Dec 31, 2012

Food and Drug Administration to act against unlicensed food caterers

NASHIK: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned of legal action against food caterers without licence and are registered.

According to the new Food Safety and Standard Act, a licence is compulsory for a business with a turnover of more than Rs. 12 lakh. Businesses with turnover less than Rs. 12 lakh need not to take license, but are required to get registered.

The food business, which has been included in the act since August 5, 2011, include, pan stalls, fruit-vegetable vendors, vendors selling food items on hand-carts, grocery shops, food bakeries, professionals packaging food, caterers, inns, dhabas, tea stalls, onion-potato traders, meat shops and other such businesses.

Speaking to TOI, the Joint Commissioner (Food), FDA Chandrakant Pawar said, "The registration and licenses have been made mandatory for food related businesses as per the new Food Safety and Standard Act 2006. Businesses without licence or registration can be fined up to Rs. 5 lakh or face six months of imprisonment."

"There are around 300 food caterers across the city. Even after several reminders, they have not registered or taken license. We have decided to take stern action against them. Moreover, action will also be taken against owners of wedding halls, lawns and schools, if food caterers with no registration or license are found in these places."

As per the new Food Safety and Standard Act, the FDA had recently started the drive for registration and issuance of license in Nashik division. Around 19,403 businesses have been registered so far in Nashik division, including 5,484 registrations in Nashik district, 3,986 in Dhule district, 4,537 in Jalgaon and 5,396 registrations in Ahmednagar districts.

The licenses have been issued to 11,377 businesses, including 5,004 businesses in Nashik district, 2,160 businesses in Dhule district, 1,987 in Jalgaon and 2,226 businesses in Ahmednagar districts. The revenue amounting to Rs. 5.62 crore were earned through registration and issuance of license.

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