Section 31 of FSSA : Section 31: Licensing And Registration Of Food Business

Explanation using Example

Imagine Sarah wants to start a bakery business in her town. According to Section 31 of The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Sarah cannot just open her bakery and start selling food. First, she needs to apply for and obtain a licence from the Designated Officer in charge of food safety in her area. This licence will ensure that Sarah's bakery complies with food safety regulations and is monitored for public health concerns.

If Sarah's bakery is a small-scale operation and qualifies as a petty food business, she might not need a full licence but would still have to register her business with the local authority. This ensures that even small food businesses maintain safety standards without the burden of a full licensing process.

Once Sarah submits her application for a licence, including the required particulars and fees, the Designated Officer will review it. If the officer finds that Sarah's bakery might pose a risk to public health, they can refuse to grant a licence, but they must provide reasons in writing and allow Sarah an opportunity to be heard.

If Sarah doesn't receive any communication about her licence within two months, she can start her bakery business. However, the Designated Officer still has the right to issue an improvement notice if they later find issues with her business practices.

Should Sarah's application be rejected, she has the right to appeal the decision to the Commissioner of Food Safety.