MUMBAI: Escalating their stand-off with the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), three of the country’s leading hospitality industry associations have jointly petitioned the Prime Minister, the Maharashtra chief minister and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), alleging that recent enforcement measures are bypassing statutory safeguards and hurting businesses. They have sought intervention to ensure that food safety inspections continue, but strictly in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act. The representation by the Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) (HRAWI), the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) and the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR) comes amid the Maharashtra FDA’s intensified inspection drive against hotels, restaurants and food establishments across the state. The associations said they fully support strict action against food adulteration and unsafe food practices but argued that businesses should not face licence suspension or cancellation without first being given an opportunity to rectify deficiencies, wherever required under the law. At the centre of the dispute is Section 32 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, which, according to the associations, requires food business operators to be served a 14-day Improvement Notice to correct deficiencies before licences are suspended or cancelled in routine cases. They contend that this statutory safeguard is being overlooked during the current enforcement drive. The industry bodies have also sought a review of the Maharashtra FDA’s June 23, 2026 compliance order, claiming that some of its provisions are inconsistent with the FSS Act and its regulations and were issued without the prior stakeholder consultation required under the legislation. Another major concern raised by the associations is the public disclosure of names, photographs and videos of establishments during enforcement action. They argued that publishing such material before legal proceedings are completed can cause lasting reputational damage, even in cases where businesses later comply with requirements or no final violation is established. The associations have requested the Prime Minister’s Office, the Chief Minister and the FSSAI to review or recall portions of the June 23 order that they believe conflict with the FSS Act, ensure that the Improvement Notice mechanism is followed wherever applicable and discourage public naming of establishments until due process is completed. The representation, however, stressed that the industry is not seeking a dilution of food safety enforcement but a regulatory framework that balances consumer protection with procedural fairness. The associations said they remain committed to working with the FDA and FSSAI through training, awareness programmes and stakeholder consultations to improve compliance across the sector. The issue has wider economic implications, the associations said, pointing out that the food services sector directly employs over 85 lakh people nationwide and contributes an estimated Rs 33,809 crore annually to the exchequer. The broader hospitality industry supports more than 3.2 crore jobs and contributes nearly 5.8% of India’s GDP. They noted that western India, including Maharashtra, accounts for nearly one-third of India’s hospitality market. Maharashtra alone recorded over 189 million domestic and 3.7 million foreign tourist visits in 2024, while the state’s Tourism Policy 2024 aims to attract Rs 1 lakh crore in fresh investment and create more than 30 lakh jobs. According to the associations, unpredictable enforcement and premature public naming of establishments could undermine investor confidence, affect tourism and disproportionately impact small and medium-sized restaurants, hotels and the lakhs of workers who depend on the sector for their livelihoods. The industry bodies have sought an urgent meeting with the Maharashtra Chief Minister and trade associations to develop a framework that safeguards both consumer interests and food safety while ensuring that enforcement follows the legal process prescribed under the FSS Act. An immediate response from the Maharashtra FDA on the representation was not available.
