As Aug 4 deadline approaches, PMC wants authority for licencing of FBO

As the deadline for registration and licencing of food business operators (FBO) - August 4, 2014 - is just around the corner, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) standing committee recently approved a proposal asking that the civic body should be granted the authority to allot them licences, register them and carry out the inspections of eateries in the city. 

Although Maharashtra is among the leading states as far as the processes of licencing and registration are concerned, PMC - in a bid to complete the task as soon as possible - suggested that option.

Speaking about the current progress of licencing and registration, a senior official from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Maharashtra, on the condition of anonymity, informed, “We are doing our best to complete the registration and licensing before the deadline, which ends on August 4, 2014.” 

“We are one of the leading states as far as both licencing and registration are concerned, with 1,21,484 food business units licensed and 2,39,296 food business units registered. We have got a good response both in online as well as offline registration,” he added.

When quizzed about the PMC demanding that they be authorised to allot licenses and registration to FBO in Pune he said, “I am not aware about the progress, but I have heard about it. But FDA is doing their duty efficiently, and I don’t think we would require the assistance of any municipal corporation in Maharashtra to complete our task.”

Suresh Annapure, joint commissioner, FDA, Greater Mumbai, said, “Our food safety officers (FSO) are working round the clock, and also going from door to door to get the FBO registered and licenced.” 

“They are also creating awareness among FBO about the importance of getting themselves registered and licenced. Not only FSO, but Maharashtra food commissioner is also keeping a check on the numbers of FBO who are not registered or licenced, and asking them to come forward to complete the formalities as soon as possible,” he added.

Bapu Karne, chairman, standing committee, PMC, said, “I have approved the proposals of two PMC standing committee members stating that the civic body should also be given the authority to allot food licences and carry out registration of FBO.” 

Adding that the same powers were vested in FDA three years ago, he added, “This way, FDA would get PMC’s support and it would be easy to complete the licencing and registration of all the FBO in Maharashtra by August 4, 2014.”