Daijiworld Media Network - Agartala
Agartala, Sep 11: The Tripura government has stepped up measures to strengthen food safety, intensify surveillance and ensure compliance with prescribed food safety regulations across the state during the 2026-27 financial year, officials said on Friday.
A senior official of the Food and Civil Supplies Department said 6,478 food registrations and 75 food licences have been issued across the state as part of efforts to bring food business operators under the regulatory framework.
A total of 246 pre-licensing and post-licensing inspections have also been conducted. Of the establishments inspected, 201, or 81.7 per cent, were found fully compliant with the prescribed standards, while 40 were partially compliant. Five establishments were declared ineligible due to violations, officials said.
Under the risk-based inspection system, enforcement drives were carried out at 150 establishments, of which 70 per cent were found fully compliant with food safety norms.
In addition, 53 special enforcement drives were conducted across the state, during which 478 food business establishments were inspected. Irregularities were detected in around 37 to 39 establishments, accounting for approximately eight per cent of those inspected. Legal proceedings have been initiated against the establishments found violating the regulations.
To assess the quality and safety of food products, 755 survey samples and 99 enforcement samples were collected and sent to laboratories for analysis.
Laboratory reports detected irregularities in eight survey samples and one enforcement sample. Following the findings, one closure notice and one stop-sale notice were issued, the official said.
Besides, 88 establishments were served improvement notices directing them to undertake corrective measures, while 11 confiscation proceedings were initiated. A total fine of Rs 1,31,900 was also collected.
The Food Safety and Standards Administration has also focused on improving hygiene and food-handling practices among food business operators and street food vendors.
As part of the initiative, 59 training camps were organised across the state, benefiting 2,008 food business operators and street food vendors. Participants were trained in cleanliness, hygiene and safe food-handling practices.
The department official said enforcement drives and awareness programmes would continue in the coming days to ensure that consumers are provided safe and quality food and that food business operators comply with prescribed regulations.
The measures in Tripura come amid intensified food safety enforcement across the country. Officials of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and state food safety authorities in Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka and Delhi have also stepped up surprise inspections and enforcement drives.
The nationwide action is focused on unhygienic conditions, the use of expired ingredients and food adulteration at restaurants, hotels, eateries and other food establishments.
The Health and Family Welfare Department said the measures in Tripura are aimed at protecting public health and ensuring that consumers have access to safe and quality food products.
The Food Safety and Standards Administration under the Health and Family Welfare Department has taken a series of measures to bring both small and large food businesses under the legal framework, strengthen regular inspections and expedite the licensing process, officials said.