Through a notification dated 19 June 2020, the FSSAI has made some changes to the orders through which it has given relaxations to the FBOs during the period of lockdown due to Covid-19 pandemic.
In order to facilitate the FBOs and ensure smooth operation of food supply chains across the country, the FSSAI had issued various orders during the period of national lockdown in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic vide which various relaxations were extended to the FBOs for the period of lockdown.
Now the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, vide an order has extended the lockdown with effect from 01.06.2020 for containment zones till 30.06.2020. The various States have also extended the lockdown with varied easement of restrictions. Therefore, in view of these facts, the FSSAI has reviewed the matter and has decided to amend the validity of some of its orders till 31 July 2020.
Order dated 31st March 2020 related to processing of FSSAI License / Registration Applications during the lockdown situations by the way of e-inspections.
According to this order FSSAI had granted relief from physical inspection of premises before granting Licenses/Registrations till the situation normalises. Since physical inspections were not possible during the lockdown period, this would have resulted in delay in granting of licenses/registrations when food services assume utmost importance.Accordingly, in cases, where licensing or registering authority decided to conduct inspection prior to grant of FSSAI License/Registration Certificate, the FSSAI had permitted the concerned authority to conduct e-inspection of FBO’s premise/unit record the observations, by the way of videos or images submitted by the concerned FBO, and record the observations.
Granting of Licenses/ Registrations by carrying out e-inspections are now permitted till 31 July 2020. Thereafter, there would be requirement for physical inspections for those FBOs who were granted License/Registrations during the lockdown period based on e-inspections.
Order/ Direction under Section 16 (5) of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 dated 31st March 2020 regarding allowing FBOs to temporarily operate their food business on basis of application license / registration during the period of lockdown.
The FSSAI had permitted Food Business Operators to temporarily operate their food businesses, on the basis of application for license/registration, during the period of lockdown. Those FBOs were allowed to operate their food businesses who had applied/apply for FSSAI License/Registration by making online application, with prescribed fee, through online mode on FLRS, and must possess a valid receipt of application, having 17-digit Application Reference Number (ARN). Such FBOs were required to inform, via email about the commencement of business to the concerned licensing/registering authority/ Commissioner of Food Safety about commencing their food businesses.
These FBOs are permitted to continue to operate their food business till 31 July 2020. Specific dispensation Orders No 15 (8)/2020/FLRS/RCD/FSSAI dated 13″ April 2020 & 17“ April 2020 under Section 16 (5) read with Section 18 (2) (d) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 w.r.t. compliance to the requirements of Food Safety and Standards Regulations.
The FSSAI had given the time till 30 June 2020 for applying for renewal of licence/registration to those FBOs whose licenses/registrations had expired or were expiring during the period 22 March, 2020 to 31 May, 2020 and for UTs of J&K and Ladakh from 1 August 2019. All these FBOs are permitted to apply for renewal of their Licenses/Registrations till 31 July 2020 without any late fees.
The FSSAI has further clarified that for all these above-mentioned Orders, the extended facility shall cease with effect from 31.07.2020 irrespective of the status of lockdown or containment at any location.
Source: FSSAI
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