In a recent press conference, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressed her stance that food certification should exclusively be conducted by governmental agencies, emphasizing that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) should not play a role in this domain.
Addressing the Uttar Pradesh government’s recent decision to ban the production, storage, distribution, and sale of food products with halal certification, Sitharaman argued that the responsibility of ensuring food quality and safety inherently falls under the purview of the government. She highlighted the existence of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) as a key governmental body overseeing these aspects.
Sitharaman stressed the importance of government agencies in certifying the quality of food, ensuring the absence of chemical additives, artificial colors, and other potential hazards. She firmly asserted, “Non-Governmental Organizations doing it is not right.”
The Uttar Pradesh government’s move to ban halal-certified food products, effective immediately, was justified in a statement that cited alleged “malicious attempts” to discourage non-halal products and claimed a pre-planned strategy by “anti-national elements” to create social divisions.
Sitharaman’s comments align with her belief that food certification is an essential governmental function, and her visit to Hyderabad included participation in poll rallies for BJP candidates leading up to the November 30 assembly elections.
