Only 10,000 of the total 22,000 food businesses in Coimbatore have got licences so far
The Food Safety Office here was receiving more than ten applications a day during the past year from food business operators seeking licences as mandated by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
That figure shot up to nearly 30 towards February 4 this year which was the original deadline given to all big and small food businesses to obtain/renew/convert licences. However, after it was extended, for the third time, the number of applications had fallen down to barely two a day.
A senior Food Safety Official told The Hindu here on Sunday that food business operators were no longer interested in obtaining licences. They had become confident of securing another extension when the next deadline comes. Enforcement of the Act had become difficult with the traders of late, the official added.
Of the 22,000 big and small food businesses operating in Coimbatore district, only around 10,000 hadlicences so far. The roadside eateries, which were earlier seeking licences, had now completely stopped coming.
When the Food Safety Act was notified and implemented from August 5, 2011, businesses were given an initial deadline of a year to register. It was extended from August 4, 2012, to February 4, 2013, and to February 4 this year and again to August 5.
Having a licence will make the businesses act more responsible. As an example, the official said that almost all of the food safety violations, such as adulteration, unearthed recently were in shops yet to obtain licences.
The Food Safety Act mandated all food businesses ranging from roadside eateries and canteens to star-category hotels and restaurants to either register or obtain licence, failing which it provided for imposing a fine of up to Rs. 5 lakh besides imprisonment for up to six months.
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