Thane: Officials of FDA raided a packaging unit in Navi Mumbai and seized dates worth around Rs 9 lakhs for violating provisions of the Food Act as they did not have a valid licence for dealing with these products.
The raid was conducted at Devi Foods by sleuths of the Konkan region, FDA Joint Commissioner (Food) S K Shere told reporters here on Saturday.
During interrogation it was revealed that the unit got bulk material from one Bait AL Tamur and were packing it for them. Also, it was found that even Bait was not the importer of the product.
Usually dates are imported from Gulf in bulk and repacked into small salable packs and sold domestically.
As per regulations when any one imports the product in bulk it is mandatory that they distinctly mark packets with labels giving decscription on manufacturing, importing and packaging.
The pack also did not contain the other requisite details like Batch No, date of expiry and MRP.
Above all, both the units did not enter into any written agreement for carrying out the work, he said.
Shere said the officials seized 9898 Kgs of packed dates worth Rs 8.40 lakhs from Devi Foods and an additional 876 Kgs of the same product valued at around Rs 50 lakhs from Bait Al Tamur.
The samples of the seized goods have been sent for analysis after which further action will be initiated against the units, he said.
Devi Foods is owned by one Anil Parekh while the Bait Al Tamur by Rajesh Asher, he said.
He also said that both the units in question had violated the provisions of Food Safety & Standards (Packaging & Labeling) Regulation 2011, and action would be taken against them for the same.
The brands marketed by the units were Dates, King Dates and 9999 Dates which are sold in local market he said.
PTI
