UT launches free food safety training for eatery operators

In a step towards promoting food safety and hygiene, the Food Safety Administration, UT Health Department, has started free training under the Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) programme.

The initiative, launched by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), aims to cultivate a culture of self-compliance among food businesses across the country.

Earlier, Food Business Operators (FBOs) were required to seek paid training through private FSSAI-empanelled agencies.

However, with the Health Department now officially empanelled as a training partner, the training is being offered at no cost to FBOs in Chandigarh.

The initiative is being led by Sukhwinder Singh, Designated Officer, who is also empanelled as a FoSTaC trainer by the FSSAI.

The Food Safety Training and Certification programme, first introduced in July 2017, seeks to create a dedicated pool of trained food safety supervisors equipped with knowledge of hygiene and manufacturing practices as outlined in Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards Licensing and Registration Regulations, 2011.

The training is mandatory for all FBOs operating in sectors such as catering, hotels, restaurants, food vending, canteens, dhabas and mess facilities, before these are granted an FSSAI licence.

The first batch of training was successfully conducted today at the department’s new facility in the New Administrative Block, Government Multi-Speciality Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16. Around 20 FBOs participated and received official FoSTaC certificates upon completion of the training.

Officials noted that the initiative is not just about compliance, but about fostering a lasting behavioural shift in how food businesses approach hygiene and safety. By introducing in-house training and making it accessible, the Chandigarh Administration hopes to raise the bar for food standards and public health.