TFDA: GUIDELINES FOR REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF FOOD PREMISES

INTRODUCTION

Registration of premises for dealing in food businesses is a pre-requisite requirement prior to commencing of such businesses. This requirement is stipulated under section 18 of the Tanzania
Food, Drugs and Cosmetics Act (TFDC) 2003. The legislation prohibits the use of any premises for the manufacture, sale, sell, supply or storage of food unless the premises have been registered by the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) for that purpose. Furthermore to this, section 20 of the same Act requires all dealers in such business to apply to the Authority for licenses and obtain such license before starting operation.

Registration of premises and licensing of food businesses shall not be considered as the sole means of controlling operations of such premises. However, there are other valuable means of aid in enforcing relevant legislation, such as adherence to good hygienic practices, good storage practice and good distribution practice that ensure day-to-day operations of these premises are in line with the laws and regulations. Basing on these grounds, the Authority is empowered to suspend or revoke the registration certificate and license of any premises found operating contrary to the law.

 REQUIREMENT FOR PREMISES REGISTRATION AND BUSINESS PERMIT

1.0 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

1.1.1 Any person who intends to carry out a business of food for human consumption shall apply to TFDA for registration of premises and permit of carrying out such food business.

1.1.2 In order to adhere to the legal requirements, the applicant is obliged to obtain guidelines for application for registration of food premises and licensing of business and follow the instructions prescribed in these guidelines. These guidelines will be obtained from the , DMOs offices of the respective Districts, TFDA zone offices , TFDA headquarter office and through the TFDA Website www.tfda.or.tz

1.1.3 The food premises and businesses shall include the following:

i. Food manufacturing facilities

ii. Food outlets

1.1.4 Payment of fees shall be made through Director of Townships/District/Municipal/ City council all over the country or TFDA account number 2041100069, NMB, Kariakoo branch for local currency and TFDA account number 02J1021399100, CRDB, Holland house branch, Dar es Salaam, for foreign currency. All bank charges shall be borne by the applicant.

1.1.5 All the prescribed information and communications regarding the application shall be made either in English or Kiswahili.

1.2 SPECIFIC APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

1.2.1 Food manufacturing facilities

A complete application shall include the following

(i) A dully filled in application forms for premises registration and license

(ii) Process flow chart

(iii) Plants layout

(iv) Certificate of qualified personnel

(v) Letter of commitment of the qualified personnel for supervision of manufacturing facilities

1.2.2 Food outlets

The applicant shall submit a dully filled in application forms for premises registration and license

2.0 PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATION OF PREMISES REGISTRATION AND BUSINESS PERMIT

2.1 APPLICATION PROCEDURES

2.1.1 All applications for registration of food premises and permit to operate food business or renewal of permit shall be made to the Director General, TFDA in prescribed application forms for registration of premises (TFDA No.1) and for permit /license (TFDA No.3).

2.1.2 The application shall be submitted to TFDA Head Quarter/ Zone offices or made through the Directors of the respective districts/ municipal/ city councils, where the business is located.

2.1.3 Upon receipt of complete application and payment of necessary fees as prescribe in Tanzania Food, Drugs and Cosmetics (Fees and Charges) Regulations, 2011 acknowledgement receipt should be issued to the applicant.

2.1.4 The plan, design and construction of the premises shall comply to the requirements of Tanzania Food, Drugs and Cosmetics (Food Hygiene) Regulations, 2006.

2.1.5 The applicant may seek advice and consultation from the authority as regards to compliance to Tanzania Food, Drugs and Cosmetics (Food Hygiene) Regulations, 2006.

2.1.6 When the construction or renovation is complete, the inspector shall conduct a thorough pre- registration inspection using appropriate inspection checklist for that particular business give his observations and recommendation on the suitability of the premises in the application form.

2.1.7 In the areas where TFDA office is located such as TFDA head office or zone offices, the inspection shall be jointly conducted by the TFDA inspector together with appointed Local Authority food inspectors.

2.1.8 The inspectors shall make sure that all information required in the appropriate inspection checklists are properly filled, signed and stamped by both applicant and inspector.

2.1.9 Upon receipt of dully filled in application forms, inspection checklist and all other necessary documents from local authority/Zone offices, the Director General shall scrutinize the status of each application, followed by acknowledging receipt.

2.1.10 The Director General may approve, withheld or reject any application and provide reason(s) for decision of withhold or rejection.

2.1.11 For manufacturers whose application for premises registration have been approved, will be issued notification letter allowing them to carry out trial run to obtain sample for product registration. Upon successful registration of the product, premises registration certificate and business permit shall be issued to the applicant.

2.1.12 Applicants whose applications have been withheld for any reason shall be required to carry out rectification or give a clarification within 6 months before they are legible for consideration. After elapse of this period, the application shall be withdrawn automatically.

2.1.13 The Authority upon satisfaction that premise complies with legal requirements shall issue premises registration certificate and business permit to the applicant.

2.1.14 All applications for dealings in following food businesses shall be processed and if fulfilled, approved by the Director of the respective Municipal/ city councils/Districts on behalf of Director General TFDA.

i. Butcheries

ii. Retail Shops

iii. Restaurants

iv. Hotel

v. Posho Mills

vi. Canteen and Kiosks

vii. Wholesale shops

viii. Food carriers

ix. Caterers

x. Slaughter houses

xi. Food Vendors

xii. Bars

2.1.15 Premises registration certificate and business permit for food outlet business shall be issued without submission of sample for registration

2.2 VALIDITY OF FOOD PREMISES REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE AND BUSINESS PERMIT

2.2.1 The registration of premises shall be valid provided that the following conditions are met:

(a) The business permit is renewed.

(b) The premises comply with conditions under which it was registered.

(c) There is no change of ownership, business name, location or any alteration of registered premises.

(d) The Authority has not suspended, cancelled, revoked or amended premises registration.

(e) Premises registration holder has not terminated his/her registration.

2.2.2 The permit shall be annually renewed unless suspended, cancelled or revoked by the Authority.

2.2.3 Every Food business permit issued by the Authority shall expire on the 30th Day of June every year.

2.3 RENEWAL OF BUSINESS PERMIT

2.3.1 The Authority shall start to receive applications for renewal of permit three (3) months before 30th June.

2.3.2 Renewal of business permit shall be done through respective district/ municipal/ city food coordinators or at TFDA zone offices and TFDA headquarter offices by submitting duly filled in form TFDA 0003, a copy of previous business permit and paying fees as prescribed in Tanzania Food, Drugs and Cosmetic (Fees and Charges) Regulation, 2011.

2.3.3 Dealers who shall delay to renew their permits beyond 30th September every year shall be required to pay the prescribed fee together with 25% penalty. Contrary to that, registration certificate shall be revoked and the premises closed down. Do correction on numbering

2.4 NOTIFICATION FOR SHIFT OF PREMISES, CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP OR ANY ALTERATION AND TERMINATION OF PREMISES REGISTRATION BY HOLDER OF REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE

2.4.1 Notification for change of location (shift of premises), change of type of business, trade name of the premises, ownership or any other change of registered premises, shall be made to the Director General.

2.4.2 Notification for change of location and type of business shall be treated as new application. Therefore, the application procedure for new premises as prescribed in these guidelines shall apply.

2.4.3 Upon receipt of notification for change of name, ownership or any other alteration the applicant shall be required to pay fees as prescribed in the fees and charges Regulation, 2011.

2.4.4 The Authority shall process and effect the necessary changes.

2.4.5 Premises registered by Authority shall cease to have effect upon the expiration of thirty days from the date of change of ownership of the business.

2.4.6 Whenever a Premises registration holder wishes to terminate the registration he/she shall notify the Authority in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to date of termination, giving reasons thereof.

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