Dimapur, August 18 (MExN) – In a recent development, the Nagaland Health and Family Welfare Department has issued a directive aimed at all Food Business Operators (FBOs) operating within the Nagaland region. The instruction mandates the procurement or renewal of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) License/Registration Certificate for establishments dealing with food. This directive encompasses both urban and rural areas of the state. The application process has been streamlined and is now conveniently accessible through the official FSSAI website: https://foscos.fssai.gov.in. FBOs are required to complete this process on or before the deadline of October 31.
The scope of FBOs includes a diverse range of entities such as food and dietary supplement stockists, vendors of various food and health supplements, home-based food manufacturers, hostel mess facilities, office/private canteens, street food vendors, as well as meat and vegetable vendors, manufacturers, distributors/wholesalers, suppliers, retailers, hotels, restaurants, and resorts.
In accordance with the law, it is mandatory for any form of food business operation to adhere to the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, Rules, and Regulations. The department, in collaboration with the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), has noted that certain FBOs still exhibit outdated FSSAI License/Registration numbers on their food packaging labels, which were procured through offline means. However, these numbers are no longer valid. The updated FSSAI License/Registration number, obtained via online channels, must be printed on their packaging labels. Furthermore, the labels are required to display essential information including the date of manufacture, best-before date, and ingredients.
The operation of any type of food business necessitates compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSS) Act of 2006, in addition to securing an FSSAI License/Registration certificate. Failure to adhere to these regulations may result in penalties of up to Rs. 5 lakh and imprisonment for up to 6 months, as outlined under section 63 in conjunction with section 31 of the FSS Act, 2006.
Food Business Operators are advised to promptly initiate the process of obtaining or renewing their FSSAI License/Registration in order to ensure their compliance with the law and maintain the safety and quality standards of the food industry in Nagaland.