No Unlicensed Caterers: Maharashtra FDA Tightens Rules For Bhandara And Mahaprasad

Mumbai, 4th September 2026: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced a year-long Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to regulate food safety at large-scale religious and festival food distribution programmes across the state.

The new guidelines cover mahaprasad, bhandara, langar, iftar meals, annachhatra and other similar events. Organisers will have to inform the FDA at least seven days before the event, while food must be prepared and supplied through licensed caterers.

Under the SOP, Food Safety Officers will visit locations where such large-scale food distribution programmes are organised. Officials will inspect the quality of food, hygiene conditions and compliance with food safety regulations.
Organising mandals and institutions have been directed to engage only licensed caterers for preparing and supplying food. The FDA will also monitor the raw materials used in food preparation, particularly during the festival season when demand for products such as milk, paneer, khoa, ghee, edible oil, gram flour, sweets and dry fruits increases.

The FDA has also introduced a permanent “Festival Enforcement Calendar” covering festivals, fairs, urus and other religious celebrations throughout the year. Instead of issuing separate orders for individual festivals, a comprehensive order will now lay down the inspection and food-sampling plan across Maharashtra.

The festivals have been divided into three categories for enforcement. Ganeshotsav, Navratri, Diwali, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, Christmas and New Year’s Eve will be covered under statewide enforcement drives. Regional festivals including Makar Sankranti, Mahashivratri, Holi, Gudi Padwa, Akshaya Tritiya, Janmashtami, Dahi Handi and Dussehra will receive targeted inspections, while local fairs, jatras, urus, palkhi processions and village festivals will be monitored locally.

Inspections will begin 21 days before a festival. Officials will identify vulnerable areas and food products and inspect manufacturers, mills, wholesale markets, storage facilities and other establishments. During festivals, enforcement teams will conduct market surveillance, inspect sweet shops and eateries, carry out on-the-spot food testing and act on consumer complaints. Follow-up enforcement will continue for up to 30 days after the festival.

The FDA will pay special attention to milk and milk products, sweets, edible oil, fasting foods, meat, ice, water, food colours, dry fruits, gram flour, bakery products and fruits. During Mahashivratri and Navratri, products such as bhagar, kuttu and singhada flour, sago and rajgira will be specifically checked.

The department has also directed food businesses to maintain valid licences, procure raw materials only from authorised suppliers and maintain proper purchase records. Serious violations will invite action under food safety regulations.

The new SOP places large-scale community food distribution programmes under a year-round inspection framework, with organisers required to complete the necessary compliance before serving food to the public.