Amritsar, March 1The health authorities have issued directions to the food joints in the city to get registered and obtain licenses under the Food Safety Act by March 31. Instructions have been issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, which was implemented in the state from August 8, 2011.
The guidelines are also binding on those distributing foods at religious or social gatherings. However, a clear picture regarding the food distributed at religious gatherings is yet to emerge. Even those engaged in the activities related to manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution, import, catering are required to get registered or obtain licenses as per the procedure.
In the present scenario, the licenses are granted by the Municipal Corporations wherever applicable. Shift of powers from the Municipal Corporation to the health department is expected to result in an improvement in the quality of food and hygiene.
Kahlon said, “The waiters and cooks working at all these eateries will also be asked to submit their medical examination reports. This is in view of the several diseases that might be transmitted to the people eating at these places.”
In the absence of any registration at present, the authorities are unable to figure out the total number of all eateries in city. However, the number is estimated to be 2,000 to 2,500. The number of karyana shops is much more. Kahlon said applications of obtaining licenses or registration can been obtained from the office of the district health officer on any working day.
In a recent action, the district health authorities had conducted inspection of many famous eating joints in city and collected samples of food served to the customers.
Later inspecting the condition of hygiene and safety measures at these joints, the Municipal Corporation had suspended licenses of six famous food joints for three days.
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