Chennai: More than half of the city’s food industry — from restaurants, hostels, roadside eateries and bakeries to fruit and vegetable outlets — are illegal. Data from the food safety and drug administration department shows that just 11,000 of the identified 23,769 food outlets in the city registering with the department before the deadlineexpiredon Tuesday.
As per the Food Safety and Standards Act, a licence is compulsory for any food business with an annual turnover of more than 12 lakh. Those with a lower turnover must register with the department.
“We issued licences to 6,100 establishments 4,600 registered with the department,” an official said.
Under the act, vendors who fail to register may have to shut shop, pay fines ranging from 25,000 to 10 lakh or face imprisonment of up to six months.
“There is no justification for vendors failing to register as the deadline was extended several times. But the authorities fail to enforce the rules. They have not prosecuted any violator so far,” said consumer activist T Sadagopan.
Tamil Nadu Hotels Association secretary R Srinivasan claimed they had received a notification from the Centre that the deadline would be extended by another six months. But till Tuesday night, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India website said there would be no extension.
Tamil Nadu Food Safety Commissioner Kumar Jayant said strict action wouldbetaken for violations of safety norms. “Action will be taken against both licensed and unlicensed food operators.Butwe are notin a hurry to punish vendors. We have been creating awareness among vendors over the past two years,” he said.
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