S M Shervani, President, FHRAI lauded the decision of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to extend the deadline for Food Business Operators (FBO) seeking conversion/ renewal of existing licence / registrationunder repealed orders. The deadline has been extended from February 4, 2014 to August 4, 2014. This is the fourth time the deadine has been extended by the FSSAI.
Shervani said, "FHRAI welcomes the decision to extend the last date for obtaining license/ registration by existing FBO by a period of six months. We have been vigorously engaging with the government at the highest level, on various technical and regulatory aspects of the new Food Safety Law and had demanded an extension of this deadline as it did not take into account the ground realities and practical constraints faced by the industry.”
“FHRAI supports the progressive intent and basic tenets of the Food Safety & Standards Act, but we have strong reservations on certain procedural issues and implementation mechanisms envisaged in the new law and its accompanying regulations. We also firmly believe that a sweeping reform of this nature can only be viably introduced by adopting a calibrated and consultative approach. Instead of arbitrary deadlines, the current focus must now shift to building greater awareness, particularly in the unorganised sector and allowing sufficient time to both the regulator (FSSAI) and our industry, to put in place robust internal systems, transparent processes and a pragmatic compliance framework," he added.
Extension only for licensees of repealed orders ,,, fresh applns. .
ReplyDelete