Food
and Drugs Administration (FDA), Maharashtra, has proactively suggested
all food business operators (FBOs) of Maharashtra to register or get
licence under the Food Safety & Standards (Licensing &
Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
According to FDA, in this regard, if the FBOs want to hold camps in groups, they are free to do so and the officials concerned will help them in ensuring early registration and licensing.
Dilip Shrirao, joint commissioner (vigilance), FDA, Maharashtra, explains, “The system of registration and licensing has been made very transparent and any non-cooperation from any of the FDA officials by way of delay or corruption should be immediately referred to me.”
He added, “All FBOs seeking the change from manufacturers/importers require licence or registration including for transport vehicles that are for transporting foods. The instructions have already been given to officials to send the licences/registration certificates by post as early as possible.”
Shrirao stated, “Any FBO which did not receive registration certificate after applying and paying the fees within one month will be deemed to have been granted registration and any applicant who does not receive licence within two months from the date of registration and paying fees will be deemed to have granted licence.”
“If any demand is made by the concerned registering/licensing authority or by anyone on their behalf may be promptly reported to FDA,” stated Shrirao.
The registration fee is Rs 100 per year and licensing fees is Rs 2,000 per year for all the FBOs in Maharashtra.
Shrirao pointed out, “It is an offence to conduct food business without registration or licence. If anyone is conducting business without licence he is liable for 6 months imprisonment and fines upto Rs 5 lakh and without registration it will be compounding upto Rs 1 lakh.”
“Usually there will be no inspection before granting registration/conversion/renewal. Renewal can be done upto five years from the day of conversion. No fees will be charged for which it has been paid earlier. All the FBOs are assured that they will be given registration and licensing certificate in due time unless some major discrepancies/ violation are found. The manufacturer/importer/distributor shall buy and sell food products only from or to licensed/registered vendors and maintain record thereof,” informed Shrirao.
Registration is required for all petty food manufacturers like temporary and permanent stall-holders, hawkers, home-based canteen, dabbawallas, petty retailers of snacks, tea shops, petty manufacturers/processors/re-packers, petty stall-holders in religious gatherings, fairs and so on, all milk producers who are not members of dairy co-operative societies, milk vendors, fish/meat/poultry shop and sellers and others.
While licensing is required for manufacturing/processing including sorting, grading and so on, milk collection/chilling, slaughter house, solvent extracting unit, solvent extracting plant equipped with pre-cleaning of oil seeds or pre-expelling of oil, solvent extracting and oil refining plant, packaging, re-labelling (manufactured by third party under own packing and labelling), importing, storage/warehouse/cold storage, retail trade, wholesale trade, distributor/supplier, transporter of food, catering, dhaba or any other food vending establishment like club/canteen, hotel and restaurant.
According to FDA, in this regard, if the FBOs want to hold camps in groups, they are free to do so and the officials concerned will help them in ensuring early registration and licensing.
Dilip Shrirao, joint commissioner (vigilance), FDA, Maharashtra, explains, “The system of registration and licensing has been made very transparent and any non-cooperation from any of the FDA officials by way of delay or corruption should be immediately referred to me.”
He added, “All FBOs seeking the change from manufacturers/importers require licence or registration including for transport vehicles that are for transporting foods. The instructions have already been given to officials to send the licences/registration certificates by post as early as possible.”
Shrirao stated, “Any FBO which did not receive registration certificate after applying and paying the fees within one month will be deemed to have been granted registration and any applicant who does not receive licence within two months from the date of registration and paying fees will be deemed to have granted licence.”
“If any demand is made by the concerned registering/licensing authority or by anyone on their behalf may be promptly reported to FDA,” stated Shrirao.
The registration fee is Rs 100 per year and licensing fees is Rs 2,000 per year for all the FBOs in Maharashtra.
Shrirao pointed out, “It is an offence to conduct food business without registration or licence. If anyone is conducting business without licence he is liable for 6 months imprisonment and fines upto Rs 5 lakh and without registration it will be compounding upto Rs 1 lakh.”
“Usually there will be no inspection before granting registration/conversion/renewal. Renewal can be done upto five years from the day of conversion. No fees will be charged for which it has been paid earlier. All the FBOs are assured that they will be given registration and licensing certificate in due time unless some major discrepancies/ violation are found. The manufacturer/importer/distributor shall buy and sell food products only from or to licensed/registered vendors and maintain record thereof,” informed Shrirao.
Registration is required for all petty food manufacturers like temporary and permanent stall-holders, hawkers, home-based canteen, dabbawallas, petty retailers of snacks, tea shops, petty manufacturers/processors/re-packers, petty stall-holders in religious gatherings, fairs and so on, all milk producers who are not members of dairy co-operative societies, milk vendors, fish/meat/poultry shop and sellers and others.
While licensing is required for manufacturing/processing including sorting, grading and so on, milk collection/chilling, slaughter house, solvent extracting unit, solvent extracting plant equipped with pre-cleaning of oil seeds or pre-expelling of oil, solvent extracting and oil refining plant, packaging, re-labelling (manufactured by third party under own packing and labelling), importing, storage/warehouse/cold storage, retail trade, wholesale trade, distributor/supplier, transporter of food, catering, dhaba or any other food vending establishment like club/canteen, hotel and restaurant.
No comments:
Post a Comment