PANAJI
The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has cracked down on unlicensed food businesses, putting bakers, traditional bakers (poders) and home-based food vendors on notice and warning of legal action against those operating without mandatory permissions.
In an advisory issued by the FDA, vendors selling food products without the required approvals have been directed to immediately stop sales and promotional activities, including advertising through social media platforms.
The warning covers a wide range of operators. These include vendors selling bakery products, snacks and other food items from roadside tables, temporary stalls and even car boots. It also extends to individuals running home-based ventures and accepting orders for cakes, pastries and similar products from their residences.
The FDA said all such businesses must regularise their operations by obtaining the necessary permissions before continuing their activities.
As part of the compliance requirements, vendors must secure a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the local panchayat or municipal body. They are also required to obtain Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) registration for the kitchen or premises where food is prepared.
The agency has further stressed the importance of maintaining hygiene standards at both preparation and vending locations. Officials said food must be produced, stored and sold under sanitary conditions to safeguard consumer health. The move is expected to impact a growing number of informal food enterprises that have flourished through word-of-mouth publicity and social media marketing. Many such operators function from homes or temporary setups without entering the formal food safety regulatory framework.
FDA officials said the objective is not only to enforce compliance but also to ensure accountability and food safety across the sector.
To facilitate the process, aspiring and existing food business operators can approach the FDA help desk with the required documents and obtain assistance for registrations and permissions.The administration has made it clear that food businesses operating outside the licence and registration regime risk enforcement action and vendors have been urged to comply without delay to bring their operations in line with food safety regulations.
