NASHIK: After food caterers across the city responded poorly to acquire licences to carry out their businesses, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided to launch an inspection drive against them after Diwali. As part of the drive, legal action will be taken against food caterers, who have not taken licences from the FDA.
As per the new Food Safety and Standard Act, acquiring licence is mandatory for food caterers with a turnover of more than Rs 12 lakh. However, those having a turnover of less than Rs 12 lakh need not get a licence, but are required to get themselves registered.
The food businesses, which have been included under the act with effect from August 5, 2011, include pan stalls, fruit/vegetable vendors, those selling food items on hand carts, grocery shops, bakeries, food makers, professionals in packaging foods, caterers, inns, dhabas, tea stalls, onion/potato traders, meat shops and other such businesses.
Speaking to TOI, Chandrakant Pawar, joint commissioner (food), Nashik division of FDA, said, "Our major objective is to register all food businesses and issue them licences. Accordingly, we are also focusing on food caterers and have already appealed them to get licences from us. We have not yet received good response for the past six months from food caterers. Only 15 of the total 300 food caterers across the city, who serve food at weddings and other social and household functions, have taken licences so far. We conducted a meeting with food caterers and appealed them to get licences six month ago."
"We are planning to take legal action against food caterers, who are serving food without licences, once Diwali is over. We will raid wedding halls, lawns and social functions where food is being served by caterers. Food items will be seized if they are served by the caterers without licences," he added.
As per the new Food Safety and Standard Act, acquiring licence is mandatory for food caterers with a turnover of more than Rs 12 lakh. However, those having a turnover of less than Rs 12 lakh need not get a licence, but are required to get themselves registered.
The food businesses, which have been included under the act with effect from August 5, 2011, include pan stalls, fruit/vegetable vendors, those selling food items on hand carts, grocery shops, bakeries, food makers, professionals in packaging foods, caterers, inns, dhabas, tea stalls, onion/potato traders, meat shops and other such businesses.
Speaking to TOI, Chandrakant Pawar, joint commissioner (food), Nashik division of FDA, said, "Our major objective is to register all food businesses and issue them licences. Accordingly, we are also focusing on food caterers and have already appealed them to get licences from us. We have not yet received good response for the past six months from food caterers. Only 15 of the total 300 food caterers across the city, who serve food at weddings and other social and household functions, have taken licences so far. We conducted a meeting with food caterers and appealed them to get licences six month ago."
"We are planning to take legal action against food caterers, who are serving food without licences, once Diwali is over. We will raid wedding halls, lawns and social functions where food is being served by caterers. Food items will be seized if they are served by the caterers without licences," he added.
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