Chairman PHDCCI Kashmir Vicky Shaw and Executive Committee member Shahejehan Khan participated in an interactive meeting with Rajit Punhani, Secretary to the Government of India and Chief Executive Officer of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The meeting was organised by Khalid Jahangir, Commissioner, Food & Drugs Administration, Jammu & Kashmir, and was also attended by Devesh Kumar Mahla, IPS, Director, FSSAI Northern Region.
During the interaction, Shaw said PHDCCI supports both consumer safety and ease of doing business. While welcoming regulatory reforms, he stressed the need to first equip the business community with adequate knowledge of food safety standards through scientific awareness, training and capacity building rather than relying primarily on punitive measures.
Supporting the views expressed by Commissioner Khalid Jahangir, Shaw strongly advocated bringing restaurants and eateries in Jammu & Kashmir in line with global food safety and service standards.
He called for clear, accurate and trustworthy declarations on menus, including whether food is fresh or frozen and the specific type of meat being served, such as lamb or beef, in accordance with FSSAI norms.
Shaw said greater transparency in food declarations would help strengthen consumer confidence and could also contribute to increased footfall at restaurants and eateries among both tourists and local residents.
Reaffirming PHDCCI’s commitment to responsible business practices, Shaw said there could be no compromise on food safety, hygiene, consumer trust and transparent declaration of products served to the public.
