Mysuru: All kinds of food business operators in Mysuru (city and district limits) have to mandatorily register and obtain licence to continue their trade under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and subsequent changes in licensing rules and modifications brought out in 2011.

Those who do business above Rs.12 lakh per year must mandatorily obtain licence and those who do business less than Rs.12 lakh per annum must register.

Those who come under the Food Safety and Standards Act include manufacturers of food items, packers, wholesale and retail dealers, distributors and traders, all hotels, bakeries, sweet stalls, wine stores, bars and restaurants, mess, canteens and clubs, catering business, malls and shopping complexes, Kirana shops and all other retail shops.

This apart, all food product transporters, godowns that store food products, food producing associations and groups, small scale industries, food processing units and industries, re-packers and re-labelling companies, importers, all soft drink producers, cold storage units, roadside food vendors, dhabas, hostels, meat, fish and seafood sellers, all fruit merchants, storage facilities and importers, food providers for religious institutions, community halls, kalyana mantaps, marriage and other event caterers come under the ambit of the Act.

Trading food without licence, permits and registration is against the law and as per provisions under Section 63 Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, such traders can be jailed for six months and a fine of Rs.5 lakh can be imposed.

For details, traders can contact Dr. Chidambara, Nodal Officer of Food Safety and Standards Act (under Mysuru City Corporation limits) and Dr. Kusuma (under Mysuru District jurisdiction) on Ph: 0821-2438144 or e-mail [email protected] or [email protected]