Hyderabad food safety officials clarify suspension rules after restaurant owners meet commissioner

Hyderabad food safety authorities have clarified that only a small number of eateries faced suspension during recent inspections, while most received notices to improve their standards.

Delegation Meeting

Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs Commissioner Avinash Mohanty met with a delegation of restaurant owners on Monday, November 9, 2026. Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi led the delegation, which included representatives from prominent establishments like Hotel Nayaab, Pista House, Grand Hotel, Shah Ghouse, Sohail Hotel, Hotel Shadab, Imperial, and Rumaan. The owners asked that eateries be given improvement notices and adequate time to fix problems before authorities resort to suspension.

Official Stance

Mr. Mohanty explained that field officers follow uniform guidelines to decide whether to issue an improvement notice, a show-cause notice, or a suspension order based on how severe the violation is. He stated that suspension is only used when violations pose an extremely serious food safety hazard. He also pointed out that the hygiene rules under Schedule IV of the Food Safety and Standards Regulations have been in force since 2011 and are not new.

Context

Food safety inspections in major Indian cities often spark discussions between regulatory bodies and business owners over the balance between public health and fair enforcement. Authorities rely on established legal frameworks like the Food Safety and Standards Act to conduct these routine checks.