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The union Public Health ministry has extended the deadline to obtain licenses/registrations by Food Business Operators (FBOs) to February 4, 2016 for. This is the sixth time the ministry has given extension to the process, which is mandatory under the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011.
The last deadline given by the ministry in February was August 4, 2015, which was the fifth extension. As that deadline got over and still registration/licensing process is not completed the ministry extended the deadline by six more months. FSSAI issued a notification to this effect stating that the decision to extend the deadline was taken in view of the representations received from associations and organisations of FBOs requesting to extend the deadline.
After the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 was implemented on August 5, 2011 the FBOs had been given one year for registration and obtaining licenses. Since August 2, 2012 when the first deadline was over the extensions have been given every six months and once for a year.
The order signed by Rakesh Chandra Sharma, Director of enforcement, FSSAI reads“A number of representations have been received in the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for extending the time for obtaining license and registration for further one year from 04.08.2015. But the ministry has considered the representations received and decided to further extend the timeline for a period of six months. The central government has also directed the FSSAI in terms of section 85 of the Food safety and standards Act, 2006 to extend the timeline mentioned for a further period of six months.”
Section 31 (1) of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 provides that no person shall commence or carry on any food business except under a license.