FDA registers 17,000 food vendors during drive, issues licences to 352

NASHIK: The spot registration drive launched by the Nashik divisional office of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is receiving good response, as the FDA has registered 16,945 businesses and issued licences to 352 food-related businesses across the division in the last 21 days.

The division includes five districts - Nashik, Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Dhule and Nandurbar. The FDA had launched a month-long spot registration drive in the division from January 7, which will continue till February 5. Thereafter, legal action will be taken against those food businesses which are found carrying out their activities without registration or licence.

As per the new Food Safety and Standard Act which came into effect from August 5, 2011, it is mandatory for businesses with an annual turnover of over Rs 12 lakh to have licences. Besides, business with a turnover of less than Rs 12 lakh are required to get registered by paying just Rs 500 and Rs 100 as annual renewal charges, while the license fee is Rs 2,000.

Speaking to TOI, Chandrakant Pawar, joint commissioner (food), Nashik division of FDA, said, "Our objective is to register of all food-related businesses across the division. We have launched a month-long spot registration drive to register businesses and issuing licences. We have really received a very good response so far. In the past 21 days (from January 7 to 27), we have registered 16,945 businesses and issued licences to 352 businesses in the division. We have formed teams comprising our officials across the division for the drive."

Of the total registrations, 3,765 businesses have been registered in Nashik district, 7,279 in Ahmednagar, 4,060 in Jalgaon and 1,841 in Dhule and Nandurbar districts. Besides, licences have been issued to 352 industries in the division, including 173 in Nashik, 72 in Ahmednagar, 23 in Jalgaon and 84 in Dhule and Nandurbar districts.

"Besides spot registrations, we have also set up separate sections in all our district offices to facilitate registration and issuance of licences. The drive will continue by February 5. Thereafter, we will take legal action against those businesses which are found without registrations and licences," Pawar added