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Maha FDA rolls out statewide safety compliance framework for food businesses
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Friday, 26 June, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
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In a significant step towards strengthening food safety and protecting consumer health, Tukaram Mundhe,Commissioner of Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Maharashtra, has issued a Comprehensive Food Safety Compliance Order applicable to all food service establishments operating across the state.
The order aims to ensure that every citizen of Maharashtra has access to safe, clean, high-quality, and adulteration-free food while enforcing strict adherence to food safety standards throughout the food service sector. The directive applies to hotels, restaurants, eateries, dhabas, canteens, cafeterias, quick-service restaurants, banquet halls, catering units, bakeries, sweet shops, food courts, juice bars, cloud kitchens, central kitchens, chain restaurants, and e-commerce and online food delivery platforms.
Constitutional Commitment to Public Health
The order draws its mandate from Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which guarantees every citizen the fundamental right to live in a safe and healthy environment, and Article 47, which places a primary responsibility on the State to improve public health. It also seeks to strengthen implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the regulations framed thereunder.
Regulations to be Strictly Implemented
All food business operators are required to comply with the following Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations:
Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011
Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011
Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011
Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020
Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018
Food Safety and Standards (Safe Food and Balanced Diet for Children in Schools) Regulations, 2020
Why the Order Was Issued
The FDA’s inspections, special drives, surveys, and enforcement actions conducted across Maharashtra revealed several serious deficiencies in food establishments, including:
Preparation of food under unhygienic and unsafe conditions
Reuse of cooking oil
Food handling by employees without medical examinations
Inadequate temperature control during food storage and service
Use of non-food-grade packaging materials
Failure to provide safe drinking water to consumers
Violations of various food safety and hygiene requirements
These deficiencies were found to pose significant risks to public health, necessitating the establishment of a uniform and robust food safety framework across the state.
Key Provisions of the Order
1. Mandatory FSSAI Licence or Registration
No food business establishment shall operate without a valid FSSAI licence or registration. The licence or registration certificate must be prominently displayed at the premises.
2. Compliance with Hygiene and Sanitation Standards
All establishments must strictly adhere to hygiene and sanitation requirements prescribed under Schedule IV of the FSSAI regulations.
3. Medical Examination and Training of Food Handlers
Food handlers must undergo:
Periodic medical examinations
Medical fitness certification
Mandatory FoSTaC (Food Safety Training and Certification) training
4. Safe Food Handling Practices
Food businesses must ensure:
Separation of raw and cooked food
Adoption of the FIFO (First In, First Out) principle
Maintenance of prescribed temperatures for hot and cold foods
Use of colour-coded chopping boards
Procurement of raw materials only from licensed suppliers
5. Free Safe Drinking Water for Consumers
All food establishments must provide safe drinking water free of charge.
Consumers cannot be compelled to purchase bottled drinking water. Every establishment shall prominently display the following notice:
“Safe drinking water is available here free of charge.”
6. Menu Labelling and Nutritional Disclosure
Large chain restaurants and Centrally licensed food businesses must display:
Calorie information
Nutritional values
Allergen information
on their menus.
7. Prohibition on Newspapers and Printed Paper for Food Service
The use of newspapers, printed paper, or other non-food-grade materials for serving or packaging food is strictly prohibited.
8. Strict Enforcement of Used Cooking Oil Regulations
The FSSAI’s RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil) initiative will be rigorously implemented. Reuse or unauthorised sale of used cooking oil will not be permitted.
9. Enhanced Compliance for Cloud Kitchens and Online Food Businesses
Food businesses operating through online platforms must provide consumers with:
FSSAI licence number
Calorie information
Allergen declarations
Other mandatory consumer disclosures
10. Mandatory Third-Party Audits for Large Food Businesses
Food business operators with an annual turnover exceeding ?50 crore shall conduct an annual Food Safety Management System (FSMS) audit through a FSSAI-recognised auditing agency.
Promoting Responsible Businesses While Ensuring Accountability
The FDA emphasised that the objective of the order is not limited to enforcement but also to encourage responsible and compliant food businesses. Establishments that adhere to food safety standards will benefit from enhanced consumer confidence and contribute to raising industry-wide standards.
At the same time, violations of food safety regulations may attract stringent action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, including:
Monetary penalties
Prosecution
Suspension of licences
Cancellation of licences
Issuing the order, the Commissioner stated:
"Safe food is a fundamental right of every citizen. Compliance with food safety standards is not merely a legal obligation for food business operators but also a social responsibility. No compromise with consumer health will be tolerated. We are committed to building a high-standard system of food safety, hygiene, and consumer protection across Maharashtra. All food business establishments must ensure strict compliance with this order."
The FDA Maharashtra has directed all concerned food business operators to immediately review their compliance systems and implement the prescribed standards in the interest of public health and consumer welfare.
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