Minister Gita Chaudhary Urges Against Compromise: No Bribery or Bargaining with Service Recipients

Minister of Agriculture, Livestock Development, Forest, and Environment Gita Chaudhary has directed the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control to enhance transparency and efficiency in delivering public health-related services. She emphasized prioritizing routine market inspections, monitoring food businesses, and streamlining the import process. Additionally, she instructed the department to expand laboratory services, initiate pesticide and antioxidant testing, and effectively regulate dietary supplements. (25 Baisakh, Kathmandu)

Minister Chaudhary stressed the importance of the department providing exemplary services in its public health role by increasing transparency and efficiency. She noted that during inspections, ensuring the cleanliness and quality of all food and grain products consumed by citizens is crucial, underscoring that the department’s leadership will be decisive in protecting human health.

During oversight activities, Minister Chaudhary acknowledged challenges in regulatory work due to food diversification, food compatibility, the use of processing aids, limited standards, and the restricted scope of laboratory services. She issued a stern warning against any malpractice such as soliciting bribes, delays, or bargaining at checkpoints with service recipients.

Minister Chaudhary also instructed the department to conduct regular monitoring of markets and production sites, oversee all food businesses ranging from hotels to roadside vendors, and introduce efficiency in food permit issuance and import procedures. She further directed expanding the scope of laboratory services to enhance testing for adulteration, pesticides, heavy metals, mycotoxins, and water quality, ensuring more effective operations.