PANAJI
The Goa Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a final three-week deadline to caterers and party hall operators across the State to obtain mandatory food licences, warning that a special enforcement drive will follow against violators.
In a public advisory, the FDA directed operators to apply for the required licence or registration through the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) portal or seek assistance from its office.
The notice covers caterers handling everything from small private gatherings to large weddings and social events, many of who operate at an informal level. It also extends to function halls, including those attached to religious institutions.
The move is aimed at bringing a largely informal segment of the hospitality and event industry under the food safety regulatory framework.
The FDA said all caterers must adhere to prescribed hygiene and food safety standards and every food handler engaged in cooking, serving or handling food must possess a valid sanitary card.
Party and wedding reception halls have also been placed under scrutiny with operators instructed to prominently display their licence or registration certificate and ensure basic infrastructure such as a functional kitchen or pantry, potable drinking water and proper waste disposal facilities.
Officials warned that businesses operating without a valid licence would face legal action under food safety laws and penalties for for non-compliance can extend up to Rs 10 lakh.
The advisory is expected to affect a significant number of small-scale caterers and event operators who traditionally function without formal registrations and several rely on temporary event-based operations and informal staffing arrangements, often escaping regulatory oversight.
For such operators, the crackdown could prove costly as these businesses could risk interruption of operations, cancellation of bookings and reputational damage.
Event venues failing to meet basic food safety and sanitation requirements may also face difficulties attracting customers with concerns over hygiene standards growing.
The FDA's action also comes amid a rising emphasis on food safety at public events, where large-scale catering can expose hundreds of guests to health risks.
