Mumbai, Aug 26 (IANS) Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe on Wednesday emphasised the need for strict compliance with food safety regulations during the upcoming festive season.

Clarifying the agency’s stance on Mahaprasad and Bhandara organised by Ganesh pandals, Mundhe said the rules were standard and not festival‑specific. “It is not about Mahaprasad, Bhandara, or specific festivals like Eid or Ganesh Utsav; it is about overall compliance with food safety regulations,” he noted.

Mundhe revealed that over 3,100 food establishments across Maharashtra had been inspected recently. He said all Food Business Operators (FBOs) must hold valid registrations or licences and follow protocols. Operating without a licence or below standards constitutes a violation regardless of the season. As many as 165 licences had been suspended and 450 improvement notices issued. Of these, around 70 establishments received relief after appeals.

He said inspections and testing of midday meal suppliers were underway, and one licence had already been suspended. “Midday meal inspections are going on. Eight to 10 suppliers are being tested, and one licence has already been suspended,” he told reporters. He added that ensuring balanced diets for schoolchildren was a priority, and that orders had already been issued to address gaps.

Mundhe stressed that the FDA was prioritising high-risk food businesses. “We focus on the high‑risk category. We don’t discriminate among hotels, restaurants and others,” he said.

On blood banks, he said the FDA had issued compliance orders since blood is classified as a drug under the regulatory framework. The FDA had taken action, including cancellations, against non‑compliant establishments. “No one can organise blood donation. A licensed organisation must organise it. It has to be voluntary donation,” he added.

He noted that regulatory action had prompted several food establishments to improve practices, with some restaurants voluntarily closing temporarily to renovate and comply with safety requirements.

“Many restaurants have voluntarily closed for a few days to renovate and improve their premises. Some have decided to shut down once a month or once every two weeks to review their practices. I think this is a good way forward,” Mundhe said.

The FDA has received more than 16,000 complaints through its toll‑free number, email, phone and online portal in recent months. Mundhe said the objective was to ensure compliance rather than interfere with businesses. “If businesses comply with the rules, there should be no need for regulators to keep visiting them,” he said.

He added that the regulatory approach had shifted from focusing on preventing adulteration to ensuring food safety and standards.

–IANS

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