Food business license may be made compulsory in Punjab

Punjab government is contemplating to make it compulsory for running any kind of food business to obtain a license under the proposed 'Punjab Food Safety and Standards Act, 2010. This is being thought out under the enforcement mechanism of the proposed 'Punjab Food Safety and Standards Act, 2010' drafted by the government to set up Punjab Food Authority (PFA) with an aim to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
The draft will soon be sent for vetting by the Law department and then for its approval from the cabinet. Sources in the food department told Business Recorder here on Monday that under the proposed Act, it is being considered that no place shall be used and no person shall commence or carry on any food business except under a prescribed license: provided that the Food Authority may exempt any premises or set of premises or class of business from the operation of this section.
Under the same proposed Act, it is also being contemplated that if the Food safety Officer has reasons to believe that any food business operator has failed to comply with any provisions of the Act or Regulations made there under, he may, by an improvement notice served on that food business operator would state the grounds for believing that the food business operator has failed to comply with any provisions of the Act or regulations made there under; specify the matters which constitute the food business operator's failure so to comply; and specify the measures which, the food business operator must take, in order to secure compliance with the relevant provisions of the law.
The Authority may suspend or cancel the license if the food business operator fails to comply with an improvement notice, the Act adds. The Act also empowers the Authority to prohibit the use of a process, treatment, premises or equipment for the purpose of the food business; or prohibiting the food business operator from participating in the management of any food business if any food business operator is convicted of any offence under this Act or Regulations made there under and the convicting court is satisfied that the health risk exists with respect to that food business.