- FSSAI has released a notification for amendment into Licensing and Registration Regulations
- Manufacturers/processors need to get the standards of their products verified through the mechanism as specified by the Food Authority
THoD Newsdesk, New Delhi: The apex food regulator, FSSAI, has released a notification for amendment into Licensing and Registration Regulations to include brand franchiser, direct seller, e-commerce entity, food handler, re-labellers under the ambit of FSS Act along with certain modification in licensing and registration rules.
Named as the Draft Notification on Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2020, the stakeholders can comment by January third week next year. As per the draft, at the time of applying for licence or modification or at any time as specified by the Food Authority, manufacturers/processors need to get the standards of their products verified through the mechanism as specified by the Food Authority.
Also in case, a Food Business Operator (FBO) has two or more premises, he shall declare one of the premises as Head Office and obtain a Head Office Licence for this premise. This licence shall be linked to all other licensed or registered premises of such Food Business Operator.
Further, the Brand Franchiser shall obtain a licence which shall be linked to all other licensed or registered premises of such Food Business Operator. The re-labeller is a deemed manufacturer under these regulations and required to obtain a licence wherein separate licence/ registration shall be required for each third-party manufacturer. Under these regulations, an e-commerce entity conducting any of the activities under Section 3(n) of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, shall obtain a licence.
Also, the draft mentions that a unified licence may be issued by the Licensing Authority with the approval of Food Safety Commissioner to central/state government institutions or to organisations with multiple food establishments in a campus by a single entity. However, establishments run by outsourced or another entity will need to apply for a separate licence.
The draft states, “An applicant may commence his food business and a licence shall be issued to such business if, from the date of making the application, a licence is not issued within 60 days provided that the applicant has not received any intimation of inadequacy under regulation or inspection report indicating defects from the concerned Licensing Authority.” It also adds that the registration and licence remain valid unless suspended or cancelled by the authority owing to violation of any of the penal provisions of the FSS Act.
