The new Food Safety and Standards Act shifts from mere regulatory regime to self-compliance through Food Safety Management System. Under the new Act the Food Business Operators have to ensure that food processed, manufactured, imported or distributed is in compliance with the food laws.
All the Food Business Operators shall have to observe the General hygienic and sanitary conditions and other conditions as specified for different types of Food Business Operators. Specific Hygienic and Sanitary conditions have been prescribed for Manufacturing Units, Milk and Milk Products, Meat, and meat Products, Hotels, Restaurants, catering and eating houses Special Requirements have been prescribed for High Risk Foods.
Responsibilities and Liabilities of the food business operators have been fixed under the new Act
To run a Food Business without licenses /Registration is an offence. Punishment for carrying out a business without a license, shall be punishable with imprisonment up to six months with a fine up to 5 lakh rupees. Penalty for carrying out a business without Registration, shall be fine up to 2 lakh rupees.
Processing or manufacturing of food under unhygienic or unsanitary conditions is also an offence, which shall be liable to a penalty up to one lakh rupees.
Under the new Act Provision for graded penalties depending on the gravity of offence have been prescribed and accordingly, civil penalties for minor offences and punishment for serious violations. In cases contraventions results in death of consumers, the monetary penalty can be up to Rs.10 lakhs and punishment can be up to life imprisonment.
This website has been designed to create awareness of the new food laws and guide the food business establishments in running a hassle free business by helping them to stay on the right side of law and keep their customers happy and healthy.
This website also helps the consumers by informing them of safe food practices, their rights and what to do if they are a victim of unsafe food.
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