Food business operators seek time for registration under Food Safety and Standards Act

Food business operators’ plea

Food business operators have sought time till February 2, 2016, for registration under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. In a memorandum submitted to Nirmala Seetharaman, Union Minister of State for Commerce, Tamil Nadu Foodgrains Merchants Association has appealed to her to urge the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to extend the current deadline of February 4 by a year. Its joint secretary M. Karthikeyan said the UPA government gave three extensions for registration and getting licence, after coming to know of the shortcomings of the Act. The association also wanted Ms. Seetharaman to give due representation to farmers, food scientists and food business operators in the two committees appointed to review the shortcomings.