Stay on FSSAI hotel rules

CHENNAI:  The operation of the newly prescribed regulations of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) with regard to licensing and registration of the food business was stayed by the Madras High Court on Thursday. Vacation judge K Venkataraman granted the injunction while passing interim orders on writ petitions from the TN Hotels Association, Egmore, and others.
Among other things the regulation defined a petty food manufacturer by prescribing an annual turnover and imposing certain other restrictions. Advocate G Sankaran contended that when Sec 31(2) of the FSSAI’s Licensing and Registration of Food Business Act 2011 defined a petty manufacturer only with reference to the nature and scale of business, the regulation could not put restrictions on annual turnover. Therefore the regulation was inconsistent with the provisions of the main Act 34 of 2006. Sankaran contended that the regulations were impracticable.
The judge said since an interim injunction and interim stay had already been granted by the Madurai Bench of the HC, there should be an order of interim stay and injunction. Regarding admission of the petitions, the judge ordered notice to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Commissioner of Food Safety of Tamil Nadu.

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