February 19: Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has requested all stakeholders to incorporate the suggestions of the private sector while amending the Food Hygiene and Quality Bill. The federation insisted on implementing the suggestions arguing that the bill introduced in the parliament is to amend and unify the food hygiene and quality law and it should not be passed as it is.

A delegation led by Anjan Shrestha, vice president of FNCCI, met former Prime Minister and Chairman of Nepal Communist Party (UML) KP Sharma Oli on Saturday and made such request. The federation said that if the proposed provisions of the bill are passed, the food and food-related industries/businesses will be closed. Therefore, the recommendations prepared by the federation regarding the bill need to be incorporated, said Shrestha.

According to Shrestha, the issues to be amended in the bill were discussed with the officers of the Legislation Committee of the National Assembly.

“Suggestions were submitted by three parties regarding the amendment of the bill. However, when a bill like this is presented in the parliament without any amendment, no food-related industries can operate in the country,” said Shrestha.

The federation suggested that there should be a legal arrangement to reveal the maximum best-before date for consumption on the packaging food items mentioned in the 'Food Handler Protocols and Food Safety Rules'. The federation also suggested arranging compensation for the loss caused to the seller when the sale and distribution of food products is stopped only on the basis of suspicion. The federation says that the system of demanding the return of food items by publishing public notices should be removed.

FNCCI mentioned that due to various technical problems, there is no consistency in the lab test reports in the country, so there should be a review of the order issued on the basis of such reports. It is mentioned in the proposed bill that compensation will be paid if the consumption of contaminated food/low-quality food causes damage to the health of the consumer.

FNCCI suggested, “It is unfair to punish with imprisonment and excessive fines and this system should be removed.” The federation was against arresting entrepreneurs, businessmen and traders and imprisoning and detaining them for the entire duration of the case. In relation to the offenses mentioned in it, the federation put forward suggestions such as the provision of prosecution only in accordance with this Act, and the removal of the provision of prosecuting offenses under other acts/laws.