Vendors skip food safety registration in Delhi even as deadline ends today

Given the huge number and the demand of traders, the deadline was extended twice and further revised to February 4, 2014. 

Not a single food business operator has obtained registration under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, in Delhi, even as the deadline for the same ends on Tuesday.

According to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), set up under the Act to sets standards for food articles throughout the production and supply chain, Delhi and Lakshadweep have not issued any registration to the operators, while less than 1,000 food business operators have got themselves registered in Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Puducherry, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.

Under the Act, all food businesses operators with turnover below Rs 12 lakh have to obtain ‘registration’ while those above it have to obtain ‘licences’, which have to be granted by the state governments. The Centre grants licences to operators with turnover of Rs 20 crore and above.

The FSS Act supercedes legislation including Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, Food Products Order, 1955, and Edible Oils Packaging, 1998. All operators, who had obtained licences under other Acts before the implementation of the FSSA, had to conform to the new Act. The operators were given one year beginning August 5, 2011, to comply.

Given the huge number and the demand of traders, the deadline was extended twice and further revised to February 4, 2014.

However, two and half years later, several traders are yet to conform. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), apex body of traders, has been up in arms against provisions of the Act, which they believe, are difficult to comply with. The CAIT has pointed out that the Act has wider implications for even religious places including temples, gurdwaras, weddings, roadside vendors, and hawkers, among others. The body had taken up the issue with the ministry of health, which administers FSSAI, seeking an extension of the deadline.

“There is no question of extension of the deadline now. Many states like Maharashtra have done a commendable job in registration and licencing. The Centre has given licences to around 15,000 operators, while all states, taken together, have registered around 20 lakh food business operators and granted licence to around 5 lakh operators,” a senior official told The Indian Express.

The official added that only licenced and registered entities will be allowed to supply to religious places including a temple or gurudwara. “The move is to ensure traceability and good quality for consumers. It also covers the mid-day meal scheme. Even Food Corporation of India is licenced now,” the official said.