Blanket extension of further time period for implementation shall not be given to the FBOs.
The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed the Food Business Operators (FBOs) to discontinue manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import of stapled tea bags by 30th June 2019.
Subsequently, several representations have been received from FBOs raising the issue of cost involved in changing over staple-less machines and presence of a few manufacturers of such machines globally.
Blanket extension of further time period for implementation shall not be given to the FBOs. However, extension of time may be given on case to case basis based on firm commitment from the FBOs with proper proof to change over within a specified time.
All FBOs in tea bag manufacturing are directed to submit their plan to change over to new system by procuring the new machines or modifying the exisiting ones.