FOOD SAFETY RULES DEFERRED FOR 1 YEAR
CAIT ALLEGED THE ACT TO FACILITATES FOREIGN COMPANIES ENTRY IN FOOD BUSINESS  

While accepting the demand of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), apex body of the trading community of the Country, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has extended the implementation of rules and regulations of till  4th February  , 2014. The FSSAI has issued a notification on 5th February    to extend the date.

Welcoming the decision of the Authority CAIT National President Shri B. C. Bhartia and Secretary General Mr. Praveen Khandelwal in a joint statement issued here today said that since last more than one year, the trading community is bitterly opposing the Rules and Regulations of the said Act since the Act and its rules have been framed in keeping the interest of foreign companies which will promote ‘packed food’ in the Country and will prove much detrimental to the interests of existing food business in the Country. There are many provisions which is impossible for the domestic food business operators in the Country.

Both Mr.Bhartia and Mr. Khandelwal said that under the Act it is provided that any such food business operator which means any institution which either with a profit motive or not , whether public or private engaged in the activities of any type of food including manufacturing, processing,packaging,storage,transportation,import,distribution of food articles or any type of food service will be treated as food business operators are bound to obtain registration and licence from the concerned department.

Both trade leaders said that under the provisions of the Act not only the person engaged in food business or even in any function  where food articles are used will be required to obtain registration. They said that which means that even the ‘prasad’ in temple or ‘lunger’ in Gurudwara, Wedding functions or social functions, hawkers, street vendors etc. are also liable to obtain registration and even a minor lapse will led such people for punishment as prescribed in the Act.

Mr. Bhartia and Mr. Khandelwal has demanded the Government to re-examine the rules and regulations  and a CAIT delegation will soon meet the Minister of Health Shri Gulam Nabi Azad and Chairman, Food Safety and Standards Authority and by presenting a memorandum will demand to constitute a Joint Committee of Senior Officials and Trade representatives to review the rules and regulations.