<div>Food safety regulator FSSAI on Thursday (6 August) extended the deadline for food companies to get licence to run their businesses by another six months to February 4, 2016.</div><div> </div><div>This is the sixth time that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has extended the deadline. The last date to get the licence lapsed on August 4.</div><div> </div><div>"...the Central Government has directed the FSSAI...to extend the time-line mentioned in...Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011, for a further period of six months up to February 4 2016..," FSSAI said in its order.</div><div> </div><div>The decision has been taken after the Union Health Ministry considered representations from various stakeholders including food companies and industry associations. Industry was demanding for an extension of one year.</div><div> </div><div>Section 31 (1) of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 provides that no person shall commence or carry on any food business except under a licence, the order added.</div><div> </div><div>As per the Food Safety and Standards regulations of 2011, no person or food business operator can commence any food business unless if he or the operator possess a valid license.</div><div> </div><div>There are about 5.5 crore food business operators in the country.</div><div> </div><div>Welcoming the move, All India Food Processors Association Executive Secretary D V Malhan said, "It is a good move as it will give more time to the companies to register themselves with the food safety regulator." <br><br>(PTI)</div>
