Goa FDA food safety enforcement is set to expand to home-based bakers, snack sellers, caterers and party venues, with the department warning operators to secure registrations, local permissions and hygiene approvals or face legal action.
The Food and Drugs Administration said it has identified individuals preparing and selling bakery products and snacks from homes, roadside tables and even car boots while promoting their businesses through social media. FDA director Shweta Dessai said the department supports entrepreneurship but insisted that all food businesses comply with legal and hygiene requirements.
Home-based food operators must obtain registration under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, along with a no-objection certificate from the relevant local body. Their kitchens must be registered and operators must follow prescribed hygiene standards at both preparation and vending locations, the FDA said.
“Those operating without the required permissions should immediately stop vending activities and discontinue promoting their businesses on social media. Failure to comply will invite action under Section 63 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006,” Dessai said, according to the Times of India report.
The FDA has made its helpdesk available to assist applicants in securing the required approvals. The move places online promotion within the department’s enforcement focus because businesses advertised on social media may still be operating outside the formal food-safety and local-body approval system.
The department has also launched a special drive targeting unlicensed caterers and unregistered party halls. These operators have been directed to obtain the necessary licences within three weeks. The action covers businesses and venues involved in preparing, storing, serving or transporting food for functions, celebrations, rituals and institutional events, including small gatherings.
Caterers and party venues found operating without an FSSAI licence could face prosecution and penalties of up to Rs 10 lakh under the Food Safety and Standards Act, the FDA said. Food handlers must also possess valid sanitary cards and comply with hygiene requirements.
The licensing requirement extends to party and banquet halls, including private venues and facilities attached to religious institutions, when they host food-related events. The FDA said such premises must maintain suitable kitchen and pantry infrastructure, safe drinking water and adequate waste-disposal systems in line with food-safety norms.
The immediate compliance window gives home food businesses, caterers and event venues a defined period to approach the authorities. The FDA’s three-week drive is the next enforcement milestone for unlicensed caterers and party halls, while operators are expected to secure the required permissions before continuing their activities.
