Licensing, registration of FBOs deadline extended; new date - Feb 4, 2016

New Delhi

The Union ministry of health has extended the deadline for obtaining licence and securing registration by food business operators (FBOs) under the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011, by six months. The new deadline is February 4, 2016.

In this regard, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a notification on Thursday stating that the extension has been effected following numerous representations by FBOs to the food regulator. 

The latest extension is the sixth since the implementation of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, in the country on August 5, 2011. The first extension was given on August 4, 2012, for six months till Feb 4, 2013. It was followed by another extension for one year till Feb 4, 2014, the next extension was till August 4, 2014, then Feb 4, 2015 and lastly till August 4, 2015. 

Interestingly, most industry associations such as CAIT (Confederation of All India Traders) and Karaikudi Bakery Owners Association, Tamil Nadu, were confident of getting an extension looking at the rate of licensing and registration completed so far in the country, which had witnessed just five per cent increase in last six months.

CAIT, apex body of the trading community, and other trade organisations of the country have hailed the decision. According to CAIT, more than three crore traders engaged in food business across the country shall be benefited by the extension of the date. It is noteworthy that CAIT has been strongly lobbying for deferment of the Act for the last four years on account of many impracticable provisions of the FSS Act. Earlier, CAIT had alleged that the Act was brought to facilitate MNCs to control and dominate the food business in India. 

Further, CAIT has urged the health minister to constitute a joint committee of senior government officials and CAIT representatives to make an indepth study of the Act and its Rules and Regulations and to recommend to the government necessary amendments to make the Act universally acceptable by all sections of society.

While the industry seems to be happy with the news, same cannot be said about the officials. Speaking to FnB News, a senior official with the UP FDA expressed his displeasure over the repeated extensions given to the FBOs. He stated, “The timeline was given for the conversion of previous PFA licences into newer ones, according to the FSS Act. And the work is completed almost in the state while the new licences can be obtained any time.” 

Meanwhile, industry experts are apprehensive that given the slow pace of licensing and registration, even this extension will not be sufficient to complete the process of licensing and registration.

The Act was passed by Parliament in the year 2006 and the Rules and Regulations were made operative from 2011 and since then the food trade and industry are up in arms against the Act & Regulations since they encourage packed food habits in the country, which are in clash with the traditional food habits in the country.