Mumbai: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sought to clarify concerns surrounding its new year-round Festival Enforcement Calendar, saying the initiative is focused on food safety and preventing adulteration rather than imposing restrictions on religious or cultural celebrations.

FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the framework does not create a new law or introduce a new licensing system specifically for festivals. The existing legal framework covering food-safety requirements, including registration and licensing of food business operators, has been in place since 2011.

Mundhe said there had been “some misunderstanding and apprehension” about the standing order issued for food-safety arrangements during festivals and large public gatherings. He stressed that the FDA was regulating food safety, not festivals themselves.

The new framework establishes a year-round system for monitoring food safety during festivals, religious events, fairs, pilgrimages and other large gatherings. Previously, the FDA often issued separate directions when individual festivals approached. The new calendar is intended to provide a common framework throughout the year.

According to Mundhe, the framework is intended to clarify the responsibilities of FDA officials, food vendors, caterers, food business operators and event organisers. The aim is to reduce ambiguity and ensure that existing food-safety rules are applied consistently.

No ban on festivals or community food

Mundhe said the order does not prohibit bhandaras, prasad or community food distribution. It also does not prevent communities from organising Ganapati or other religious festivals, nor does it interfere with religious rituals or traditions.

He described the standard operating procedure as religion-neutral and festival-neutral, saying it applies across communities and to different types of gatherings, including weddings, bhandaras, Eid, Christmas and New Year's Eve events.

The FDA's stated objective is to ensure that food served during such gatherings meets existing safety requirements and does not pose a risk to consumers.

What is the Festival Enforcement Calendar?

The FDA introduced the year-round enforcement calendar as part of a broader crackdown on food adulteration and unsafe food practices.

The system is designed to monitor food products and businesses before, during and after major festivals. It includes inspections and checks of products whose consumption increases during particular celebrations, with the FDA also planning action against violations when required.

The department has said the calendar will cover festivals and gatherings across communities rather than targeting any particular religion or celebration.

Why has the order attracted attention?

The new system attracted attention because it creates a more systematic approach to monitoring food served at festivals and large public gatherings. Reports about requirements for organisers and checks at events led to questions over whether the framework could affect traditional community food distribution.

Mundhe's latest clarification is intended to draw a distinction between regulating food safety and regulating the festival itself.

The commissioner said the department's objective is to prevent illness caused by adulterated or unsafe food while allowing religious and cultural celebrations to continue.

The issue is essentially about how Maharashtra intends to enforce existing food-safety legislation during periods when food consumption rises sharply.

Festivals can see increased demand for sweets, dairy products, dry fruits, prepared foods and community meals, creating greater opportunities for adulteration or unsafe handling. The FDA's new calendar attempts to shift from festival-by-festival enforcement to a standing, year-round system.

The distinction made by Mundhe is important: the FDA says it is not introducing a separate set of laws for religious celebrations, but creating a framework to apply existing food-safety requirements more consistently.

The wider debate is therefore likely to centre on implementation — particularly how inspections, registration and licensing requirements are applied to temporary vendors, caterers, bhandaras and other community food distribution arrangements.

For organisers and food businesses, the practical impact will depend on how the standing framework is implemented on the ground. For the FDA, the stated priority is to prevent food adulteration and food-borne illness without interfering with religious or cultural practices.