In a significant move towards ensuring food safety and quality, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has mandated that all food-related businesses, regardless of size, must obtain the appropriate licenses or registrations. This requirement extends to home chefs and small-scale food operators, bringing them under the purview of stringent food safety regulations.
License Requirements Based on Turnover
According to the new rules, businesses with an annual turnover below Rs 12 lakh must secure a state license, while those exceeding this threshold must obtain a central license. This regulation aims to standardize food safety practices across the country, ensuring that all food operators, from small home-based kitchens to large-scale enterprises, adhere to the same hygiene and quality standards.
Expert Opinion
Ayandrali Dutta of AD’s Cookhouse in Noida supports this development, stating, “I absolutely feel it’s great that home chefs now need to get a registration done. It will absolutely put everything in process and will have a proper certification and hygiene check. During the pandemic, we saw many people opening up their kitchens to serve food, which is good, but there has to be some checkpoint. Everything that goes unchecked in the market can have repercussions in the long run. In the West, this certification is mandatory, so I don’t see anything wrong if we start it here in India.”
The Need for Regulation
The FSSAI’s move is not just about regulation but also about safeguarding public health. The association highlights that food operators, whether operating from home or dark kitchens, need to be regulated for cleanliness and hygiene. Unregistered and unregulated food business operators (FBOs) may not maintain proper hygiene standards, posing health risks to consumers.
Steps for Home Chefs
Before applying for a food license, home chefs must also obtain a water certificate. In various communities, there have been reports of individuals forming groups to sell food illegally without proper registrations and certifications. The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (BMC) has emphasized that food safety falls under health regulations, and necessary registrations must be completed.
The BMC urges authorities to take action against those violating these regulations. Home chefs operating without registration and disregarding consumer safety should be reported to the BMC and FSSAI authorities to ensure consumer protection.
Legal Implications
The FSSAI mandates that anyone selling food out of their home kitchens must obtain approval from the state department to continue their sales. Violation of this rule can result in severe consequences, including imprisonment or fines up to Rs 5 lakh. This stringent enforcement underscores the importance of compliance and the serious implications of neglecting food safety standards.
Conclusion
The mandatory FSSAI registration for home chefs marks a pivotal step towards enhancing food safety in India. By bringing all food-related businesses under a regulatory framework, the FSSAI aims to ensure that consumers receive food that meets high standards of hygiene and quality. For home chefs, this means not only complying with regulations but also gaining consumer trust through certified and safe food practices. As India embraces these changes, the future of home-based food businesses looks promising, regulated, and safe for all.