``The government sought to have a stricter control over the industry and therefore, the draft Delhi PFA rules, 1998, renders the state food (health) authority absolute power to prohibit sale or manufacture of any food item,'' ministry sources said.

Apart from having provisions for closer monitoring, the draft rules, which are being reviewed by the apex industry chambers, propose an increase in the licence fees and fees for analysis of food articles in the government laboratories, they said.

The licence fees have been proposed to be raised to a maximum of Rs 8,000 per annum for roller flour mills, sugar mills and alcoholic beverages (except toddy) manufacturers, sources said, adding the fees for small retailers as hawkers, trolley-sellers, temporary stalls andweekly bazars have also been raised in the draft.

The Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), which was delegated with formalising recommendations of the food industry on the new rules, said the industry representatives had called for a revision in the rates, particularly for the small scale items and retailers.

``The licence fees for five star hotels have been kept at par with the manufacture of atta, maida and suji,''CII sources said voicing the industry's resentment on such discriminate rates proposed by the government.

About 20 food and beverage manufacturers have demanded the licence fees be in line with the nature of the business and quality of services rendered by the government.

However, increase in the fees for high-priced products and outlets like hotels, air-conditioned restaurants and banquet halls were not substantial, cii sources said, adding there was not much opposition from large-scale manufacturers and distributors like pepsi-foods, campa beverages and nirulas against the proposedfees.

The new draft rules, currently under scrutiny by the Central Committee on Food Standards (CCFS) under the union health ministry, also proposed strict adherence to proper labelling and packaging of the products.

Asked if tabling the draft PFA rules was a follow-up action by the government after the recent dropsy epidemic in the capital, ministry sources said the initiative was long due to give the state food (health) authority specific powers which were not covered by the central government.

In case of any disputable decisions taken by the state authority, the draft rules said appeals against the decision shall lie with the government whose decision shall be final, sources added.