Six cantonment areas of Maharashtra will see the implementation of the rules & regulations of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 to ensure safe food items for the consumers. The six cantonment areas which were identified for the imposition of food safety norms, comes under Union Government Jurisdiction, they are: Pune city, Khadki & Dehu in Pune district and one each in Ahmednagar, Aurangabad & Nashik districts.
FSSAI had already issued guidelines regarding the enforcement of the regulations in the state but the state Food and Drug Administration was not clear as whether the state administration will carry out the process or the central officials will have to be involved for the application of the rules defined under the act. The issue was pending for about two years because of the uncertainty as who will be the commanding incharge from either of two, The apex body ‘FSSAI’ has now clarified on the regulations part and the state officials have been asked to work for the successful implementation of the program.
The state authority is working with Food Business Operators for the registration and Licesing process to ensure safe food for all in these six cantonement areas. The officials in command have been informed eariler this month to expediate the process of registration.
An estimated 1.5 million food business operators doing business in the state, out of which only 27% own licenses issued under the state FDA. The authorities have earned Rs 34 crores from the registration process and with this figure Maharashtra is the leading state in the country who is going ahead in the process of licensing & registration process for food safety for all.
The new regulations defined as per guidelines issued on August 5, 2011 under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, will take over the ‘Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954’, which till date was in practice in these areas.
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