Super stores ensure to not sale unregistered product: PFA

Director General Punjab Food Authority (PFA) Irfan Nawaz Memon had a meeting and discussed various issues with the representatives of Lahore Super Market Association in the presence of LCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh and Vice President Mian Zahid Jawaid Ahmad at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

The DG said that while working on scientific principles and international best practices, Punjab Food Authority aims to ensure food safety & quality in the entire food chain in collaboration with manufacturers, Food Business Operators, consumers, government departments, autonomous bodies and other stakeholders.
He said that to get registered with the authority is compulsory for all manufacturers. He said that a law has been passed under which loose food stuff is banned. He said that that move of the Punjab Food Authority are aimed at curbing adulteration and consequent diseases.

The DG said that registration of products is not the task of super stores. They would have to ensure that no unregistered product is being sold at their store so that adulteration and counterfeiting can be overcome.

He said that Punjab Food Authority has only ten teams in Lahore which conduct average 10 to 15 visits daily. He said that first time, 90 per cent people warned by the authority to rectify the things.

LCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh said that Punjab Food Authority should launch an aware campaign in collaboration with the business community for implementation of code of conduct and legal requirements. He said the concerned authorities must evaluate the impacts of raids on food sector as it takes years to win reputation that goes into the drain in a matter of minutes.

Representatives of Lahore Super Market Association said that in case of any complain, Punjab Food Authority should warn and give opportunity to rectify the things besides directly sealing the store. They said that the association is ready to cooperate with the authority but they must be taken on board.

They said that the association would request their all suppliers to get registered with the Punjab Food Authority but they should be given proper time for the procedures.

Representatives of Lahore Super Market were include Mardan Ali Zaidi, Muhammad Imran Saleemi, Aziz Iqbal, Muhammad Rizwan and Kashif Afzal.