Local levels urged to ensure regular market regulation in presence of inspection officers

Kathmandu, July 29: The federal government has urged local levels to appoint food inspection officers and ensure the effective market regulation for food safety and quality. 

The Food Hygiene and Quality Act, 2081 BS (2024) has provisioned about the appointment of food inspection officers and regularization of market monitoring, inspection, and regulation.  The federal government wants the entire local levels to effectively implement such provision. 

The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration, at the request of Ministry of Health and Population, issued a circular to this end on Tuesday. 

The circular calls for the effective enforcement of the provision requiring hotels, restaurants, canteens, eateries or any facilities providing food services to operate the business only after taking permission from the respective local governments. 

 Local levels are bound by the Act to regularly monitor, inspect and manage the food businesses operating in their areas.

According to the Act, only foods meeting the prescribed standards are to be supplied and distributed.

Likewise, according to the nature of food substances, the required temperature and humidity is to be maintained in the sales room or storage area, the circular states, adding that the place where food is prepared, sold and distributed should always be kept clean, fresh and hygienic, the circular states

Similarly, the local governments have been directed to establish a system to identify and disclose the source of food. (RSS)