Corona Virus (COVID-19) outbreak - Need for Safety, Hygiene and Sanitisation guidelines and protocol for Food Sector to continue safe supply of food

As the fear of the spread of Coronavirus is mounting, coming days are going to be challenging for everyone, specifically for the government administration. In addition to challenges of handling the increasing number of Corona positive cases, medical support, availability of medicine and other services; ensuring uninterrupted food supply for millions of people will be an equally bigger challenge.

In my opinion, shutting down all the markets and logistic may not be a solution. The government will have to come up with ideas and solutions for ensuring the supply of essential food items, such as fruits & vegetables, wheat flour, rice, pulses, cooking oil, spices, milk and other items. Although, there has been a relaxation in the movement of thee items, lack of clarity at a lower level is creating confusion and big problems. As we know, many drivers and workers have faced severe harassment in Delhi and had to run away. The situation may not be much different in other parts of the country.

God forbid, if Government need to increase the period of this lock-down situation, there should be some well-defined protocol for logistics and handling of these items. Some of the interventions, which can be promoted are as under –

• Ensuring safety and hygiene at the field while harvesting and farm-end post-harvest activities (a quick guideline, with the help of a technical team of post-harvest technologists and doctors, can be prepared);
• Sanitisation and hygiene guideline for flour, pulse, spices and oil mills and other processing facilities.
• Vehicle sanitisation guidelines (this should describe the protocol and safe chemicals to be used);
• Strict safety, hygiene and sanitisation protocols for warehouses, wholesale markets and distribution centres (again a team of qualified experts and doctors can come-up with quick guidelines, Do’s & Don’ts);
• Protocol for grocery retailers, push-cart vendors for ensuring safety, hygiene and sanitation at retail points.
• Safety norms and guidelines for people working in the sector;
• Proper briefing to administrative officials and police people at the lower level for implementation of these guidelines, without harassing the people associated in these services and supplies.

Institutions and Agencies such as FSSAI, MoFPI, NIFTEM, CFTRI, chambers and associations of industries (CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM...) can take lead on this. Also, various Private sector player, having capabilities to work on these challenges can come forward to help the government institutions.