Business operators sensitised to licence and registration norms under FSSAI Act

Orientation programme by Tiruchi District Micro Entrepreneurs’ Association

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has educated food business operators (FBO) in the region on the need for securing licence and registration before February 4, 2013.

At an orientation programme organised earlier this month by the Tiruchi District Micro Entrepreneurs’ Association (TIMEA), in association with R.K.Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Centre and Periyar Technology Business Incubator, the FBOs were sensitised to the process of obtaining the licence and knowledge about caring for safety of food for human and animal consumption.

They were taught about packaging, storing, and other aspects.

A senior official of Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration, A.Ramakrishnan, explained that FSSAI was a replacement for FPO (Food Products Order), MPO, and Food Adulteration Act. The FSSAI Act, he said, obviates the need for FBOs to obtain a plethora of permissions from various authorities, including health department and local bodies.

Unlike in the past when the enterprises were at the receiving end of the monitoring authorities, the FSSAI would provide guidance to the entrepreneurs and keep them informed of the shortcomings on their part before resorting to any action.

Barring farmers and consumers, those involved in processing and trading in food, including street vendors are covered under the Act. FSSAI covers six regulations pertaining to licensing and registration, packing and labelling, food additives, contamination, sampling and analyses, and prohibition and restriction.

Getting licence was an easy process, Mr.Ramakrishnan informed.

Ranked among the largest food producers, India will benefit substantially from food processing under FSSAI guidelines.

At present, 30 per cent of vegetables and fruits go waste due to lack of storage facilities, C.Ramaswamy Desai, Project Director, Periyar TBI, said.

Prospective entrepreneurs could avail themselves of the benefits accruing from various schemes of the Union Ministry for Food Processing Industries.

The schemes entail 25 per cent subsidy component, Mr.Ramaswamy said. Rise in disposable income reflects in Indians taking to nutritious packaged food, and hence, safety and standardisation were vital, he said, offering the handholding support of Periyar TBI for aspiring entrepreneurs in food sector.

A venture in food production is bound to be profitable, he said.

Explaining about UYEGP and New Entrepreneur Enterprise Development Scheme, Ravindran, Manager, District industries Centre, Tiruchi, said loans from Rs.5 lakh to Rs.1crore could be secured by first-generation entrepreneurs in the age group of 21 to 35 years with a qualification of degree, diploma or ITI.

Subsidy component was 25 per cent to a maximum of Rs.25 lakh. The beneficiaries of the loan scheme were eligible for 3 per cent interest subsidy as well, he said.

Of the 30 projects targeted in Tiruchi district under these schemes, the DIC will process 20 applications and the rest will be scrutinised by the Tamil Nadu Industrial Investment Corporation, Mr.Ravindran said.

S.P.Mohan, director, Tamil Nadu Environmental Federation, also addressed the participants. N.Kanagasabathy, Managing Trustee, R K Trust, presided.

'FSSAI Act obviates the need for food business operators to obtain permissions from various authorities'