The city’s food safety watchdog yesterday issued a series of measures to encourage new dining business models and further cut licensing red tape.

District market and food authorities are ordered to pass along applications involving business models and techniques not covered by current regulations directly to the Shanghai Food and Drug Administration, according to a notice yesterday.

The administration will evaluate food-safety risks involved with such applicants and develop permit and management standards. It will also enhance guidance to district watchdogs and businesses.

Meanwhile, approval of food operation license applications or renewals not requiring on-site inspections will be given in seven working days, down from 20 working days previously, according to the notice.

In the first half, local authorities dealt with 1,781 food-safety cases involving fines and confiscations of 40.19 million yuan (US$5.97 million).