On Saturday, Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda instructed food regulator FSSAI to waive the ₹100 registration fees for street food vendors. He also emphasised the need to create street food hubs across the country. Nadda chaired a training and awareness program for around 1,350 street food vendors conducted by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
To encourage vendor registrations, Nadda directed the FSSAI to waive the ₹100 registration fee, which is currently charged annually to petty food business operators, including street food vendors, with turnovers up to ₹12 lakh. FSSAI is providing certificates and ‘Street Safe’ rapid testing kits to all participating vendors.
Nadda urged vendors to apply their training practically to ensure traditional street food remains safe. He believes that maintaining safe practices and cleanliness will help vendors grow their businesses. The government aims to increase business opportunities for street food vendors while providing safe food to consumers.
FSSAI certificates will boost vendor businesses by enhancing reliability and trust among consumers, Nadda added. He highlighted the importance of both training and re-orientation programs for street food vendors and encouraged them to utilise the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM-SVANidhi) program.
Nadda also reiterated the Prime Minister’s commitment to building 100 street food hubs in various districts across the country. During the event, he launched a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for street food vendors, outlining critical hygiene and safety practices, and inaugurated a dedicated portal for vendors to share success stories and access food safety resources.
Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel emphasized the cultural significance of street food in India and the importance of maintaining hygiene and cleanliness. Apurva Chandra, Union Health Secretary, announced that FSSAI plans to train one lakh street food vendors through its FoSTaC program next year, aiming to improve food safety standards and public health. This initiative builds on the successful training of over 18 lakh food handlers since 2017.
FSSAI CEO G Kamala Vardhana Rao, Executive Director U S Dhyani, and senior officials from the Union Health Ministry attended the event. National Association of Street Vendors India (NASVI) founder Arbind Singh praised FSSAI’s initiative but urged for similar programs nationwide.
With the recent waiver of the ₹100 registration fees for street food vendors by Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, now is the perfect time to ensure your food business is compliant and certified. Vakilsearch offers comprehensive FSSAI registration services to help you navigate the process seamlessly. By obtaining FSSAI certification, you can enhance your business’s credibility and access essential resources like ‘Street Safe’ rapid testing kits. Our expert team will guide you through every step, ensuring you meet all safety standards and regulatory requirements efficiently.
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