The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the sale, advertisement and free distribution of processed and packaged food and beverages high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) within 50 metres of school premises, FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said on Wednesday.
The order will be enforced strictly and applies to all government, government-aided and private schools affiliated with any education board across the state, he said.
"Within school premises and up to 50 metres from the school compound, the sale, advertisement and free distribution of high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) food items is completely banned by the FDA. It will be implemented strictly," PTI quoted Mundhe as saying in his address to reporters.
The Maharashtra government issued a compliance order on July 27 to enforce food safety and nutrition standards in educational institutions, a move expected to cover nearly two crore students studying in around 1.08 lakh schools across the state.
Mundhe said every school kitchen operator and food supplier must obtain mandatory registration and licences under food safety regulations.
"No organisation or institution can prepare or supply food to schools, hostels or under the midday meal scheme without registration and a valid licence to operate," he said.
He added that the responsibility for implementing the new norms would rest with school principals, headmasters and local authorities.
According to Mundhe, the rules will apply to children from 22 months of age up to students in Class 12, and HFSS food items cannot be sold, advertised or distributed free of cost within the prescribed 50-metre radius around schools.
