MUMBAI: The implementation of a legislation that would have shuttered thousands of eateries across the nation and put millions at the mercy of government staff has been postponed by six months, bringing temporary relief to hoteliers.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, or FSSAI, has extended the time period given to so-called food business operators to comply with tough Food Safety and Standards Act to February 5, 2013, from August 4, 2012, due to protests.
The implementation of the new rules, including penalty and prosecution if rats are found at restaurants, serving of pure water and mandated labelling of products, would strain owners when the basic responsibility for most of these lies with the municipal administration.
These proposals don't distinguish between fivestar hotels and a road-side food stall when it comes to proposals in the name of safety standards. "This extension is just a temporary relief, and the horror of unpractical and harsh provisions shall be back to haunt from February," said Tejinder Singh Renu, secretary, Vidarbha Taxpayers Association (VTA).
"The Act uses the same parameter for a five-star hotel and a road-side vendor thus failing to strike a balance in implementation. Without studying the Indian market, agriculture and other parameters, the Act has been enacted in haste."
The FSSA 2006 was implemented on August 5 last year with the objective to bring out a sciencebased uniform food law in the country that repealed several other laws and brought the food industry under one umbrella. The Act brings all food traders, right from street food vendors, dabbawallas, food transporters to hoteliers under it.
The Mumbai Mewa Masala Merchant's Association has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court against the Act, which comes up for hearing on August 2. "For any small business operator, the provisions are impractical to adhere to," says Lakshmidas Bhai, Lakshmidas Thakker of the Mumbai Mewa Masala Merchant's Association.
"The clauses are drafted without taking realities of food business units in India. A penalty being imposed in the case of a rat being found in the premises of a food business unit is a case in point.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, or FSSAI, has extended the time period given to so-called food business operators to comply with tough Food Safety and Standards Act to February 5, 2013, from August 4, 2012, due to protests.
The implementation of the new rules, including penalty and prosecution if rats are found at restaurants, serving of pure water and mandated labelling of products, would strain owners when the basic responsibility for most of these lies with the municipal administration.
These proposals don't distinguish between fivestar hotels and a road-side food stall when it comes to proposals in the name of safety standards. "This extension is just a temporary relief, and the horror of unpractical and harsh provisions shall be back to haunt from February," said Tejinder Singh Renu, secretary, Vidarbha Taxpayers Association (VTA).
"The Act uses the same parameter for a five-star hotel and a road-side vendor thus failing to strike a balance in implementation. Without studying the Indian market, agriculture and other parameters, the Act has been enacted in haste."
The FSSA 2006 was implemented on August 5 last year with the objective to bring out a sciencebased uniform food law in the country that repealed several other laws and brought the food industry under one umbrella. The Act brings all food traders, right from street food vendors, dabbawallas, food transporters to hoteliers under it.
The Mumbai Mewa Masala Merchant's Association has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court against the Act, which comes up for hearing on August 2. "For any small business operator, the provisions are impractical to adhere to," says Lakshmidas Bhai, Lakshmidas Thakker of the Mumbai Mewa Masala Merchant's Association.
"The clauses are drafted without taking realities of food business units in India. A penalty being imposed in the case of a rat being found in the premises of a food business unit is a case in point.
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