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Chapter X - Adjudication and Food Safety Appellate Tribunal

Section 69

Section 69: Power to compound offences

The Commissioner may empower a Designated Officer to compound eligible petty-operator contraventions.

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This article is for general information. Refer to the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 official text for the official provisions. If you need professional advice for your situation, contact Bizeneed.

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Statutory text

Bare law

The Commissioner of Food Safety may, by order, empower the Designated Officer, to accept from petty manufacturers who himself manufacture and sell any article of food, retailers, hawkers, itinerant vendors, temporary stall holders against whom a reasonable belief exists that he has committed an offence or contravention against this Act, payment of a sum of money by way of composition of the offence which such person is suspected to have committed.

(2) On the payment of such sum of money to such officer, the suspected person, if in custody, shall be discharged and no further proceedings in respect of the offence shall be taken against such person.

(3) The sum of money accepted or agreed to be accepted as composition under sub section (1), shall not be more than one lakh rupees and due regard shall be made to the guidelines specified in section 49: Provided that no offence, for which punishment of imprisonment has been prescribed under this Act, shall be compounded.

Key takeaways

1

Core rule

The Commissioner may empower a Designated Officer to compound eligible petty-operator contraventions.

2

Practical check

Confirm the Commissioner’s empowerment order, person’s category, offence and amount before treating payment as ending proceedings.

Scope and operation

Composition is available to listed petty manufacturers and sellers, retailers, hawkers, itinerant vendors and temporary stall holders, up to one lakh rupees; offences carrying imprisonment cannot be compounded.

Applying the section

Confirm the Commissioner’s empowerment order, person’s category, offence and amount before treating payment as ending proceedings.

Official sources

Read the consolidated Act with the enacted and commenced amendments applicable to this section.

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Last updated 10 October 2026