30-day deadline for shops to display FSSAI licence number on all consumer-facing documents
Shillong, Oct 12: All food business operators in the state have been asked to mandatorily display their 14-digit FSSAI Licence/Registration number on all consumer-facing documents, including cash receipts, invoices, cash memos, and physical and digital menus.
Issued by Commissioner of Food Safety, Meghalaya, Dr Joram Beda, on Monday, the order covers manufacturing units, milk and meat processing units, restaurants, hotels, bakeries, wholesalers, distributors, retail grocery stores and Self Help Groups involved in food processing.
The department has also made it clear that handwritten licence numbers on printed bills will not be accepted. Establishments have been told to hardcode the number into their billing software to ensure legibility.
The directive cites the FSSAI direction dated September 13, 2022, and the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) mandate under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
According to the Commissionerate, concealment of the licence number amounts to a violation of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration) Regulations, 2011, and could be construed as an “unfair trade practice” under Section 2(47) of the Consumer Protection Act, as it deprives consumers of the means to verify a food provider’s authenticity.
Non-compliance will invite legal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the Commissioner warned.
