AURANGABAD: All food manufacturers - from small retailers to hawkers to canteens and starred hotels - will have to register with or obtain a licence from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) as part of a change in the administrative regime for the industry.
"Hoteliers, traders and food joints who had earlier registered under the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation also need to get themselves registered with the FDA according to the Food and Safety Act 2006 to avoid inconveniences, like imprisonment and fines," FDA joint commissioner (Food), Aurangabad division, Chandrashekhar Salunke said.
"Manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, hawkers, weekly market sellers, small-scale industrialists, hoteliers, fruit and vegetable vendors, paan kiosk-owners, fish sellers, poultry businessmen, fair price shop owners, self-help groups and milk collection centres with a business of less than Rs 12 lakh per annum have to register themselves with the FDA. If the annual business is more than Rs12 lakh, then the businessman has to obtain a licence from the FDA. Earlier, as per the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, urban local bodies had the power to issue licences. Now, as per the Food and Safety Authority, only the state FDA can issue them," Salunke said.
"While the earlier licensing or registration process was from the context of adulteration, the whole process is now harmonized globally to the aspect of food safety in general," he added.
Manufacturers or sellers of food articles, ranging from a retailer, hawker, itinerant vendor to temporary stall holder, distributor of food at religious or social gatherings with a turnover of less than Rs12 lakh, will have to register themselves by submitting the application Form A for specific periods with the FDA.
Other food business operators whose annual turnover exceeds Rs12 lakh have to obtain a licence from the FDA's designated officer by filling in Form B.
"If the existing food licences are still valid, then no licence or registration fees will have to be paid for the remaining period of validity. But they have to renew the registration or licence 30 days before the expiry date or else be fined Rs 100 per day," said the FDA official. All registration or licences granted under the regulation will be valid for a period of one to five years, as chosen by the food business operator, the source added.
Salunke said as per the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) Act, 2006, people involved in food business sans procuring the FDA licence and violating norms would face imprisonment of six months and Rs 5 lakh as fine.
"Hoteliers, traders and food joints who had earlier registered under the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation also need to get themselves registered with the FDA according to the Food and Safety Act 2006 to avoid inconveniences, like imprisonment and fines," FDA joint commissioner (Food), Aurangabad division, Chandrashekhar Salunke said.
"Manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, hawkers, weekly market sellers, small-scale industrialists, hoteliers, fruit and vegetable vendors, paan kiosk-owners, fish sellers, poultry businessmen, fair price shop owners, self-help groups and milk collection centres with a business of less than Rs 12 lakh per annum have to register themselves with the FDA. If the annual business is more than Rs12 lakh, then the businessman has to obtain a licence from the FDA. Earlier, as per the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, urban local bodies had the power to issue licences. Now, as per the Food and Safety Authority, only the state FDA can issue them," Salunke said.
"While the earlier licensing or registration process was from the context of adulteration, the whole process is now harmonized globally to the aspect of food safety in general," he added.
Manufacturers or sellers of food articles, ranging from a retailer, hawker, itinerant vendor to temporary stall holder, distributor of food at religious or social gatherings with a turnover of less than Rs12 lakh, will have to register themselves by submitting the application Form A for specific periods with the FDA.
Other food business operators whose annual turnover exceeds Rs12 lakh have to obtain a licence from the FDA's designated officer by filling in Form B.
"If the existing food licences are still valid, then no licence or registration fees will have to be paid for the remaining period of validity. But they have to renew the registration or licence 30 days before the expiry date or else be fined Rs 100 per day," said the FDA official. All registration or licences granted under the regulation will be valid for a period of one to five years, as chosen by the food business operator, the source added.
Salunke said as per the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) Act, 2006, people involved in food business sans procuring the FDA licence and violating norms would face imprisonment of six months and Rs 5 lakh as fine.
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