Amritsar, July 1
The Health Department has planned to organise camps at various markets in the city to register and issue licences to food traders under the Food Safety and Standard Act. The first camp in the series would be organised at Majith Mandi on Tuesday, said district health officer Ashwani Sondhi.
Sondhi said the department would be accompanied by bank officials so that all the formalities in registering and issuing licences were completed on the spot. The department had earlier created awareness among traders through meetings and advertisements, but despite all efforts, only around 400 traders responded to the repeated calls.
“We have divided the city into five parts. In the first series, we will hold one camp in each part. Later, we will also organise camps at the sub-division and block levels in the rural areas,” said Sondhi, adding that the camps would be helpful in bringing more traders under the ambit of law.
The Food Safety and Standards Act, which came into force earlier this year, had so far failed to draw any big response. Even the government had to extend the deadline once in order to give a chance to traders to respond. As per the guidelines issued by the state government, businesses with a turnover of less than Rs 12 lakh were required to get themselves registered with the office of the district health officer, while those with a turnover above the limit were required to obtain a licence.
The guidelines were also binding on those engaged in activities related to manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution, import and even catering. Further, temporary stalls and “karyana” stores selling food ingredients were required to register themselves, said Sondhi.
Officials of the Health Department had claimed that the procedure would help them keep an eye on food sellers and manufacturers to ensure good health of residents. The instructions are issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act — 2006 which became operational in the state after August 8, 2011.
The Health Department has planned to organise camps at various markets in the city to register and issue licences to food traders under the Food Safety and Standard Act. The first camp in the series would be organised at Majith Mandi on Tuesday, said district health officer Ashwani Sondhi.
Sondhi said the department would be accompanied by bank officials so that all the formalities in registering and issuing licences were completed on the spot. The department had earlier created awareness among traders through meetings and advertisements, but despite all efforts, only around 400 traders responded to the repeated calls.
“We have divided the city into five parts. In the first series, we will hold one camp in each part. Later, we will also organise camps at the sub-division and block levels in the rural areas,” said Sondhi, adding that the camps would be helpful in bringing more traders under the ambit of law.
The Food Safety and Standards Act, which came into force earlier this year, had so far failed to draw any big response. Even the government had to extend the deadline once in order to give a chance to traders to respond. As per the guidelines issued by the state government, businesses with a turnover of less than Rs 12 lakh were required to get themselves registered with the office of the district health officer, while those with a turnover above the limit were required to obtain a licence.
The guidelines were also binding on those engaged in activities related to manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution, import and even catering. Further, temporary stalls and “karyana” stores selling food ingredients were required to register themselves, said Sondhi.
Officials of the Health Department had claimed that the procedure would help them keep an eye on food sellers and manufacturers to ensure good health of residents. The instructions are issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act — 2006 which became operational in the state after August 8, 2011.
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