Karnataka HC sets deadline of two weeks for hotels to register under FSSA

All hotels and eateries in Karnataka have to register under The Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) by February 4, 2014 — a deadline set by the High Court of Karnataka. Once registered, hotels come under the new law and apart from the food they serve being subject to lab tests, they have a long list of guidelines to follow. These include all those who handle food to wear gloves and use food-grade materials and utensils.

Under FSSA, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been established. All food business operators, which include hotels, have to obtain a licence and register with the authority. Hotels will stop being under the purview of the local bodies like BBMP and come directly under the central government.

The hoteiliers association in Bengaluru however is trying to extend the stay. The Bruhat Bengaluru Hotels Association has once again approached the HC against this. Chandrashekar Hebbar of the association, said, "The case is being heard on January 23. Let us see what happens. The new law is too harsh,complex and difficult to follow. Prosecution and jail term is prescribed for so many things. If the vegetables we purchase turn out to be bad, we can be jailed.

"If people take food parcels and eat it hours later and find they had turned bad, a case can be filed against the hotel. Laws should be simple and penalty harsh. But if the law is complex and difficult, it will lead to corruption."It is not just hotels, but caterers, canteens (in educational institutions and offices), snack bars, and even food service at religious places that will come under the new law. Says Hebbar, "Where will all hotels get a lab technician? Else the food has to be tested in the authority's labs. But there are only four labs for Karnataka, including two in Bangalore."

The All India Hotels Association is planning a nation-wide strike on January 27. But the FSSAI is in no mood to extend the February 4 deadline. Cases have been filed against a few hotels already. But the hotels have decided to pay the fine instead of fighting the cases in court. Hebbar, said, "The old law has been repealed. But they are using the old law to file cases. Hotels will win if they go to court. But they did not want to complicate things and paid fines."

Cherkady, says, "Large food processors and big hotels will not have a problem. The small hotels and eateries will feel the pinch. But no one will bother with road-side eateries."