Ahmedabad: The Health Department’s Food Division of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) today issued a set of directives for permanent and temporary food stall operators during Navratri Festival 2025. The rules apply to all party plots, halls, and public Raas Garba venues across all zones and wards of the city, in line with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

List of directives:

1. During the Navratri Festival, food stall operators must obtain the necessary license/registration under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, from the respective zone/ward Food Safety Officer. Required documents must be uploaded online at foscos.fssai.gov.in and fees paid to secure the license/registration.

2. Operating a food business without a valid license/registration during the festival is a punishable offense under law.

3. Operators must strictly adhere to the rules under Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Registration and Licensing of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.

4. Food stall operators must not prepare or sell food without wearing a cap, gloves, and apron.

5. Operators must maintain personal hygiene, including trimmed nails and properly kept hair.

6. During the festival, food handlers suffering from contagious diseases such as chickenpox must not be allowed to work at the food stalls.

7. Only verified packaging raw materials should be used for preparing food.

8. Fire safety equipment must be kept at the stalls to handle any accidental fire.

9. Food must be maintained in a hygienic condition and properly covered to prevent contamination.

10. Stale or spoiled food must not be sold and should be destroyed immediately.

11. Food stall operators must not use expired food items, cold drinks, ice creams, or packaged drinking water.

12. High standards of cleanliness must be maintained around the food stall, and separate dustbins for wet and dry waste should be arranged.

13. The use of prohibited plastic items is strictly forbidden.

14. All conditions and instructions issued by the relevant authorities regarding public health, safety, and order must be strictly followed.

During the Navratri Festival 2025, permanent and temporary food stall operators must obtain prior approval from Designated Officer Dr. Bhavin Joshi before being issued licenses/registrations under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the AMC said. DeshGujarat