Chandigarh, September 11 - With the festive season approaching, Haryana has moved to further tighten its food safety shield, with Chief Secretary, Sh. Anurag Rastogi directing the authorities to step up sampling and intensify action against unsafe and substandard food. Backed by a sharp rise in convictions, expansion of scientific testing infrastructure, strengthening of field manpower and district-level monitoring, the State is pushing for a tougher and more consumer-centric food safety regime.

Chairing the second meeting of the State Level Advisory Committee (SLAC) of the Food & Drugs Administration Department at the Haryana Civil Secretariat here today, the Chief Secretary reviewed the progress made in strengthening Haryana's food safety and consumer protection mechanism.

Sh. Rastogi stressed that ensuring safe and quality food for the public requires a coordinated, whole-of-government approach and called for stronger surveillance, inspections, scientific testing and enforcement across the food supply chain. With festive demand expected to increase the movement and sale of food products, he specifically stressed the need to step up sampling during the ensuing festive season.

He said food safety cannot be the responsibility of a single department and requires coordinated action by all concerned government agencies to protect consumers effectively.

Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Sumita Misra, while detailing the steps taken by the State, said Haryana's strategy was focused on a clear objective to detect unsafe food faster, strengthen scientific testing, improve field inspections and enforcement, and ensure greater accountability among food business operators.

*Convictions Surge as Crackdown Gains Momentum*

The meeting was informed that Haryana's enforcement against violations of food safety laws has gained significant momentum. Convictions in food safety cases increased from 47 in 2023-24 to 111 in 2025-26, reflecting intensified surveillance, inspections, sampling and prosecution of non-compliant food business operators.

 

The pace has accelerated further during the current financial year. Up to August 31, 2026, the department reported 265 convictions, with penalties amounting to Rs 55.86 lakh. During 2025-26, penalties of Rs 2.35 crore were imposed through food safety enforcement action.

The sharp increase in convictions and enforcement action reflects Haryana's intensified focus on ensuring that violations affecting public health and consumer interests do not go unchecked.

*Tough Action on Analogue Paneer, Strict Standards for Products Sold as Ghee*

Among the important consumer protection measures reviewed at the meeting was the State's action against Analogue/Non-Dairy Paneer.

Dr. Sumita Misra said the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of Analogue/Non-Dairy Paneer has been prohibited in Haryana for one year under a notification issued by the Commissioner, Food Safety. The meeting also reviewed directions concerning products sold or described as “Ghee”, including “Ghee Ka Diya” and “Pooja Ka Ghee”.

Products labelled, described, offered or sold as ghee are required to conform to the prescribed standards applicable to ghee. The measures are aimed at strengthening consumer confidence and ensuring that products sold under commonly understood food descriptions meet the applicable standards.

 

*45 Food Safety Officers to Strengthen Ground-Level Enforcement*

Recognising that consumer protection depends on effective inspections and timely action on the ground, Haryana is also moving to strengthen its enforcement machinery.

The process for recruitment against 45 regular posts of Food Safety Officers has been forwarded to the Haryana Public Service Commission.

The additional manpower is expected to strengthen inspections, surveillance, sampling, investigation and follow-up enforcement action across the State.

The issue of formally recognising FDA Haryana as an “Enforcement Department” was also considered as part of the broader efforts to strengthen the department's expanding statutory and field responsibilities.

 

*Rs 24-Crore Push for Modern Food Testing Laboratories*

Scientific testing is emerging as another major pillar of Haryana's strengthened food safety strategy.

Dr. Misra said a budget provision of Rs. 24 crore has been made during 2026-27 for establishing Food Testing Laboratories at Hisar and Narnaul in the first phase.

The projects form part of a wider plan to establish eight Comprehensive Integrated Food Testing Laboratories at Hisar, Narnaul, Sirsa, Jind, Yamuna Nagar, Rohtak, Faridabad and Gurugram.

The expansion of laboratory infrastructure is aimed at strengthening Haryana's scientific testing and surveillance capacity and providing a stronger institutional mechanism for identifying food safety violations and taking appropriate action.

 

*Food Safety Monitoring Reaches Every District*

The State has also expanded its district-level food safety oversight mechanism, with District Level Advisory Committees convened in all districts of Haryana.

The Chief Secretary stressed the need for continued monitoring of the regular functioning of these committees and effective implementation and follow-up of their decisions.

The strengthened district-level mechanism is expected to bring food safety monitoring closer to consumers and ensure that local concerns are identified and addressed in a more organised and coordinated manner.

 

*Special Drives Target Everyday Food Concerns*

During 2026, FDA Haryana carried out focused enforcement drives covering ghewar, milk and milk products, caffeinated beverages and labelling requirements of imported food articles.

The department also conducted food safety and hygiene awareness campaigns covering 236 food establishments and vendors, including street food carts, food shops, restaurants, dhabas and vendors selling cut fruits and prepared food.

As many as 153 establishments and vendors were found to be complying with hygiene requirements, while action was initiated against violations in accordance with applicable regulations.

Dr. Misra said the combination of strict enforcement and awareness campaigns was aimed at promoting better hygiene and food safety practices while ensuring regulatory action against violations.

 

*Stronger Field Support for Enforcement Operations*

The meeting also reviewed the requirement for stronger institutional and field-level support for FDA Haryana.

It was discussed that police assistance and protection would be provided to support Food Safety Officers during surprise inspections, raids, night operations and other sensitive enforcement activities, helping ensure the effective and safe conduct of field operations.

No. IPRDH/2026

 

*****

 

(Release ID: 5826)