The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
42. Procedure for
launching prosecution. -
1.
The
Food Safety Officer shall be responsible for inspection of food business,
drawing samples and sending them to Food Analyst for analysis.
2.
The
Food Analyst after receiving the sample from the Food Safety Officer shall
analyse the sample and send the analysis report mentioning method of sampling
and analysis within fourteen days to Designated Officer with a copy to
Commissioner of Food Safety.
3.
The
Designated Officer after scrutiny of the report of Food Analyst shall decide as
to whether the contravention is punishable with imprisonment or fine only and
in the case of contravention punishable with imprisonment, he shall send his
recommendations within fourteen days to the Commissioner of Food Safety for sanctioning
prosecution.
4.
The
Commissioner of Food Safety shall, if he so deems fit, decide, within the
period prescribed by the Central Government, as per the gravity of offence,
whether the matter be referred to,-(a) a court of ordinary jurisdiction in case
of offences punishable with imprisonment for a term up to three years; or(b) a
Special Court in case of offences punishable with imprisonment for a term
exceeding three years where such Special Court is established and in case no
Special Court is established, such cases shall be tried by a court of ordinary
jurisdiction.
5.
The
Commissioner of Food Safety shall communicate his decision to the Designated
Officer and the concerned Food Safety Officer who shall launch prosecution
before courts of ordinary jurisdiction or Special Court, as the case may be;
and such communication shall also be sent to the purchaser if the sample was
taken under section 40.