CM Revanth Reddy Orders New Law to Curb Food and Medicine Adulteration
On Saturday, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy directed government officials to formulate a strict new law to curb the growing menace of the adulteration of food and medicines. Speaking at a review meeting on the Telangana Food Adulteration and Drug Control Act (TGFADCA) held at the MCRHRD Institute in Hyderabad, the Chief Minister expressed serious concern over the rising number of people falling sick due to widespread adulteration in everyday items like vegetables, fruits, and milk.
During the review, Reddy highlighted that chemicals are being used indiscriminately to artificially ripen fruits and extend the shelf life of milk, vegetables, and leafy greens. He noted that these practices are directly causing severe health ailments among the public.
Additionally, the Chief Minister pointed out that excessive use of fertilizers and chemical pesticides has left residues in crop produce. This chemical residue has led to foreign countries rejecting crop imports from the region.
The meeting also addressed the sale of products labeled as 'organic' at high prices. Reddy observed that there is currently no proper system in place to verify the authenticity of organic products being sold in the markets.
To address these challenges, Reddy instructed officials to study the practices of countries that have successfully implemented strict and comprehensive anti-adulteration laws. The officials must visit these countries and prepare a comprehensive report based on their findings.
The state government plans to draft a Bill after discussing the report in the Legislative Assembly and seeking public feedback.
As an immediate step, the Chief Minister directed officials to implement anti-adulteration measures as a pilot project in the CURE region. The authorities will enforce regulations there and proceed further based on any shortcomings or issues identified during the implementation phase.
To strengthen enforcement, the government will also set up a toll-free number for receiving public complaints and appoint whistleblowers to report adulteration activities.
