Extension of Food Safety Act deadline puts officials in a fix; seek action against violators

Bathinda, February 8

The repeated extension of the deadline for registration under the Food Safety Act has started "haunting" the food safety inspectors who are facing the wrath of the food business operators who have paid the fees and got enrolled.

Fact file 

For the last two years, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had been extending the deadline for the registration of food business operators by six months on each occasion. The latest deadline was February 4, which has been extended by six months. But there is still no clarity as to when the next deadline would eventually be. 

The Health Department employees suggested that the government should fix a penalty for those who do not abide by the deadline, instead of extending it. 

Food Safety Commissioner, Punjab, Hussan Lal said the government was yet to receive orders from the FSSAI over the extension of the deadline which lapsed on February 4. 

For the last two years, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had been extending the deadline for the registration of food business operators by six months on each occasion. The latest deadline was February 4, which has been extended by six months. But there is still no clarity as to when the next deadline would eventually be. 

While the department is repeatedly extending the deadline, it is the field workers -food safety inspectors and Health Department authorities - who are facing the wrath of the people. The food operators, who got enrolled a year ago after paying Rs 2,000, now have to get their licences renewed.

"We are caught in a piquant situation. The law abiding people, who have got registered on time, now have to get their licences renewed for which they will have to pay again. Every time they come to meet us, they resent that nothing has been done against those who did not register on time," said a Food Safety Officer.

The Health Department employees suggested that the government should fix a penalty for those who do not abide by the deadline, instead of extending it. "This way, those who are already enrolled, will have an advantage over those who are not enrolled. It would at least encourage people to get enrolled to avoid any action or penalty," added another officer.

Meanwhile, Food Safety Commissioner, Punjab, Hussan Lal said the government was yet to receive orders from the FSSAI over the extension of the deadline which lapsed on February 4. However, the FSSAI website carries vague orders on the issue. The FSSAI mentions that the deadline for food business operators related to caramel and glazing agents has been extended for another six months or till further notification.

The orders have left the Health Department officials in a fix who have now decided to write to the government demanding exact action against those who have not been registered yet.

It is pertinent to mention here that the food business operators earning more than Rs 12 lakhs per annum are supposed to get licences, while the smaller ones are supposed to get registered. 

In Bathinda district, 5,000 have been registered and 650 licences have been issued. There are more than 65,000 small traders and around 5,000 bigger ones. Even the overall enrolment figure for Punjab is not encouraging enough. Till February 4, only 10,860 had sought licences and 85,000 got registered.