Temples serving food must follow norms set by food safety authorities soon

COIMBATORE: Temples providing Annadhaanams to devotees will soon come under the gambit of the safety and quality norms prescribed by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI).

The move is to ensure that proper hygiene is maintained while preparing and serving food to devotees at these religious centres. A high level meeting was also convened here in the city on June 1 which was attended by officials from Hindu Charity and Religious Endowments( HR&CE) department and the designate officer for the FSSAI. The temples will have to get registered with the FSSAI as per the norms of section 31 of the FSSAI Act.

"We have already written to Executive Officers of all these temples regarding the issue. We will be able to monitor the mass food distribution ceremonies at the temples, once they register with us," said Dr R Kathiravan, designate officer, FSSAI, Coimbatore.

As per section 31, any commercial or charitable organisation indulging in food distribution and sale with an annual turnover of over Rs 12 lakh (commercial ones) both governmental and non governmental should obtain a license from FSSAI while charitable institutions and commercial food stalls with less than Rs 12 lakh turnover should obtain a registration to bring them under the purview of the food safety and standard norms. The deadline extended to the HR&CE to obtain registration is August 14, 2012.

"We have been informed about the registration norms but are yet to officially receive it in writing. But we have already passed on the message to the temples under us and proper measures will be taken," said a senior HR& CE official.

At the moment there are 60 temples in the four western districts of Coimbatore, Erode, Tirupur and Nilgiri where Annadhaanam is conducted on a regular basis. Out of these 21 temples are in Coimbatore, 22 in Erode, 15 in Erode and two in Nilgiris district.

The state government has announced in the recent budget that food distribution will be extended to seven more temples in the region including two in Coimbatore and three in Tirupur districts. HR&CE officials also added that they will conduct periodic inspections of the temples through their own HR& CE inspectors and revenue officials. They also claimed that instructions have been given to the temples to ensure that the kitchen facility should be modernised and proper seating arrangements should be provided to devotees while serving food.

"We provide proper seating arrangements to the devotees and have a separate enclosure for conducting Annadhaanam in the temple complex. About 150 people come here to have food everyday from 11.30 am to 12.30 am," said an official at a popular temple in Sidha Pudhur in the city.

Maharashtra FDA, FBOs discuss licensing, registration at AFST(I) event

The Mumbai chapter of the Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (India) [AFST(I)] organised a regulatory meet for officials of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and food business operators (FBOs) in Mumbai recently.

The objective of this event was to have an interaction between between FBOs and the FDA commissioner and his team of officers with respect to the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Regulations in the state of Maharashtra, especially with respect to licensing.

Mahesh Zagade, FDA commissioner, Maharashtra, was the chief guest at the conference. K D Yadav, president, AFST(I), gave the welcome speech. He thanked the Maharashtra FDA for their support.

Yadav said, “The implementation of licensing is not going to be an easy task. We will have to work hard with the FDA and FBOs to overcome the challenges. This conference gives a good platform to discuss the issues faced by FBOs.”

“The main objective of the regulations is to provide safe and wholesome food to people in general. The FDA will get the full support from the food business operators,” he said. His opening remarks were followed by Zagade's speech.

“We have to move at a faster pace to get the registration and licensing done in the state of Maharashtra. If the FDA and FBOs work together, the objective will be achievable,” the state FDA commissioner said.

“We have to work in a structured manner,” he said, emphasising on the maintenance of business continuity. He also spoke about the objectives of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and salient features of Maharashtra FDA.

Zagade said, “Maharashtra FDA has become powerful over the years. The Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, strives to minimise the control on FBOs. We want the FBOs to regulate themselves.”

While speaking about the licensing and registration of food businesses, he assured the FBOs that the FDA will not be stringent in the licensing and registration procedure, and FBOs will be able to obtain licenses and registrations without much trouble.

However, he stressed that to run any food business, a license/registration is compulsory. He also said Maharashtra is growing economically, and like any other sector, the food and beverage industry is also growing rapidly.

“We don't want problems that will stop the growth of this sector,” Zagade said. For that, FBOs should follow the regulations. He also spoke about the punishment for not taking a license or registering.

Section 63 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, pertains to the punishment for carrying out business without a license. It states that, “FBOs commencing business without licenses are liable for a maximum punishment of upto six months' imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakh.”

Zagade said, “Maharashtra has 45 lakh FBOs, and so far, the state FDA has issued more than 1.5 lakh licenses/registrations. The national total is 2.5 lakh licenses/registrations, so the state is on top,” adding that every FBO should get licenses before the August 4, 2012 deadline.
Dilip Shrirao, joint commissioner, Maharashtra FDA, spoke about the challenges in the implentation of licensing. He said, “There are no agents, and there is no need to pay commission to anyone to get a license.”

A business whose turnover is below Rs 12 lakh has to register itself, and if its turnover is Rs 12 lakh or more, it has to be licensed. He added that the Rs 12 lakh turnover criterion isn't applicable to people who do business on their own (without any employee).

“However, if the proprietor of the business employs three or four people, or more, the Rs 12 lakh criterion will be applicable. We have simplified the documents required to obtain a license/registration,” Shrirao said.

“For registration, only the ID prood and additional proof is required, and the kind of business he plans to do has to be informed. There is no requirement for inspection for registration. Inspection is also not compulsory for renewing the license,” he said.

Shrirao added, “If someone doesn't get the registration within a month after he has filed it, it is deemed that the registration has been given to him. For licensing, it is two months.”

Prabodh Halde, vice-president, Mumbai chapter, AFST(I), spoke about the challenges faced by FBOs in licensing. He mentioned the generic issues such as the glitches faced when one is filing an online application.

“There are also issues relating to the confusion between the definition of retailer and manufacturer; licenses for non-food items and proprietary foods, and problems related to the state FDA,” he said.

Halde said, “Transporters' unions are not ready to take licenses. And who will force retailers to take licenses or registrations, Those are also issues.” This was followed by a question-and-answer session between the FDA and the FBOs. It concluded with the vote of thanks by M M Chitale of AFST(I).