Under section 42(2) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the Food Analyst, after receiving a…

Section 42(2) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 requires the Food Analyst to analyse the sample received from the Food Safety Officer and send the analysis report, mentioning the method of sampling and analysis, within fourteen days to the Designated Officer, with a copy to the Commissioner of Food Safety. Section 46(3) likewise fixes fourteen days from receipt of the sample for sending the report. The Designated Officer then has fourteen days under section 42(3) to send his recommendation to the Commissioner of Food Safety where the contravention is punishable with imprisonment.

Seven days is the period under the proviso to section 46(1) within which the Food Analyst must inform the Designated Officer that a sample container is broken or unfit for analysis; 21 days and 30 days are not the period fixed by section 42(2).