Posted: June 24th, 2012 - 8:37pm
Source: Times of India

COIMBATORE -- Temples providing Annadhaanams to devotees will soon come under the gambit of the safety and quality norms prescribed by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI).
The move is to ensure that proper hygiene is maintained while preparing and serving food to devotees at these religious centres. A high level meeting was also convened here in the city on June 1 which was attended by officials from Hindu Charity and Religious Endowments( HR&CE) department and the designate officer for the FSSAI. The temples will have to get registered with the FSSAI as per the norms of section 31 of the FSSAI Act.
"We have already written to Executive Officers of all these temples regarding the issue. We will be able to monitor the mass food distribution ceremonies at the temples, once they register with us," said Dr R Kathiravan, designate officer, FSSAI, Coimbatore.
As per section 31, any commercial or charitable organisation indulging in food distribution and sale with an annual turnover of over Rs 12 lakh (commercial ones) both governmental and non governmental should obtain a license from FSSAI while charitable institutions and commercial food stalls with less than Rs 12 lakh turnover should obtain a registration to bring them under the purview of the food safety and standard norms. The deadline extended to the HR&CE to obtain registration is August 14, 2012.