The Uttar Pradesh State Government has directed the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) to issue food licenses within one day of them receiving applications online. This will curb corruption in the food safety department as well as reduce delay in grant of license. Earlier grant of the license would take almost two months but with the new directions, the license will first be granted, followed by an on the spot inspection. If any discrepancy is found in the establishment the authority will be asked to suspend or cancel the license.
This direction will come as a huge relief for retail shop owners as they will no longer have to make several trips to the FSDA office before granting a license. However, retail meat shops, as well as restaurants, have been kept out of the ambit of the new directions, as they require hygienic evaluation. Businessmen are breathing easier as they will not have to go to the office as the licenses will be issued online. In case there is a delay in the issue of the license then the concerned official will have to give the reasons for the delay.
This move is likely to benefit small businesses like fruit and vegetable sellers who would otherwise avoid registration because it took one month for issuing a registration. The fee is only Rs.100 for any business that has a turnover of less than Rs.12 lakh. For businesses, over Rs.12 lakh the fee is Rs.2000 and these businesses are issued licenses and not registration. The license will be for a period of one to five years.
The FSDA assistant commissioner Vinit Kumar has said that in case any business establishment faces any problem or is asked for a bribe then they can directly file a complaint with him by calling him on his mobile. He will personally see to the case and try to resolve the problem at the earliest.
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