Even as the health department claims to have made concerted efforts and repeatedly postponed the deadline since the state government implemented the Food Safety and Standards Act in August 2011, only 60 per cent of the total eateries and food vendors in the district have got registered under the Act so far.
Under the Food Safety aAnd Standards Act, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has made it mandatory for all food business operators, including producers, processors, transporters or traders of food items, to get license and registration certificates.
Only 700 of a total of 1,200 estimated eateries have got licences in the district, while 6,000 of a total of 10,000 vendors have got registered with the department.
Health officials are of the opinion that since the government postponed the deadline repeatedly, people have started taking the Act lightly. This is the fourth or fifth time that government postponed the deadline to August 4 this year to get registered.
“The delay in deadline is also the reason that the department could not take strict action against defaulters who are apparently benefitting from violating the rules,” an official said.
It has been learnt that the eateries which have recently registered under this act did so due pressure exerted by officials.
Food sellers with an annual turnover of up to Rs 12 lakh has to pay an annual fee of Rs 100 to get registered, while food business owners having an annual turnover of over Rs 12 lakh have to get licence by paying Rs 2000 a year.
District health officer Dr Guriqbal Singh said they are strictly implementing the act to get 100 per cent registrations. “Strict action will be taken against defaulters who fail to get registered under the act by August 4. We have started issuing notices to defaulters,” Dr Singh said.
Meanwhile, applicants can login to the website www.foodlicensing.fssai.gov.in to get registered.
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