Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, has ordered “Zero Tolerance” for food safety violations in the Union Territory of Ladakh. In a sweeping directive aimed at protecting public health, ensuring uncompromising food quality and dealing with violators with an iron hand, L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena has ordered a strict crackdown on food safety violations across Ladakh.

Sending a stark warning to nearly 8800 Food Business Operators in Ladakh, the LG has made it clear that any compromise on hygiene and statutory food standards will be met with heavy penalties – including fines of up to Rs10 lakh and imprisonment in serious cases.

The decisive move comes amid increased administrative focus on public health and sanitation across the country. The circular issued by the UT Administration, on LG’s directions, makes it mandatory for all Food Business Operators in Ladakh to strictly comply with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. They have been directed to ensure that “the food manufactured, processed, stored, transported, distributed or sold in Ladakh is safe, wholesome and conforms to the prescribed food safety standards.” At present, there are 428 FSSAI Licence holders and 8,355 FSSAI Registration holders in the UT of Ladakh.

The Food Safety Department has been directed to ensure that all FBOs maintain continuous compliance with statutory food safety, hygiene, sanitary and FSSAI licensing requirements, and to take stringent action for any such violation, that include ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh, while certain violations may also attract imprisonment.

All food business operators, including restaurants/hotels/ eateries, have been strictly prohibited from manufacturing, storing or selling any food that is “unsafe, sub-standard, misbranded, adulterated, contaminated, or beyond the shelf-life/expiry date.”

“Food safety is not merely a regulatory requirement; it is a fundamental responsibility towards the health and well-being of every citizen. Every Food Business Operator must ensure that the food served to our people is safe, hygienic and of the prescribed standard. There will be zero tolerance for any such violations that put public health at risk. At the same time, our enforcement will remain fair, transparent and firmly grounded in law,” said L-G Shri Saxena.

As per the direction, all Food Business Operators are required to:

1. Obtain and maintain a valid FSSAI Licence/Registration and prominently display the valid certificate at their business premises.
2. Comply with the applicable hygiene and sanitary requirements, including Good Hygiene Practices and Good Manufacturing Practices.
3. Maintain cleanliness and sanitation of food premises, personal hygiene of food handlers, prevent cross-contamination and ensure safe storage of raw materials and finished food.
4. Maintain appropriate temperature and cold-chain conditions, use potable water, ensure proper waste disposal and pest control, and use food-grade equipment, utensils and packaging material.
5. Properly clean and sanitise equipment and food-contact surfaces and segregate raw food from cooked/ready-to-eat food.
6. Maintain appropriate records and documentation and procure food ingredients and raw materials only from reliable and legal sources.
7. Licensed FBOs must maintain and implement an appropriate Food Safety Management System (FSMS).
8.  Ensure that food handlers maintain high standards of personal hygiene and receive appropriate training in food safety and hygiene practices. Persons suffering from illnesses that may adversely affect food safety should not be engaged in food handling activities.
9. Store food in a manner that protects it from contamination, deterioration and infestation, maintain proper stock rotation and ensure that expired, spoiled or otherwise unsafe food is neither stored nor offered for sale.
10. Comply with applicable labelling requirements for pre-packaged food and refrain from making misleading, false or deceptive claims, declarations or advertisements.
11. Cooperate with Food Safety Officers during inspections, sampling, surveillance and enforcement activities and comply with lawful directions issued under the Act.

The Food Safety Department has been instructed to conduct inspections, sampling and analysis of food, seizure or detention of food articles, prohibition on sale or distribution of unsafe food and suspension or cancellation of licences wherever legally warranted.

The penalties for food safety violations include: