KOTLI (Kashmir English): District Food Safety Officer Munawar Ahmed Chohan has imposed a ban on unhealthy and unhygienic food items in the cafeterias of all educational institutions including schools, colleges, universities, and madrassas across the Kotli district.
The district food controller office issued a notification in accordance with the “AJK Food Authority Act” and the “AJK Educational Institutions Foods Standards Regulation, 2020.”
“All food service providers operating within schools, colleges, universities, madrassas, hostels, hospitals, and madrassas, hostels, hospitals, other institutional cafeterias are directed to strictly adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).”
As per the directives, the sale of unhealthy and unsafe food products, including carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks, ultra-processed junk food, and deep-fried items, is strictly banned within educational institutions.
Furthermore, it added that all food service providers within educational institutions must obtain a valid license from Azad Jammu & Kashmir Food Authority (AJKFA), and “unlicensed operations are strictly prohibited.”
The notification instructed that all food preparation and handling must meet “the hygiene and safety standards” outlined under the AJK Food Authority Act to ensure the well-being of students and staff.
Mentioning the consequences of non-compliance, the directive added that failure to comply with these regulations would result in strict legal action, including immediate fines and penalties. “The educational institute can face the suspension or cancellation of the food license,” it read.
“All heads of institutions are requested to ensure strict compliance with these directives and circulate this notice among cafeteria operators and food handlers within their premises,” the notification mentioned.
The document also bound the educational institutions to submit compliance reports to the AJKFA and Food Safety Officer/District Food Controller Office Kotli within the stipulated timeframe of two weeks.
For any further information or guidance, please contact the Food Authority at 1200 or 058269-20380, it added.
