CCI wants Food Safety and Standard Act deferred

Jammu, Feb. 05: Chamber had been making efforts with Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) to get the Food Safety and Standards Act deferred and also to review the draconian provisions of the said act, which are harsh for the trading community. The CAIT and the Chamber has demanded the government to constitute a joint committee of the officials and the trade leaders to make an in-depth study of the act to recommend the government necessary changes in the said act. The Food Safety and standard Act in the present shape is applicable not only on the traders but has also wider implications even on common man as wherever the food items are served for profit or non-profit motive like Restaurants, Food Places, Religious places, wedding ceremonies, social functions, seminars, meetings and social services like Midday meals etc of the government will be under the purview of the Act. The continuation of Food trade without registration will attract a fine of Rs. 5 lakhs and imprisonment of 6 months. Even the entrepreneurs / persons involved in processing, packing, storage, transportation, distribution etc of the food items will be liable to comply the provisions of the Act. Sh. Y.V. Sharma, President Chamber of Commerce & Industry expresses thanks to the Confederation of All India Traders especially Mr. Parveen Khandwal, Secretary General who undertook a massive exercise and finally succeeded in persuading Government of India especially the Hon’ble Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Sh. Ghulam Nabi Azad to postpone the implementation of the said act for atleast 6 months and appoint a select committee to review and recommend the amendments in the provisions of the said act. Ultimately the government has issued Notification No. 1/1/Enf-1/FSSAI/2012 dated 4th February 2014 extending the time line for seeking registration / conversion / renewal of existing licenses upto 4th August 2014.