Bird Flu rears its head again

29 August 2011, Rome 

FAO today urged heightened readiness and surveillance against a possible major resurgence of the H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza amid signs that a mutant strain of the deadly Bird Flu virus is spreading in Asia and beyond, with unpredictable risks to human health. 

The H5N1 virus has infected 565 people since it first appeared in 2003, killing 331 of them, according to WHO figures. The latest death occurred earlier this month in Cambodia, which has registered eight cases of human infection this year - all of them fatal.  Since 2003, H5N1 has killed or forced the culling of more than 400 million domestic poultry and caused an estimated $20 billion of economic damage across the globe before it was eliminated from most of the 63 countries infected at its peak in 2006. However, the virus remained endemic in six nations, although the number of outbreaks in domestic poultry and wild bird populations shrank steadily from an annual peak of 4000 to just 302 in mid 2008. But outbreaks have risen progressively since, with almost 800 cases recorded in 2010-2011. 

Source: FAO

Reward Scheme for Whistle Blowers for Information on Cases of Food Adulteration

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is in the process of drafting a reward scheme for whistle blowers for information on cases of food adulteration. It has invited suggestions from all stakeholders including public in this regard by 07-09-2011. 

Source: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

The Food Safety and Standards Regulations Come into Force

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) has notified the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011 in the Gazette of India dated 1st August 2011. The following Regulations come in force on or after 5th August 2011.

• Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011 
• Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011 
• Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 (Part I, Part II) 
• Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulation, 2011 
• Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011 
• Food Safety and Standards (Laboratory and Sample Analysis) Regulations, 2011