New Delhi,1 May:The Union Cabinet today gave its for declaration of the year 2008/2009 as ‘Food Safety and Quality Year’.The initiative will ensure safe, healthy and sustainable food supply, bring about awareness amongst consumers to demand safe and quality food as well as promote practice of good hygiene amongst consumers, producers and processors.
The following schemes are as under to implement the programme for declaring 2008/2009 as the Food Safety and Quality year :
i) Establishment of Mega Food Park with integrated value chain to facilitate linkage of the farmers to the processors / industry and the market.
ii) Establishment of integrated cold chain facilities to enhance shelf-life of perishable products and link them to market.
iii) Modernisation of abattoirs including scientific and hygienic slaughtering practices and availability of quality meat to industry and consumers.
iv) Setting up / upgradation of food testing / quality control laboratories.
v) Upgrading hygiene and quality of food street vendors and food streets.
vi) Awards for innovation in food quality, safety and product development.
vii) Developing quality and safety standards for various food products.
viii) Organising awareness programmes through publications / advertisements, workshops / seminars, etc. on food safety and quality.
ix) Launching of postage stamp to commemorate Food Safety and Quality Year 2008/2009.