The Gauhati High Court has asked the Indian government to ‘frame appropriate rules’ for regulating the easy availability of artificial fruit ripener calcium carbide in the open market. The case revolved around concerns about artificial ripening of fruits such as banana, papaya and mango by using calcium carbide, a ‘highly toxic and highly inflammable’ substance.
The court said: “...We require the authorities in the central government to frame appropriate rules for regulating the open availability of calcium carbide in the market and for the purpose, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and the ministry of petroleum and natural gas may coordinate amongst themselves for… framing the required rules.”
The court was of the view that a ‘more meaningful interpretation and implementation of the provisions’ of the Food and Safety Standards Act, 2016, and the Calcium Carbide Rules, 1987, would be required for effecting a ‘total eradication of the illegitimate procedure adopted for the ripening of fruits using calcium carbide. It said guidelines were also needed to complement the efforts.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Photo source: Dreamstime.com
