Agra: Food Safety Drug Administration (FSDA) officials have found during random checking that several food business operators have concealed their actual income and are operating by merely registering themselves instead of procuring a licence. FSDA officials have asked these shopkeepers to get the licence as soon as possible or else a penalty would be imposed on them.
FSDA conducted random checking after receiving complaints that food business were operating in different parts of the district without a licence. As many as 40 food shops in Daresi and nearby areas in the city were found to be operating on the basis of a registration in place of a licence and 60 shops were found violating the regulation in areas located in Bah, Kiraoli, Etmadpur, Kheragarh and Fatehpur Sikri.
FSDA designated officer Ram Naresh Yadav told TOI, "Getting a registration in place of a licence is a theft of revenue. Violation of Food Safety and Standards (Licencing and Registration of Food Businesses) can be penalized Rs 2 lakh. According to an estimate, there are around 1,000 such shops in the district which are operating without a licence. Special teams has been constituted to investigate these businesses."
According to sources, even "petty food manufacturers" are governed by the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011. A "petty food manufacturer" is one who manufactures or sells any article of food himself or is a petty retailer, hawker, itinerant vendor or temporary stall holder, or distributes food except a caterer.
Under the norms, since August 2011, if the annual turnover of a food business does not exceed Rs 12 lakh per annum, then a Rs 100 registration is required. In case, the turnover is more than Rs 12 lakh per annum, the food operator must have a licence from FSDA by paying Rs 2,000 rupees as annual fee in order to conduct his business. The licence can be for a minimum period of one year to a maximum of five years. Shopkeepers have to apply online and submit a fee by a challan, after which the licence is issued by the department.
FSDA conducted random checking after receiving complaints that food business were operating in different parts of the district without a licence. As many as 40 food shops in Daresi and nearby areas in the city were found to be operating on the basis of a registration in place of a licence and 60 shops were found violating the regulation in areas located in Bah, Kiraoli, Etmadpur, Kheragarh and Fatehpur Sikri.
FSDA designated officer Ram Naresh Yadav told TOI, "Getting a registration in place of a licence is a theft of revenue. Violation of Food Safety and Standards (Licencing and Registration of Food Businesses) can be penalized Rs 2 lakh. According to an estimate, there are around 1,000 such shops in the district which are operating without a licence. Special teams has been constituted to investigate these businesses."
According to sources, even "petty food manufacturers" are governed by the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011. A "petty food manufacturer" is one who manufactures or sells any article of food himself or is a petty retailer, hawker, itinerant vendor or temporary stall holder, or distributes food except a caterer.
Under the norms, since August 2011, if the annual turnover of a food business does not exceed Rs 12 lakh per annum, then a Rs 100 registration is required. In case, the turnover is more than Rs 12 lakh per annum, the food operator must have a licence from FSDA by paying Rs 2,000 rupees as annual fee in order to conduct his business. The licence can be for a minimum period of one year to a maximum of five years. Shopkeepers have to apply online and submit a fee by a challan, after which the licence is issued by the department.
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