The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), the apex body of the trading community, has declared to launch a nationwide agitation against the Food Safety and Standards Act, if it is not deferred immediately by the Union government. Traders said that the provision of punishing those without a licence was unfair and harsh.

The last date to purchase a licence is today. According to the act, those without a licence will attract a fine of Rs 5 lakh and imprisonment of six months. The Act is applicable not only to traders but also to the common
man, who may be serving food for non-profit motives such as at religious places or for charity or other social meetings.