Under Section 328 and 328 A of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888 permission of the Commissioner is required for display of advertisement hoardings by means of surface or structure erected on ground or any portion of a roof of a building or on/above the parapet, with characters, letters or illustrations applied there to and displayed in any manner along with payment of prescribed fees.
RAI represented Mumbai Municipal Corporation contending that Section 328 & 328A shall not be applicable for those advertisements boards which are related with the trade or business carried on from the premises on which the boards are fixed. Sky –signs are mainly set up for advertising which is an integral component of every retail store. As long as the sky sign is fixed in and out of the self-owned,leased or mortgaged premise of the retail store, it should not attract the requirement of permission of the commissioner and payment of fees.
Pharmacy retailers anddistributors are not allowed to sell bathroom weighing scales and BMI (BodyMass Index) machine without permission from Legal Metrology department. Boththese products are essential and in great demand since obesity is a majorproblem due to the changing lifestyle. Thus availability of these productsbecomes a matter of concern.
RAI represented and discussed the issue with Department of Legal Metrology,Ministry of Consumer Affairs, to seek permission for the pharmacy retailer'sand distributes outlets to sell bathroom weighing scales and BMI machinewithout requirement of license under legal Metrology. Please find therepresentation attached here.
We are pleased to inform that our representation has been considered bydepartment and a circular has been issued in this regard. Please find here the circular from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
RAI representatives met with Shri Kunal Kumar, Commissioner, PMC on 29th October, 2014 to have a discussion on PMC’s notification to charge RS. 15/- per plastic bag.
As you would be aware that the Department of Consumer Affairs under the Legal Metrology Act issued a notification stating that, "Every package containing soap, shampoos, toothpastes and other cosmetics and toiletries shall bear at the top of its principal display panel a red or, as the case may be, brown dot for products of non vegetarian origin and a green dot for products of vegetarian origin."
RAI had submitted a representation to the Government of Maharashtra to allow retailers to keep their stores open 14 hours in a day on account of the festival of Diwali. Please click here to view the Representation.
RAI representatives had met with the Labour Minister regarding Extension of Working Hours during Diwali. We are pleased to inform you that Labour minister accepted our representation and a notification has been issued in this regard. Please click here to view the notification.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) vide their Advisory dated 4th August, 2014 has extended the deadline for the Food Business Operators seeking conversion/renewal of existing License/Registration. The new deadline is 4th February, 2015.
The FSSAI advisory giving the new deadline can be found here.
RAI submitted a representation to the Labour Ministry of Maharashtra contending to extend operating hours for retail stores till 12 mid-night on 15th, 16th and 17th August, 2014 on account of Independence weekend which draws a large crowd.
Please find the representation submitted here. The, Government last year allowed retailers to keep their stores open 14 hours a day from October 27th to November 7th on account of festive season (Diwali).
The budget has come with recommendations which will positively impact the retail sector. An increase in the personal income tax limit will create disposable income in the hands of the consumer while the single window clearance facility for smaller businesses will be an added impetus for the industry.
The budget’s emphasis on improving rural internet and broadband connectivity will enable an increased market size for retailers and improve overall consumption story for the country.
Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSA) regulations required the Food Business Operators (FBOs) to file annual returns within 31st May of every year for the period April 1st to March 31st. The regulation further adds that a separate return shall be filed for every license issued under the Regulations, irrespective of whether the same Food Business Operator holds more than one license and any delay in filing return beyond 31st May of each year shall attract a penalty of Rs 100 per day of delay.
RAI had submitted a representation to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) contending that retailers should be excluded from this regulation as they sell hundreds of food SKUs bought from numerous vendors across large geographical area and the process of filing a separate return for each license would be tedious. FSSAI agreed to our request and verbally confirmed that retailers, traders, restaurants and distributors need not comply with the said regulation.
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had issued a notification that plastic carry bags are required to be charged at the rate of Rs. 15 per bag irrespective of the size. RAI submitted a representation to PMC contending that Rs. 15 is an exorbitant rate and way above Rs.2 - Rs. 5 per plastic bag as given by other Municipal Corporations.
Charging this high amount will attract resistance from customers and retailers may face a drop in the foot fall. Moreover, it involves many operational and implementation challenges for the retailers as the plastic bag charges differ for every Municipal Corporation limit. In this regard, RAI representatives met the PMC Commissioner. The commissioner suggested to express our concern to the Mayor of Pune. The Mayor’s office, if convinced, will direct the PMC to reduce the plastic bag rate
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