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Online registration and licensing of food businesses starts in Madurai

The Madurai Food Safety Department has started the process of online registration and licensing of food businesses, and will help food business operators (FBOs) in the southern city to register or obtain their licenses, as the case may be, before the deadline set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) – February 4, 2014 – lapses.

S Balasubramanian, administrative officer, food safety division, Department of Food Safety and Drugs Administration, Tamil Nadu said, “Earlier the process of registration and licensing was long – FBOs had to visit the offices of the food safety officers (FSOs), fill the application forms and submit it to them. But now the forms are available online.”

He added, “As per the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR) 2011, any food manufacturer whose annual turnover exceeds Rs 12 lakh has to obtain a license from the respective state or Central authority as specified in the regulations. Other FBOs have to register. It is estimated that 66,091 licenses and 2,66,080 registrations have to be issued under the Act. The process of licensing and registration is in progress. And through the online process, we will complete it on time.”

J Suguna, designated licensing and registration officer, Madurai district, said, “Earlier the process of registration and licensing was done manually. The online process started on July 1, 2013. Now all the FBOs have to do is visit FSSAI's website and enter their particulars. If the annual turnover is below Rs 12 lakh, the FBOs have to apply for registration, and if it is over Rs 12 lakh, they have to obtain a license.”

She added, “ The FSSAI officials training the FSOs about online registration and licensing. It began with FSOs from Madurai and Theni districts, and within a month, all the districts in Tamil Nadu will be covered. The online applications  received by the FBOs will be forwarded to the FSOs, who will carry out inspections before issuing the food safety certificates. FBOs would be given an a acknowledgment receipt with a reference number.”

“All FBOs, including food vendors, roadside eateries, hotels and restaurants and hostels, and all business establishments selling food products would have to apply for a food safety certificate. The application status will be available online, and the process would be complete within 30 days,” Suguna said.

“So far, 1,800 licenses and 6,400 registration certificates have been issued manually in Madurai district. Another 10,000 FBOs in the district are yet to apply. Registrations and licenses have to be renewed every year by the FBOs,” she added.

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