Curbs on food traders

Rajahmundry: In a bid to boost the revenue and ensure supply of safe food, the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSA) is taking up a drive to issue either registration or licence to the food business operators (FBOs)in the state.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority, which works under the purview of union ministry of health and family welfare, has issued a direction asking the food business operators who carry out their business either in wholesale or in retail to register or to obtain licence with the food safety authorities locally.

Food business operators whose annual turnover is below Rs 2 lakh are supposed to register with the authorities while those whose annual turnover is above Rs 12 lakh are supposed to obtain licence from the authorities concerned before the end of this year.

Though the FSSA has taken up the drive as a pilot project initially in three districts including East Godavari, Kurnool and Ranga Reddy last year, it has made it mandatory for all districts to comply with its direction.

Accordingly, the FSSA authorities are carrying out awareness drive among the FBOs. A series of meetings are being organised targeting all categories of food traders, including those who carry out retail to ensure that they register and comply with the norms.

The move is aimed at improving sources of revenue to the state exchequer and also to ensure that all food business operators comply with safety norms while preparing the food items and supply to the consumers.

This is going to help the consumers get food items prepared by observing safety norms and help them not to fall victim to health hazards.

Some food traders use adulterated and banned items while preparing the food and once they are brought under the purview of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, by dint of either getting registered or by obtaining licence, the food safety authorities can initiate stringent action against them.

Moreover, sources maintain that state government may tolerate defaulters up to February 4, 2014 and in case the FBOs fail to register or obtain licence by that time, cases will be booked against them and heavy penalty will be imposed and they are even liable for imprisonment as these cases will be pursued in the court of law.