Until September this year, Food and Drug Administration Department has taken actions against nearly 50 undisciplined foodstuff industries, said Dr. Sabel Htet Htet Htoo, deputy director of the FDA.

According to the market survey conducted in 2017, the FDA announced that a total of 113 foodstuffs were not fit for consumption. This year, the FDA will release the list of seven unhygienic foodstuffs. Last year, 102 foodstuff industries which failed to meet the set production standards had to sign pledges to improve on their quality control for the first time.

This year, 43 industries have signed pledges. There were eight charges in 2017 and three this year. The FDA revoked licenses of 15 industries last year. This year, the FDA has revoked three licenses, she added.

According to the surprise checks conducted by the FDA on purified drinking water and foodstuff this year, substandard materials were found in about 10 per cent of more than 1,000 taken samples. The FDA recalls and destroys sub-standard foodstuffs, said Dr. Min Wan, Deputy Director of FDA (Yangon branch).