Rally to sensitise traders to need to register under food safety Act

Carrying forward:Students taking out a rally in the city on Wednesday

Even as the February 4 deadline for food business units to register themselves under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 is fast approaching, the district administration organised a rally in the city on Wednesday to sensitise traders to the need to register under the Act immediately.

All food business operators with a turnover of Rs.12 lakh should obtain licence from the designated officer and those with turnover of below Rs.12 lakh should register themselves with the respective food safety officer as per the provisions of the Act.

Licence

Apart from hotels and restaurants, roadside eateries, grocers and departmental stores selling food products, and meat stalls would have to register or obtain licence depending on the turnover.

However, many traders in the district were yet to register themselves under the Act.

Collector Jayashree Muralidharan who flagged off the rally by students pointed out that the stay obtained by traders in this connection has been lifted and hence it was essential for them to register or obtain licences before February 4.

Failure to do so would attract penal action.

The rally was taken out through the city’s commercial areas from the Gandhi market via the Big Bazaar Street, NSB Road and Nandhikovil Street before culminating at Chathram Bus Stand.

V.P.Thandapani, Corporation Commissioner, and A.Ramakrishnan, designated officer for the district, TN Food Safety and Drug Administration (Food Wing), participated in the rally.