New Delhi. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India or FSSAI has released a draft of unified licensing procedures for food products with an aim to bring uniformity of the food standards in the country.

The draft of the regulations which may be called the Food Businesses Regulations, 2009 has been put on FSSAI’s website to seek comments from various stakeholders.

It integrates the licensing provisions of seven provisions including the Fruit Products Order or FPO, Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, Milk and Milk Products Order, Vegetable Oil Products and Meat Food Products Order.

“Common application forms and procedures have been laid down to bring out uniformity of the food standards in the country as mandated by the Food Safety and Standards Act,” the draft said.

The food sub-sectors, which are currently under the control of the Government of India, have been retained and unified. In addition, sectors, which have high potential for food contamination and hazard, have been brought under central licensing. This includes food service establishments under the various organs of the Government of India and interstate operations of large food businesses.

”These Regulations are for the information of all persons likely to be affected thereby and notice is hereby given that the said Draft Regulations will be taken into consideration after 45 days of its publication in the Official Gazette of India,” according to the draft.