Deadline for registering under FSSA extended b 6 monthsy

MADURAI: A large number of shopkeepers, hoteliers and roadside eateries thronged the food safety and drug administration department in Vishwananthapuram in the city on Tuesday, as Tuesday was the last day to get licence from the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). However, it was later announced that the last date to register or get licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act (Licensing and Registration of Food Business Operators) 2011, has been postponed by another six months. 

Official sources from the department said that there are around 18,000 units including eateries, roadside fast food shops, hotels and other shops dealing with eatables in Madurai district. An estimated 50% of the total units have already been registered. However, officials said the exact number of units registered is being enumerated. Repeated attempts to contact J Suguna, designated officer, Tamil Nadu food safety and drug administration went in vain. 

Official sources also said that until February 4, 2013, the last date announced then, around 8,000 units only had registered. According to the Act, business units dealing with food items with an annual turnover of less than Rs 12 lakh should be registered with the food safety and drug administration department. Units with more than Rs 12 lakh will have to get licence from the authorities. On Tuesday, which was the scheduled deadline, a large number of people thronged the office for registration fearing action from the authorities. The officials had announced that all the shops would be raided after the deadline and those without registration and licences would be punished. 

"I am not fully aware of the Act. I came to know that the registration was mandatory. I came here to register my tiffin centre in Munichalai since I do not want any risk. I was told that the registration fees and renewal is not much so I don't have any issues in getting registered," S Vijayakumar, who runs an eatery said. 

However, the announcement later in the day that the last date to register has been postponed by another six months came as a relief for the business community. Responding to the announcement, S P Jeyapragasam, president of Tamil Nadu Food Grains Merchants Association Limited thanked all the concerned people including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union minister for health and family welfare Gulam Nabi Azad, Members of Parliament N S V Chittan, B Manickathagore and state health minister C Vijaya Baskar for acting on their requests. He said that they had met several leaders to get the six months extension.