Pune Food Businesses Rush for Licences as FDA Enforcement Tightens, 9,000 Applications Pending
Pune, 23rd June 20: A major surge in applications for food business registrations and licences has been witnessed across the Pune division following intensified enforcement drives by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe assumed office.
According to FDA officials, nearly 9,000 registration applications were pending in the Pune division as of June 19, 2026. Of these, around 450 applications are from Pimpri-Chinchwad, 1,100 from Pune city, and 2,400 from rural Pune district, with many still awaiting approval.
The FDA said small food businesses, home-based enterprises, and tiffin services with an annual turnover of up to ₹1.5 crore are required to obtain registration, while medium-sized establishments with turnover between ₹1.5 crore and ₹50 crore must secure a state licence. Businesses with annual turnover exceeding ₹50 crore, along with import-export operators, e-commerce platforms, and companies operating across multiple states, are required to obtain a central licence from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Officials said applications can be submitted online through the FSSAI portal, and entrepreneurs may also apply through Maha e-Seva centres by uploading the required documents and paying the prescribed fees.
Warning food business operators against non-compliance, Digambar Bhogawade, Joint Commissioner (Food), FDA, said running a food business without the necessary registration or licence could attract a penalty of up to ₹10 lakh. He urged all food manufacturers, vendors, and restaurant operators to obtain the required approvals before commencing operations.
