NAGPUR: Even though the central government has extended the deadline of implementing the Food Bill Act by six months, the Vidarbha Taxpayers' Association said that they would continue their fight against the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
In a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, agriculture and food processing industries minister Sharad Pawar, health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and chairman of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India K Chandramouli and Commissioner ( Food and Drug Administration) Mahesh Zagade for extension of the one-year deadline expiring on August 4 as stipulated under Regulation 2.1.2 of Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
"This is just a temporary relief and the horror of unpractical & harsh provisions shall be back to haunt everyone from February 5, 2013," pointed out the VTA's memorandum.
The VTA had highlighted that the provisions in the FSS Act & Regulations are literally meant to shut down small & medium Food Business Operators (FBOs) in the country and it only supports Foreign Direct Investments and Multi National Companies.
VTA also alleged that Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has squarely failed in making a balance between existing procedure followed and preparing unkind provisions from farm to fork, which means a petty dhaba and Seven Star Hotel should be following the same norms as no parameters or gradation is described the new Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSSA).
The memorandum also highlighted that although FSSAI was incorporated to lay down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption, the Act has been enforced without studying the Indian market, agriculture procedure and other parameters.
"Fight for appropriate amendment in Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 would continue; else small and medium Food Business Operators will have to down their shutters permanently after 6 months. They can only survive by compelling themselves with the help of corruption," stated the memorandum.
In a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, agriculture and food processing industries minister Sharad Pawar, health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and chairman of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India K Chandramouli and Commissioner ( Food and Drug Administration) Mahesh Zagade for extension of the one-year deadline expiring on August 4 as stipulated under Regulation 2.1.2 of Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
"This is just a temporary relief and the horror of unpractical & harsh provisions shall be back to haunt everyone from February 5, 2013," pointed out the VTA's memorandum.
The VTA had highlighted that the provisions in the FSS Act & Regulations are literally meant to shut down small & medium Food Business Operators (FBOs) in the country and it only supports Foreign Direct Investments and Multi National Companies.
VTA also alleged that Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has squarely failed in making a balance between existing procedure followed and preparing unkind provisions from farm to fork, which means a petty dhaba and Seven Star Hotel should be following the same norms as no parameters or gradation is described the new Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSSA).
The memorandum also highlighted that although FSSAI was incorporated to lay down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption, the Act has been enforced without studying the Indian market, agriculture procedure and other parameters.
"Fight for appropriate amendment in Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 would continue; else small and medium Food Business Operators will have to down their shutters permanently after 6 months. They can only survive by compelling themselves with the help of corruption," stated the memorandum.
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