MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The Food Authority Muzaffarabad has sealed the production unit of a famous bakery over poor hygiene arrangements.
The officials also sealed a fast-food outlet for operating without a licence/permit. Meanwhile, a food business operator was expelled from the district after being warned for selling dry fruits from a vehicle without a licence.
Food Authority regulations
Several food business operators were fined and issued corrective notices for violating Food Authority regulations.
According to details, Assistant Food Safety Officer Qazi Shafiq-ur-Rehman, along with his team, took action and sealed a famous bakery’s factory.
The cleanliness of the production area, food handling, and personal hygiene standards of the employees were checked. The workers were working without gloves or head coverings, and the hygiene was extremely poor.
There was no arrangement to cover the food. The bakery factory was sealed on the spot for violating Food Authority SOPs, while in another operation, a fast-food center was sealed for operating without a licence.
According to the Food Authority Act, a permit is necessary to run business in Azad Kashmir. Operating without a Food Authority licence and permit is legally a crime. The fast-food center located inside the CMH was sealed for violating the regulations.
In another operation, the Food Authority fined the owner of a vehicle and expelled it from the district after warning them for bringing dry fruits from KP and selling them within Azad Kashmir without a licence and permit.
Under the Food Authority Act, a Food Authority licence/permit is necessary to do business in Azad Kashmir.
Additionally, the Food Authority also conducted a detailed inspection of hotels and bakeries located in Plate, at CMH Road, and Tahli Mandi. Several were issued fines and corrective notices for violating Food Authority SOPs.
District Food Controller Muzaffarabad/Jhelum Valley Abrar Ahmed Mir, commenting on the action, said that the primary objective of the Food Authority is to ensure the provision of safe and quality food to citizens.
