September 13, 2026

Section 69 – Food Safety and Standards Act: Power to Compound Offences

The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 — back to Table of Contents

Section 69. Power to compound offences

The Commissioner of Food Safety may, by order, empower the Designated Officer to accept from petty manufacturers who themselves manufacture and sell food, retailers, hawkers, itinerant vendors, and temporary stall holders reasonably believed to have committed an offence or contravention, payment of a sum of money by way of composition of the suspected offence.

On such payment, the suspected person, if in custody, shall be discharged and no further proceedings in respect of that offence shall be taken against them.

The sum accepted or agreed to be accepted as composition shall not exceed one lakh rupees, with due regard to the guidelines specified in Section 49. No offence for which imprisonment has been prescribed under this Act may be compounded.