FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS ACT DATE DEFERRED BY UNION GOVT

BIG RELIEF TO 6 CRORE TRADERS AND CITTIZENS IN GENERAL
CAIT HAILS THE DEFERMENT BUT FIGHT WILL CONTINUE

Vijyender Sharma
New Delhi--------While accepting the demand of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), apex body of the trading community of the Country, the Union Health Minister Dr. Harshvardhan  has deferred the last date of obtaining Registration under the Food Safety and Standards Act till 4th February, 2015. The earlier last date was 4th August, 2014 The FSSAI has issued a notification to this extent yesterday-informed CAIT in a Press Release issued at New Delhi today. It is noteworthy that CAIT was strongly lobbying for deferment of the Act since last more than two months on account of many impracticable provisions of the said Act. The CAIT alleged that the Act has been brought to facilitate MNCs to control and dominate the food business in India.

Welcoming the decision, CAIT National President Shri B. C. Bhartia and Secretary General Mr. Praveen Khandelwal in a joint statement issued here today complimented Dr. Harshvardhan for taking cognizance of the sufferings and plight of the trading community and therefore has deferred the Act. The CAIT also lauded the efforts of Senior BJP Leader Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi for taking up the trader's issue with the Union Health Minister which has brought much relief to the trading community across the Country.

Both Mr. Bhartia and Mr. Khandelwal said that though certainly it is a big relief to traders and citizens of the Country but CAIT will continue its fight since the Act is suffered with various anomalies and disparities. The trade leaders called upon Dr. Harshvardhan to defer the Act and constitute a Joint Committee of Senior Government Officials and CAIT representatives to make an in depth study of the Act and its Rules and Regulations and to recommend the Government necessary amendments to make the Act universally accepted by all sections of the society.

Both Mr. Bhartia and Mr. Khandelwal said that since year 2011, 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 are impossible for the domestic food business operators in the Country.

Trade Leaders 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 and are bound to obtain registration and license 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 social functions  where any kind of food articles are served 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 like Conferences and Seminars, hawkers, street vendors etc. are also liable to obtain registration and even a minor lapse will led such people for heavy punishment including fine and imprisonment.

**VijyenderSharma*, Press Correspondent Bohan Dehra Road  JAWALAMUKHI-176031, Kangra HP(INDIA)*
 
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