Chandigarh, Oct. 10 -- Expressing concern over the government's move to assign the responsibility of food sampling and adulteration checks under the Food Safety and Standards Act to medical officers, the Haryana Civil Medical Services (HCMS) Association has said that most doctors were neither trained nor equipped to carry out such tasks.

In an October 7 communication to additional chief secretary, health, the HCMS association said the food sampling involved technical sampling procedures, documentation, and compliance with intricate legal protocols. "Food sampling process has significant legal implications, and any procedural lapse, even inadvertent, could lead to complications, including the possibility of litigation. The absence of form...