The Food and Supplies Department, Govt. of West Bengal on June 08, 2026, notified regarding the Strengthening of Quality Monitoring, Inspection and Quality Control Mechanism for PDS Foodgrains.
The following has been stated:
• The Department has directed strengthening of quality control and monitoring of PDS foodgrains, particularly rice and wheat, in accordance with the existing procurement policy and SOPs prescribed under Order No. 525-FS dated February 17, 2026. The Director, Inspection & Quality Control (I&QC) has been directed to intensify sampling, testing, inspections and quality surveillance, conduct training of inspection staff and submit monthly reports on quality monitoring and corrective actions.
• District Controllers of Food & Supplies (DCF&Ss) are required to constitute rotational inspection teams to conduct surprise inspections of godowns and verify the quality of stocks received during the preceding 72 hours. Any major discrepancy, including differences in moisture content between the values recorded at receipt and those found during inspection, will be viewed seriously, with responsibility placed on the concerned Quality Control Inspector and immediate action against responsible stakeholders/officials.
• The Directors of DDP&S and Rationing are directed to strengthen quality checks across receipt, storage, transportation and distribution, ensure compliance with the First-In-First-Out (FIFO) principle, conduct inspections at distributors and Fair Price Shops (FPSs), fix responsibility for deficiencies and take immediate corrective or penal action.
• They will be ultimately responsible for ensuring the quality of foodgrains from lifting from godowns until distribution to beneficiaries. Action Taken Reports (ATRs) are required to be submitted within the prescribed timelines, and the directions are to be treated as a matter of top priority.
[Notification no. - 1586/1(6)- FS/Sectt/Food/2G-01/2026]
