Come April, selling food sans certification may attract fine

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, November 30

Selling food items without obtaining food safety and training certification may soon attract a fine ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

As per guidelines of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), it is mandatory for street vendors, food item manufacturers, hotel operators and others engaged in preparing food items to get training as per Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Food Safety and Standards Rule 2011 from FSSAI-authorised training partners.

“People running restaurants, hotels and dhabas and street vendors must get food safety and training certification from trainers authorised by the FSSAI by March next year,” said Food Safety Officer Subhash Chander.

“A training programme was conducted in Ambala on Saturday, in which 75 food business operators and food handlers participated. As per norms, there should be one supervisor with the knowledge of food safety and standards at every food-manufacturing unit,” he said.

“The Food and Drug Administration will launch inspections in April next year and food businesses running without required training and certification will face action. Street vendors and small food shop operators may face a penalty of up to Rs 2 lakh and hotels and restaurants up to Rs 5 lakh,” he asserted.

“A drive to check food licences will be launched within the next few days. Legal action will be initiated against those running business without food licence,” he pointed out. Managers of places where langar was prepared and served were directed to get licences at the earliest.

“Owners of eateries have been made aware of the ill-effects of using reheated oil,” said the official.