MP approved Penal Law (Madhya Pradesh Amendment) Bill, 2021

Madhya Pradesh Cabinet has approved the “Penal Law (Madhya Pradesh Amendment) Bill, 2021” on February 26, 2021. This bill was approved in order to give life imprisonment to food adulterers in states.

Background

In the month of December 2019, an awareness rally organised in Bhopal to fight against the adulteration. The rally witnessed the participation of people from all age groups. It was held from Roshanpura to Lal Parade in Bhopal.

Food Adulteration

It is a legal term which is used when a food product fails to meet any of the legal standards as prescribed by the authorities.  Food Adulteration can be done by addition of another substance to the food item so as to increase the quantity of food item in either the raw form or prepared form. This results in the loss of actual quality of the food products.

Who regulates the Food Standards?

The legal standards of the food us regulated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This ministry is responsible to provide safe food to citizens. The ministry had laid down “The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954” that provides pure and wholesome foods to citizens. This act was amended in the year 1986. With this amendment, the punishments more stringent for the adulterers.

Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006

This act was passed by the FSSAI in 2006 for which the regulations were notified in 2011. Under this act, FSSAI proposed to include new section to crack down on food adulteration. It mandates that, if the adulteration is done which results into the death or any other serious injury to the person than, there shall be punishment for the adulterers for a term not less than seven years which could also be extended to life imprisonment.

Month: Current Affairs - February, 2021