CHENNAI: Restaurants,
dealing with the rising cost of essential commodities, manpower and
rent, are now looking at obtaining a food business operator's license as
well.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has made it mandatory for food businesses with a turnover of more than 12 lakh a year to obtain the licence for a fee of 2,000. The licence is required for food manufacturers, packers, wholesalers and distributors and the deadline is February 4, 2013.
However, officials are not yet sure about the rules and regulations. Officials at the food and safety department said, "We have no information on the new rules set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Our job is to grant food licenses and check whether regulations are being followed. There is no clarity on the new licence agreement yet."
Hoteliers said the norms were too stringent. R Srinivasan, secretary, Tamil Nadu Hotels Association, said, "We have given representations to the government saying that the regulations under the Food Safety and Standards Authority need to be amended if the rules are to be enforced. The regulations relate to food standards of 1954. Much has changed in the last 58 years. If those standards are to be followed, 50% of the commodities cannot be sold in the country."
A Marudupandiyan, director, Anjappar chain of restaurants, said, "There is no clarity on the new regulations. A number of amendments are required before the new licensing regulation can be followed. The standards set are very high and I don't think any hotelier can follow them, considering the kinds of raw materials available these days."
Srinivasan said, "Earlier the quality of rice was superior but now so many fertilizers are used on crops. The standards have dipped. The government should take this into account before formulating the norms."
A few small hoteliers who did not wish to be named said about 600 officials have been appointed by the Food and Safety Standards Authority of India to implement the new regimes. They were worried that they would not be able to meet the stringent norms and would have to pay bribes to get licenses.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has made it mandatory for food businesses with a turnover of more than 12 lakh a year to obtain the licence for a fee of 2,000. The licence is required for food manufacturers, packers, wholesalers and distributors and the deadline is February 4, 2013.
However, officials are not yet sure about the rules and regulations. Officials at the food and safety department said, "We have no information on the new rules set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Our job is to grant food licenses and check whether regulations are being followed. There is no clarity on the new licence agreement yet."
Hoteliers said the norms were too stringent. R Srinivasan, secretary, Tamil Nadu Hotels Association, said, "We have given representations to the government saying that the regulations under the Food Safety and Standards Authority need to be amended if the rules are to be enforced. The regulations relate to food standards of 1954. Much has changed in the last 58 years. If those standards are to be followed, 50% of the commodities cannot be sold in the country."
A Marudupandiyan, director, Anjappar chain of restaurants, said, "There is no clarity on the new regulations. A number of amendments are required before the new licensing regulation can be followed. The standards set are very high and I don't think any hotelier can follow them, considering the kinds of raw materials available these days."
Srinivasan said, "Earlier the quality of rice was superior but now so many fertilizers are used on crops. The standards have dipped. The government should take this into account before formulating the norms."
A few small hoteliers who did not wish to be named said about 600 officials have been appointed by the Food and Safety Standards Authority of India to implement the new regimes. They were worried that they would not be able to meet the stringent norms and would have to pay bribes to get licenses.
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