FSSAI extends last date for registration under Food Safety Act till May 4

Food safety watchdog FSSAI has extended the last date for registration under the Food Safety and Standards Act by three months till May 4 this year.

A number of registrations have been received in the Health Ministry for extending the time for obtaining license and registration for the further period, Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said in a notification.

"Now, therefore, it has been decided that the timeline mentioned in... Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, be further extended for another three months i.e. up to May 4, 2016," the regulator said.

The earlier last date was February 4 this year. It is mandatory for every food business operator to get registered with the FSSAI. Welcoming the move, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) praised the government for taking cognizance of the sufferings and plight of the trading community.

"More than 3 crore traders engaged in food business across the country shall be benefited with the extension of the date," CAIT said in a statement.

The traders association added that the food trade and industry are up in arms against this act and its regulations since it encourages packed food habits in the country which is vertically opposed to traditional food habits in the county.