Through an order dated 13 April, 2020 the FSSAI has granted grace period till 30th June 2020 for applying for renewal of license / registration expired / expiring during the period from 22 March to 31 May 2020 due to COVID – 19.
Since there is a restriction in movement because of the pan-India lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so Food Business Operators have not been able to file applications for renewal of their FSSAI licenses and registration. Those FBOs that take the help of the State Helpdesk authorities or consultants have found it particularly difficult to file their applications. The matter has come to the notice of the FSSAI and they have decided on the following
- The FBOs whose licence/registration has expired or is expiring during the period 22 March, 2020 to 31 May, 2020 are being given a grace period to apply for the renewal of their license/registration till 30 June 2020 without any late fee. In the interim period the existing FSSAI license/ registration shall be deemed to be valid.
- For FBOs in the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh the FSSAI had allowed the FBOs to continue their food business even if their FSSAI license/ registration had expired or was expiring since 1 August 2019. This concession had especially been made in view of the interruption in the internet services in these locations and FBOs had been permitted to continue their food businesses with their existing license/ registration till restoration of internet services and also without a late fee, till further orders.
Since the internet has now been restored in these regions, so the previous order dated 3 October, 2019 ceases to be in effect. However, because of the present lockdown in the entire country due to COVID-19 pandemic, these FBOs might still be facing difficulties in filing the renewal applications.
Therefore, for the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the FBOs whose license/ registration has expired or is expiring during the period 1 August 2019 to 31 May 2020, the FSSAI has given a grace period to apply for renewal of the license/ registration till 30 June, 2020 without any late fee. In the interim period the existing FSSAI licenses/ registration shall be deemed to be valid.
Source: FSSAI
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