By Sitaram Mewati
The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) (HRAWI), the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) and the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR) have welcomed the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) renewed focus on strengthening food safety and ensuring compliance across food business establishments. At the same time, the three industry bodies have urged the regulator to adopt a balanced enforcement approach that protects consumer interests while ensuring fairness and due process.
In a joint statement, the associations reiterated that food safety remains a top priority for the hospitality industry. They requested that inspections continue to follow the consultative and corrective approach envisaged under the Food Safety and Standards framework, allowing Food Business Operators (FBOs) an opportunity to rectify deficiencies before stringent enforcement measures are initiated.
The associations also appealed to the Maharashtra FDA to avoid publicly identifying or portraying establishments as violators before the due legal process is completed. They said many hospitality businesses have been built over decades through sustained investment, compliance and consumer trust, and premature disclosure of inspection findings could cause reputational damage, affect livelihoods and undermine business confidence.
Among their key recommendations, the associations urged the FDA to issue improvement notices under Section 32 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, before suspension or cancellation of licences wherever applicable. They also requested that the names, photographs and videos of food business operators should not be publicised in the media or on social media until the due legal process has been completed.
Reaffirming their commitment to public health, HRAWI, NRAI and AHAR said they have consistently partnered with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Maharashtra FDA through awareness programmes, stakeholder consultations and capacity-building initiatives. The associations also expressed their willingness to continue working closely with the regulator to strengthen food safety compliance while ensuring fair enforcement and protecting the livelihoods of thousands employed in the hospitality sector.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
