A comprehensive 3-day training program on 'Requirements of Packaging (FSSR, 2018) & Labelling (FSSR, 2020) – Food Commodities was organised by the department of Industries & Commerce, UT Ladakh in collaboration with the Quality Council of India (QCI) on December 8.

The programme was inaugurated by Sanjeev Khirwar, Principal Secretary, Department of Industries & Commerce in the presence of Mohd Nazir Sheikh, Director, Department of Industries & Commerce, UT Ladakh, and Alok Jain, Director & Head, Training and Capacity Building (TCB) Cell, Quality Council of India (QCI) and his team.

Sanjeev Khirwar, Principal Secretary spoke on the potential of the food processing sector in Ladakh and highlighted packaging, coupled with accurate and informative labelling, could distinguish Ladakhi food products in the market. He encouraged the participants to leverage this training to not only meet regulatory requirements but also to creatively showcase the rich heritage and unique flavors of Ladakh through their packaging and labelling strategies.

The programme witnessed active participation from over 50 entrepreneurs, Self-Help Group (SHG) members, and Farmers Producer Organization (FPO) members who came from the far-flung areas of Leh and Kargil districts. The experts from QCI provided in-depth insights into the nuances of FSSAI regulations, addressing queries and concerns raised by the participants, and provided practical guidance on implementing best practices in packaging and labelling.

After the training, the participants expressed their appreciation for the comprehensive and detailed nature of the sessions. The feedback received reflected the sentiment that the training was not only fruitful but also instrumental in enhancing their understanding of compliance requirements and urged the Administration to continue organising such training programs in the future.