CAIT DEMANDED DATE EXTENSION IN FOOD SAFETY & STANDARDS ACT

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) in a communication sent today to Union Health Minister Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad and Chairman, Food Safety & Standards Authority of India has urged them to extend date of registration or  renewal under Food Safety and Standards Act   by one year and similarly the due date of filing return be extended by one year . It is to be noted that last date of such obligations expires on 31st May,2013. It is estimated that nearly more than one crore food business operators in the Country will be effected.

In its representation to both Union Health Minister and Chairman, FSSAI, the CAIT has said that previously while appreciating difficulties of food business operators as well as on the part of administrative machinery, the Authority did extended the due date of registration, renewal or transfer from old licenses to new licenses from 4th Feburary, 2013 to 4th Feburary, 2014. The same position persists today and when date of registration has been extended by the Govt in the past, it is obvious that last date of filing of return should also be extended, as registration is always the pre-condition of filing of any return. Accordingly, the date of filing of return may be extended to one year-said CAIT.

As per Regulation 2.1.13 of Food Safety and Standard (Licensing  business) regulation 2011 every licensee has to submit a return in Form D-1 as provided in Schedule-2 in respect of each class of food in the F.Y. ending before 31st March of each year.  As per regulation 2.1.13(3) if there is any delay in filing return beyond 31st May of each year a penalty of Rs. 100 per day of delay has been provided.