JAIPUR: Monday was the last day for the food business operators (FBOs) to get their business registered as per the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSA) of India. Rajasthan Khadya Padarth Vyapar Sangh (RKPVS) has decided to stage a protest against it and decided to remain their foodgrain shops shut on Tuesday and Wednesday.
However, the health department officials are putting efforts to register even a roadside tea shop owner as to run his tea shop licenses will be mandatory for him too after February 4.
Chief medical health officers (CMHO), who are ensuring registration of FBOs in their respective districts, looked busy on Monday. CMHO (Jaipur I) Dr OP Thankan said, "The Act has already been implemented in the state but the Center has made it mandatory for every FBO to get a license by February 4. The FBOs are applying for licenses online too."
If an FBO fails to get a licence, there is provision of penalty and imprisonment in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The Act says, "If a person or food business operator himself or by any person on his behalf, who is required to obtain license, manufactures, sells, stores or distributes or imports any article of food without license, he/she shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term that may extend to six months and can also be fined to Rs 5 lakh."
The FSSA covers all canteens, caterers, restaurants and hotels as FBOs that require a license now. However, the traders are protesting against the Act. RKPVS president Babulal Gupta said, "247 food grain markets that will remain close on Tuesday and Wednesday. The provisions and penalties are quite strict, which would affect the business of the traders."
The RKPVS demanded that the traders dealing in agriculture products like food grain, spices, sugar and jaggery should not be covered under the act and they should be kept free from the Act.
FBOs - Think of your future and consumers in the interest of safe food.
ReplyDelete