Spl licensing mela in city on Dec 21, 22

All food business operators across the country will have to obtain a licence or registration by February 4 next year as per orders of the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India.

Under the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006, all food manufacturers, sellers including street hawkers and canteens, hotels and restaurants, milk sellers, and even pharmacies selling food supplements and wine shops, among others, will have to get themselves registered or secure a licence within the deadline, failing which they will be liable to penalty and imprisonment.

Senior officials from Food Safety Organisation, Assam, led by Joint Secretary Satyen Choudhury said here today that special licensing melas would be held at five places across Assam – Guwahati, Barpeta, Tezpur, Jorhat and Silchar, in the second half of this month where application forms would be issued and registrations and licences granted on spot.

In Guwahati, the event would be held at the office of the Designated Officer Food Safety, Kamrup Metro, at Uzan Bazar on December 21-22.

“The Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006, was introduced in our country to bring our best practices at par with latest hygiene, manufacturing and agricultural production practices across the world. From street vendors to big stores, all have to get a licence or secure registration by February 4,” Choudhury said.

He said the licence or registration would be valid for once fixed location and would have a unique 14-digit number.

He said that the central rule is also aimed at giving an organised shape to the food business sector in the country and prevent incidents of adulteration or any other shortcoming in the products.

Besides manual procurement and submission of forms, Food Safety Organisation, Assam, will also start online processing within next three months.

Manufacturers and sellers with an annual turnover of up to Rs 12 lakh will have to undertake registration at a fee of Rs 100 for a year, while for those with an annual turnover of Rs 12 lakh and over, the requirement would be for a licence with the annual tax differing from segment to segment.

Besides, all applicants will also have to obtain NOCs from local bodies like municipal corporations and panchayats. Regular inspection of premises would be carried out to ensure safety standards.

For businesses operating in multiple States, there is provision for securing licence directly from the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India. Choudhury said licensing melas would be held at other districts of Assam also soon.