Ghaziabad will start issuing online licences to meat shops

Nearly 152 shops have been closed for want of licences, indulging in open slaughtering and not maintaining hygiene conditions.

The district administration has decided to start issuance of licences from Wednesday. However, the food safety department said all licences issued henceforth will adhere to guidelines laid down under the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business), Regulations of 2011.

For the purpose, retailers will now be categorised as those having an annual turnover below Rs 12 lakh and those having an annual turnover above Rs 12 lakh. The officials said all details will have to be filled online on the website of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and submit documents, in hard copy, within 15 days to the local administration.

“For the purpose of submission of documents, we will set up a single window at the municipal corporation and nagar palikas where nodal officers for the respective departments will be available. After submission, proper checks will be carried out and thereafter the licences will be issued by the food safety department. Further, all the listed guidelines will have to be followed by the license holders,” said Nidhi Kesarwani, district magistrate (DM).

After the submission of documents, different departments such as the municipal corporation, food safety department, the police and the veterinary department will carry out checks before issuance of licences.

“The applicants will also have to disclose the source of procurement. There will be no open slaughtering permitted. The nearest procurement can be done from Ghazipur Market in Delhi or from the four units (export oriented) operational in Ghaziabad. The four units have consented to provide facility to cater to local demand,” DM added.

Nearly 152 shops have been closed for want of licences, indulging in open slaughtering and not maintaining hygiene conditions. The meat shop owners continued their second day of strike against the decision. The situation has also affected the business in Ghazipur poultry and fish market.

“Nearly 30-35% business has been affected since the crackdown began. We expect a major decline in sales due to Navratra, which has started,” said Mohammad Irfan Qureshi, a supplier from Ghazipur market in Delhi.