Government asks department canteens to obtain FSSAI licences

NEW DELHI: Over 1,350 canteens working in various central government departments have been asked to take food safety licences from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India ( FSSAI).

Citing rules, the Personnel Ministry said all departmental canteens are required to comply with statutory framework for manufacturing, storage, distribution and sale of food so as to ensure its safety.

"All departmental canteens, tiffin rooms, etc, housed in various offices of central government, are accordingly required to obtain licences to be able to continue to manufacture and sell food," it said.

It is the responsibility of respective managing committees to register or obtain licence under provisions of Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. The concerned officers may please get in touch with FSSAI for implementation of Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, the Ministry said in a recent order issued to all central government departments.

As per FSS Act, no person shall commence or carry on any food business except under a licence.

Currently, 1,352 registered canteens and tiffin rooms are functioning in various offices of the central government, all over India.