Through an order dated 30 May 2016 the FSSAI has extended the date for converting licences/ registrations that were pre-existing before the commencement of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. If there are any Food Business Operators who are still operating their food businesses under licence/registration of previous Acts/ Orders then they must convert to licences/ registrations as applicable in the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations 2011.
The FSSAI has extended the date for converting pre-existing licences/ registrations to 4th August 2016. This is the last time the FSSAI will extend the date for this purpose and any FBOs who are still operating their food business under licenses/ registrations of previous food acts/orders must convert to new licenses/registration by this date. If they do not do so they could attract penalty for non-compliance under section 63 of the Food Act.
Section 31 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 clearly states that no food business activity shall be carried out without a valid license or registration. In view of the fact that there are a large number of food business operators the FSSAI has continuously been extending the date to convenience the FBOs to convert their pre-existing licences/ registrations. However, the FSSAI has clearly stated that the dates for converting licences will not be extended beyond 4th August 2016.
Those businesses that wish to apply for licenses/ registrations for their new food businesses can continue to do so however pre-existing licenses will no longer be converted beyond this date. Even though there is now much awareness about obtaining license/ registration for their food businesses there are still many FBOs that have not yet obtained licenses/registrations as per the FSSAI regulations. This way they are jeopardising the health of consumers as they are not ensuring food safety. This applies to all food businesses whether large or small, vendors, retailers as by now it is a well-known fact that every food business operation has to be registered under the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006.
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