Hoteliers’ associations stated that only adjudicating officers could impose fines on luxury hotels, and stated that food safety officers (FSO) should also comply with the legal procedure while initiating action against errant hoteliers.
This highlights their unhappiness about being served closure notices by the latter (who have no legal right to do so), and has come in the wake of the introduction of more stringent regulations by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Food business operators (FBO) are expected to adhere to 30 safety, hygiene and sanitary guidelines, but they are finding it difficult to do so. Raids on luxury hotels by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed that they weren’t meeting the norms either.
Amrik Singh, who heads the Navi Mumbai Hotel Owners’ Association, said that unscrupulous FSO threatened to close their establishments, but only adjudicating officers were authorised to take action.
Jose Mohan, state secretary, Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA), said, “We have welcomed the efforts of FSSAI to ensure the hygiene and quality of the foods, which is affected by a number of factors, including the presence of migrant workers.”
He added, “When hotels have been asked to comply with the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, why are FSO not following the legal procedures? They can only serve improvement notices.”
“They can down the shutters of an eatery or a luxury hotel only if it fails to improve its quality standards within 20-30 days from the date an improvement notice is served,” Mohan said.
“Only adjudicating officers can take action against us,” he reiterated, informing that Kerala did not have an adjudicating officer. Abdul Jaleel, the southern state’s assistant food safety commissioner, said the FSSAI norms were easy to implement.
“Hoteliers should follow them, and would not be asked to down shutters for silly reasons by FSO. But even they should ensure that all the norms are implemented.We would look into the matter of FSO taking action instead of adjudicating officers,” he added
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