Get FDA licence or face shutdown: Goa govt warns restaurants

Goa government on Saturday warned all "high-value" restaurants operating along coastal belt in state to obtain Food and Drugs ministration (FDA) licence within a month or face shutdown.

warning comes amid concerns over rising food ulteration and use of carcigenic chemicals in fruits and vegetables by trers.

government said it also plans to carry out random tests on fruits and vegetables procured by five-star hotels in state.

"All restaurants, high-value restaurants operating in tourism belt without FDA permission would be shut down. It's my warning to m - please come and get licence within 30 days," state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane told PTI on Saturday.

"After 30 days, we are going to crack down on restaurants which don't have (FDA) licence," he said.

FDA, which is part of health department, has started conducting checks at markets in various cities in state to take action against trers who use harmful substances to ripen fruits or to make vegetables look attractive.

FDA has so far conducted checks at markets in Mapusa, Ponda, Margao and Panaji cities.

" action against restaurants in coastal belt is part of pan-Goa drive against food ulteration and us of carcigenic chemicals in fruits and vegetables...Some trers use artificial ripening substances and or harmful material," Rane said.

" government has me it mandatory even for hawkers selling fruits and vegetables to obtain FDA licences, but those who invest crores of rupees are operating restaurants without this mandatory document," he ded.

"Through FDA, government has been aggressively taking action against artificial ripening of fruits as cases of cancer are rising in Goa," minister said.

A week back, Rane h chaired a high-level meeting of FDA officials, in which he directed m to crack down on fruit-vegetable vendors using harmful substances.

He said health department has also decided to write to five-star and or hotels asking m to reveal from where y procure fruits and vegetables.

" five-star hotels and or hotels will be asked to tell places from where fruits and vegetables are purchased. We will carry out random tests on fruits and vegetables procured by m. We will do this in consultation with tourism bodies, so that it does t become hindrance to tourism industry," minister said.

On Saturday, FDA conducted surprise checks at Panaji fruit-vegetable market in association with Corporation of City of Panaji.

"It is necessary for us to take such pro-active steps. Lakhs of rupees of bananas and apples have been destroyed during recent action, as y were found to have been ripened using calcium carbide and or chemicals," Rane said.

"We are also checking brinjal, which is said to be dipped in carcigenic chemical in order to give it a glossy and attractive look," he ded.

According to Rane, FDA would upgre its laboratory near Panaji so that collected samples can be tested immediately.

"We can immediately get to kw which chemical has been used," he said.

(Picture credit: Vishwajit Rane Facebook)