Jan 18, 2013

Chandigarh first UT to adopt online food licensing system

Chandigarh became the first Union Territory to adopt the online Food Licensing/Registration system (FLRS) to facilitate food business operators (FBOs) to file and track their applications.
Anil Kumar, IAS, Health Secretary-cum-Commissioner, Food Safety, Chandigarh Administration, inaugurated the system under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, at the Food Licensing Branch of Government Multi Specialty Hospital in Sector 16, on Thursday. On the occasion, two persons were given licenses through the online facility.
Now, all food business operators in the city can avail the online services by logging on to http://foodlicensing.fssai.gov.in/UserLogin/Login.aspx.
Food Safety & Standards Authority of India has created a centralised online system for FBOs – License/Registration for use across the country, with the assistance of National Institute for Smart Government, Hyderabad.
The system enables FBOs to check for eligibility, apply for license/registration, pay the appropriate fees, upload supporting documents, track the status of their applications, schedule inspections and receive alerts on the status and renewals at the comfort of their homes.
All FBOs are required to obtain a food license by February 4 for all conversions, renewals, new licenses and registrations.

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Chaat walas to wear aprons by end of March


Vendors in Chowpatty respond to the hygiene drive by FDA. File pic




By the end of March, your favourite food vendor at the chowpatty will have to emulate the sanitised cooking practices supposed to be followed in five-star hotels

The cooks at street stalls will have to don apron, gloves and hat, and the food they serve will undergo regular checks for contamination.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has called for a workshop with vendors at the end of the month, appealing to them to follow hygiene norms prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006. The officials expect food stalls to provide customers a germ-free environ- ment by the end of March, or they won’t be issued the requisite licence and will be disciplined with a fine.
To get the ball rolling, the department has set its sights on popular tourist spots like Juhu, Dadar and Girgaum Chowpatty. “In phase I (to enforce FSS), which is now complete, our target was to register the vendors with the FDA. Now we are focussing on hygiene.
We will be organising a workshop by the end of this month to inform vendors about the standards they have to adhere to. They won’t be given time to adopt hygiene norms, as they have already had that,” said Suresh Deshmukh, joint commissioner, FDA (food).
Deshmukh added, “We intend to turn sellers hygiene-conscious by making aprons, gloves and hats mandatory. We will accept no excuse. Those who don’t follow the norms will be fined. These are tourist places and we want to build up the image of street food vendors here.”

Awareness campaign on food safety

Chennai, Jan. 17:  The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), in association with Consumers Association of India, today kick-started its mass media awareness campaign on food safety and standards.
With the objective of creating awareness on safe food and also about the new FSS Act 2006, the programme is targeted at different groups such as public, students and food business operators.
Launching the programme here today, K. Chandramouli, Chairperson, FSSAI, said as a part of the campaign, it will select and train 60 ‘food safety champions’ from various districts in Tamil Nadu, who will, in turn, train consumers and food business operators.
They will create awareness by distributing pamphlets to consumers, conducting street plays and rallies in various places.