FSSAI has apprised all Commissioners of Food Safety and Officers-In-Charge of Food Safety in all States and UTs that it is now a pre-requisite to have a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) for renewal of FSSAI License and Registration. A letter dated 28 September 2017 has been issued in this regard by the FSSAI.
The requirement of NOC is in compliance with the recent directions of National Green Tribunal in respect of the extraction of groundwater by existing or newly established industries. The decision that has been made in this regard is as follows
- For obtaining NOC all FBOs who extract groundwater will have to apply online to CGWA by 31 December 2017
- The online application is available at http://www.cgwa:noc.gov.in/LandingPage/Index.htm
- Where States and Union Territories have their own legislation on water and where CGWA does not entertain an application for permission to extract groundwater, the FBOs will have to apply to the appropriate agency in the concerned State or UT Government for such a NOC.
At the time of new application or renewal of a license under the FSS Act, 2006 the FBOs are required to also submit a copy of the NOC to the Central Licensing or State Licensing Authorities as the case might be. The FSSAI will not grant any new license or registration or grant renewal of any license or registration in the absence of a NOC for extraction of groundwater obtained from either the CGWA or the appropriate State or UT authorities.
About Ground Water Extraction
As per the National Green Tribunal directions and for further betterment of groundwater regulatory processes the guidelines of Central Ground Water Authority have been revised. All industries whether existing/ new/ under expansion and drawing/ proposing to draw groundwater through energized means shall need to obtain NOC for groundwater withdrawal from the Central Ground Water Authority.
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