FSSAI has further extended the date for obtaining the license/registration i.e. up to February 4, 2016 as per sub-regulations 2.1.2 under the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing & Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. FSSAIās order dated August 5, 2015 has stated that the extension is given by taking into account the representations received by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare from various stakeholders who have been asking for the extension for another one year, however the time line has only been extended for another six months.
If conjectures were to be taken into consideration then there was a likelihood that the FSSAI might once again extend the date to obtain license/registration in compliance with the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006. The last time Food Authority had extended the date it was till August 4, 2015. That deadline was now over but there are still a large number of food business operators who have not obtained the license/registration under FSS Act for running their food businesses.
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. Even though the awareness about obtaining licences/ registration has spread across the country yet many small food businesses, like street food vendors and small retailers, are still operating without licences. It is now a well-known fact that every food business operation has to be registered under the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006.
The extension was expected seeing the sheer numbers who operate food businesses and who have yet to obtain license/ registration under the new Act. Any business that comes under the definition of food requires a licence or registration under the Food Safety Regulations. Even though the online procedure for licensing and registration was introduced by FSSAI to speed the process, large number of food businesses are yet to get registered under the FSS Act. Since carrying out a food business without a food license can invite penalty, everyone who operates a food business would prefer to have a licence. For running a food business without a license the penalty can be as high as Rs.5 lakhs. If someone carries out a food business without a registration then the fine can be as much as Rs.2 lakhs.
Those Food Business Operators who are not registered under any previous Food Act/Orders that existed prior to FSS Act, 2006 also need to have a license/ registration. If they are operating without a license/ registration then they could be questioned by the food authority about how they are running a food business without a valid license/ registration. All New FBOs have to first apply for license/registration under the FSS Act, 2006 and get the FSSAI nod before they can commence their food operations.
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