Fall in line by Feb 4, 2014, food trade operators told

In view of poor response from the food business operators to its registration and licensing drive launched three years ago, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has warned them to fall in line by the final deadline of February 4, 2014, or face penalty.

The operators had been given extension twice since enactment of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. But so far the food regulator has been able to register just 25 lakhs out of the country’s around five crore FBOs and gave licence to only 6 lakh FBOs so far against the target of 50 lakh.

 “We have sought an amendment in the FSS Act to ensure that there will be no further extension to FBOs operating in the country to comply with the rules. As per amendment yet to be cleared by the Health Ministry, the FBOs have to get licence and register by February 4, 2014, otherwise they would be penalised,” said K Chandramouli, Chairman of the FSSAI.

He also hoped that the FBO will come rushing for registration in the months nearing deadline. “We have asked the State Governments to raise awareness among the FBOs about the rules which aims to ensure a certain level of hygiene,” he said.

Chandramouli said the first deadline was August 4, 2012, that is one year after the implementation of the FSS (Licensing & Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. It was extended again by six months to February 4, 2013, and then to February 4, 2014.  Now we have no plan to extend it further, he added.

The FSS Act makes it mandatory for every FBO having a turnover Rs 12 lakh to obtain a licence and those below Rs 12 lakh to get themselves registered. This implies that excepting big eateries all FBOs, from road-side chat sellers to vegetable vendors and from milkman to caterers, all need to be registered.

As per the Act all FBOs (into manufacture, storage, transport and serving of food) must maintain a record of the inventory of raw food, stored food, water, food and air testing and pest control regimes. Also, it makes mandatory on food handlers to have annual medical fitness checks.