹10 lakh, seizure of unsafe stock, and imprisonment of up to six years in cases involving unsafe food.
Officials further recalled that during recent inspections, over 12,000 kg of sub-standard meat was destroyed, underscoring the department’s zero-tolerance policy towards unsafe food practices.
