Registration of food business operators made mandatory

Homemade pickle sold at a food stall in Dimapur.

Kohima, January 17: All Food Business Operators (FBOs) in the state irrespective of urban and rural based food business operators are directed to obtain license and register their food business under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, before February 4, 2014. 

Offenders shall attract penalty upto Rs 5 lakh and imprisonment up to 6 months.

While informing this in a press release, Dr. Neiphi Kire, principal director & additional food safety commissioner, directorate of health & family welfare, Nagaland added, “Operating food business without license or registration will attract penalty upto Rs 5 lakh and imprisonment up to 6 months under section 63 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. 

According to the Act, all Food Business Operators should be registered under FSSAI and obtain license. FBO includes hotels, permanent or temporary stallholders, hawkers, home based canteens, Dhabawalas, food manufacturers, processors, re-packers, food stalls arrangements in religious gatherings, slaughterhouses, storage houses, retail and wholesale traders, hostels, packaged drinking water units and so on.

Application forms for licensing/registration and other details can be obtained from the office of the Designated Officer (CMO) of the district on all working days.

Further, all food business involved in local food products and homemade food for sale, stores, distribution for sells are directed to properly seal the products in Food Grade plastic container or polyethylene. The product seal should carry the following information on the label: name of food; date of manufacture or packing; ingredients used or added; net weight, volume, number; lot number, batch number, code number; best before; use by date and expiry date.

This was informed in pursuance of Food Safety and Standards (packaging and labeling) Regulations 2011 chapter 1 of sub-rule 1.2 (1.2.1).

The information on the package shall be duly printed and not through a sticker. The concerned has to register their business under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Rules & regulation 2011. “Non-compliance to this directive would be an offence, punishable under the said Act and Rules,” Dr. Neiphi Kire said in the press release.

The measure will help the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, an agency of the Union ministry of health and family welfare, protect and promote public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.