Srinagar
In a much-needed respite to the Food Business operators operating in union territory (UT) of J&K, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has extended the renewal date of food license, registration and filling of annual, half-yearly returns to June 30, 2020, and July 31, 2020, respectively.
The notice issued from the office of Commissioner, Food & Drugs Administration (FDA) read that FSSAI has taken the step considering the restrictions on the public movement due to the countrywide lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and in view of the difficulties being faced by Food Business Operators (FBO) in filing the renewal applications due to interruption of internet facility.
It read that as per the order issued by the FSSAI on April 13, 2020, all the stakeholders, in the Union Territory of J&K, associated with manufacturing, processing, distribution and sale of food products, articles, whose period of validity of license, registration has expired or is expiring during the period of August 1, 2019, to May 31, 2020, can file applications for renewal of license, registration till June 30, 2020, without any late fee and their license, registration, in the interim period, shall be deemed to be valid.
Further, the notice read that the timeline for submission of annual returns for FY- 2019-2020 and half-yearly return for October 2019 to March 2020, by licensed FBOs associated with manufacturing/processing including re-labellers, re-packers and importers, has also been extended till July 31, 2020.
