KOCHI: The food business operators in the state, which mainly include hotels and restaurants, continue to be at loggerheads with the food safety authorities.
This despite the fact that Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the ministry of health and family welfare recently decided to extend the deadline to renew their licences under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) 2006 to January 2013.
The earlier set deadline was August 5. But most of the food business operators in state did not renew their licences or take steps to improve hygiene in their outlets under the norms of the act.
The Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi has already demanded a cut in the licence fee and a reduction in the fine amount that is likely to be imposed on offences booked under the act. They had also issued a circular to all its members asking them not to renew their licences.
Under the act, fine up to Rs 10 lakh can be imposed even for small violations. The act stipulates that food business operators with an annual turnover up to Rs 12 lakh should pay a registration fee of Rs 100. Those with a turnover of over Rs 12 lakh have to remit a fee of Rs 5,000.
Meanwhile, an official of the food safety commissionerate in the state capital, said they will continue with the raids in hotels and restaurants and issue notices to voilators even though the deadline to get new licence has been extended.
Earlier the authorities had raided various hotels and restaurants across the state and issued notices to 696 of them to improve hygiene. They also asked 73 food outlets to close down.
With hotels protesting against raids, the authorities had also issued a 30-point guideline in the last week of July to ensure hygiene in hotels.
However, Jose Mohan, general secretary of the Kerala Hotels and Restaurants Association, maintained that most association members have renewed their licences. But he did not mince any words against the food safety officials. "The food safety commissioner does not have any authority to issue guidelines. We are planning to stage a protest in front of the secretariat on September 4 as the government has not called us for talks till now."
This despite the fact that Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the ministry of health and family welfare recently decided to extend the deadline to renew their licences under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) 2006 to January 2013.
The earlier set deadline was August 5. But most of the food business operators in state did not renew their licences or take steps to improve hygiene in their outlets under the norms of the act.
The Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi has already demanded a cut in the licence fee and a reduction in the fine amount that is likely to be imposed on offences booked under the act. They had also issued a circular to all its members asking them not to renew their licences.
Under the act, fine up to Rs 10 lakh can be imposed even for small violations. The act stipulates that food business operators with an annual turnover up to Rs 12 lakh should pay a registration fee of Rs 100. Those with a turnover of over Rs 12 lakh have to remit a fee of Rs 5,000.
Meanwhile, an official of the food safety commissionerate in the state capital, said they will continue with the raids in hotels and restaurants and issue notices to voilators even though the deadline to get new licence has been extended.
Earlier the authorities had raided various hotels and restaurants across the state and issued notices to 696 of them to improve hygiene. They also asked 73 food outlets to close down.
With hotels protesting against raids, the authorities had also issued a 30-point guideline in the last week of July to ensure hygiene in hotels.
However, Jose Mohan, general secretary of the Kerala Hotels and Restaurants Association, maintained that most association members have renewed their licences. But he did not mince any words against the food safety officials. "The food safety commissioner does not have any authority to issue guidelines. We are planning to stage a protest in front of the secretariat on September 4 as the government has not called us for talks till now."
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