Food safety and standards regulations: Vidarbha businessmen hail move to extend registration date

NAGPUR: Vidarbha Taxpayers Association (VTA) a local body of businessmen taking up various issues related to their sector has welcomed the move by Food Standard Authority of India (FSSAI), of extending the date of getting a registration or obtaining licence till February next year.

According to a press release issued by VTA, the food safety and standards regulations came into force from August 5 2011. One of the clauses in the document stipulates that all food business operators (FBO) shall have to apply for conversion or renewal of their licence within one year of the date of notification of the rules.

This is the second time when the deadline for registration has been extended. Earlier the FSSAI had given a six month extension.

As per the definition, a food business operator (FBO) is any undertaking whether for profits or not, public or private, carrying out any activities related to any stage of manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transportation distribution, sale import of food or food ingredients.

All such business establishments having annual income of Rs 12 lakh and above should have to get a licence to operate over and above getting registered.

It is only registration if it is below Rs 12 lakh an year. Since the definition is too broad it can cover even the roadside vendors and small eateries within its ambit, said VTA press release VTA has been claiming that too stringent laws will only encourage corruption