Pune: Now, food and drug store owners may no longer have to do the rounds of the Pune branch of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) department to get licences and registrations. FDA Pune has tied up with an NGO to conduct a survey of city establishments, especially small-time business owners, and spread awareness as well as assist them in obtaining licences and registrations.
Under the new Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) 2006, owners of hotels, restaurants, lounge bars, canteens, street food vendors, ice-cream parlours, tiffin service providers etc., into the business of providing food items and doing annual business of more than Rs12 lakh have to get an annual licence costing Rs2,000, while those with an annual turnover of less than Rs12 lakh need a registration of Rs100.
Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner, FDA Pune, said, “We found that most people are not reluctant to comply with rules. However, they find it uncomfortable to come here for paperwork. When this NGO approached us, we thought it was a good idea and have been getting good response. In Mumbai and Thane, they already have an online process for procuring licences, though it is yet to start in Pune. Until that happens, we think this doorstep service would be a great success.”
He said that the process of licensing and registrations under new FSSA, 2006, began in August 2011.
“Till October 31, 22,860 licences and 31,692 registrations were done in Pune division earning us a total revenue of over Rs13 crore,” said Kekare.
However Kekare estimated at least 80,000 small establishments were due for registrations. “We have covered most of the big businesses, and now our focus is on small vendors. Once they are registered, we would carry out their training on safety measures,” he said.
Under the new Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) 2006, owners of hotels, restaurants, lounge bars, canteens, street food vendors, ice-cream parlours, tiffin service providers etc., into the business of providing food items and doing annual business of more than Rs12 lakh have to get an annual licence costing Rs2,000, while those with an annual turnover of less than Rs12 lakh need a registration of Rs100.
Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner, FDA Pune, said, “We found that most people are not reluctant to comply with rules. However, they find it uncomfortable to come here for paperwork. When this NGO approached us, we thought it was a good idea and have been getting good response. In Mumbai and Thane, they already have an online process for procuring licences, though it is yet to start in Pune. Until that happens, we think this doorstep service would be a great success.”
He said that the process of licensing and registrations under new FSSA, 2006, began in August 2011.
“Till October 31, 22,860 licences and 31,692 registrations were done in Pune division earning us a total revenue of over Rs13 crore,” said Kekare.
However Kekare estimated at least 80,000 small establishments were due for registrations. “We have covered most of the big businesses, and now our focus is on small vendors. Once they are registered, we would carry out their training on safety measures,” he said.
