JAMMU, February 13, 2026 — In a decisive move to safeguard public health, the Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, informed the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today that the Health Department has launched extensive special enforcement drives across all districts of the Union Territory. These measures come in direct response to recent reports regarding the seizure and sale of unsafe and rotten meat products within the Kashmir valley. While addressing a clubbed question from several legislators including Mir Saifullah, Mubarik Gul, Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah, and Hasnain Masoodi, the Minister revealed that during December 2025 alone, the department conducted 1,676 inspections, resulting in the seizure of 2,139 kg of meat and the destruction of 12,183.5 kg of rotten meat. Legal action is currently being pursued against the responsible traders and establishments under the Food Safety & Standards Act (FSSA), 2006.
Minister Itoo clarified the legal framework governing these violations, noting that the FSSA 2006 operates through a self-contained statutory mechanism involving inspection, sampling, and adjudication rather than the registration of FIRs or arrests under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. To ensure rigorous quality control, the department has lifted 144 samples for analysis, with 17 found to be unsafe and one deemed sub-standard. These samples are being processed through state-of-the-art NABL-accredited laboratories in Jammu and Srinagar, as well as premier national institutions such as the National Food Laboratory in Ghaziabad and the ICAR–National Meat Research Institute in Hyderabad. To bolster these efforts, 12 fully functional Mobile Food Testing Laboratories are active across the UT to provide real-time surveillance.
Addressing administrative concerns raised by legislators such as Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami and Tanvir Sadiq, the Minister acknowledged a current shortage of technical manpower in state laboratories. She assured the House that vacant posts would be referred to recruiting agencies once recruitment rules are finalized with the Finance Department, while outsourced staff are currently filling the gaps. To maintain transparency and public trust, the department has highlighted its grievance redressal channels, including the toll-free number 104 and various online portals. Moving forward, the government plans to intensify regular inspections of wholesalers, retailers, and street food vendors, with strict penalties including the cancellation of licenses for violators to ensure the availability of wholesome food and minimize food-borne diseases.
