Description
FSSAI License and Registration
FSSAI License or FSSAI Registration in India is mandatory for starting a food or related business. The FSSAI License is issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority Act,2006. The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India and the State Food Authorities are jointly responsible for implementing the FSAI rules. The FSSAI is responsible for registering and licensing the Food business operators and also lays the rules and regulation for running any food or related business in India.
The FSSAI acts to secure the law for food and relevant business by establishing standards for food to control the manufacturing of food.
What is FSSAI?
FSSAI – Food Safety and Standard Authority of India is an autonomous body that is established under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Government of India. FSSAI License is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation.
Who needs the FSSAI License/ Registration in India?
- Petty retailers, retail shops, snacks shops, confectionery or the Bakery Shop, etc.
- Temporary stalls, or food premises that are involved in the preparation, distribution, storage, and sale of food products.
- Hawkers who sell packed or freshly prepared food.
- Dairy units like milk chilling units, petty milkman, and the milk vendors.
- Vegetable oil processing units.
- Slaughterhouse like meat shop, mutton shop, chicken shop, lamb meat shop.
- Meat and Fish processing units.
- All food manufacturing and processing units include the repacking of food.
- Proprietary and novel food.
- Cold store facility.
- Transporter of food products that have several specialized vehicles like the insulated refrigerated van/wagon, milk tanker, food wagon, food trucks.
- Any wholesaler, supplier, distributor, and marketer of food products.
- Hotels, Restaurants, and Bars.
- Dhaba, Banquet halls with food catering, home-based food services and
- food stalls in fairs or other religious places.
- Importers and the Exporters of Food.
- And cloud kitchens.
Who can obtain FSSAI License?
All Food Business operators including small-scale businesses need to obtain the FSSAI license. Based on the size of the business they can opt for central, state, or basic license.
Large Food manufacturers, importers, exporters who are dealing in the large-scale food business are required to obtain the FSSAI Registration in India from the central government. Whereas the small and medium-sized business units, transporter, marketers, traders need to ap[ply for the state license with the state government.
Manufacturing units with a capacity of 2 MT per day, dairy units that handle up to 5000 liters per day. Repacking, relabelling units, canteens, catering businesses irrespective of the turnover need to apply for FSSAI state License in India.
All importers and exporters irrespective of the turnover need to need to apply for the central license. Any Food Business operator that is exceeding the 20 crore limit and wants to operate in two or more states needs to get FSSAI central license in India.
Note: With the recently introduced changes a person with Basic FSSAI License can apply for the State or Central License with the same registration number, there is no need to make a separate application for it.
Types of FSSAI License
- FSSAI Basic License
- FSSAI State License
- FSSAI Central License
Basic License- Basic License is necessary if the annual turnover is less than Rs.12 lakh.
State License- State License should be obtained when the annual turnover is between 12-20 crores. In case of repacking, relabelling business irrespective of the turnover the business should obtain a State license.
Central License- If the annual turnover is above 20 crores then the food business must apply for a Central license.
Based on the annual turnover a food business operator has to get the FSSAI License. Hence, one should obtain FSSAI License before commencing with the business as there are certain penalties and legal charges as the FSSAI rules have become stringent.
Who can obtain FSSAI Registration?
- Any Food Business Operator who does not have an annual turnover of less than Rs.20 lakh.
- A petty retailer who deals with food products.
- Any person who is manufacturing or selling any food article by himself
- Food sale on temporary stalls
- Any individual who is distributing food at a religious or social gathering ( excluding caterer)
- Small scale cottage industry in the food business with the following capacity.
| Proprietorship | Business | Capacity |
| 1 | Food Production Capacity ( other than milk and meat) | Up to 100/kg ltr per day |
| 2 | Procuring handling and collecting milk | Up to 500 ltr per day |
| 3 | Slaughtering | 2 larger animals or 10 small animals |
Documents Required for FSSAI Registration
FSSAI Registration in India is mostly applicable for petty food retailers and the procedure for obtaining the FSSAI Registration is very simple. The documents for FSSAI Registration are
- Photo of Food Business Operator.
- Identity Proof like the Ration Card, Voter ID, PAN Card, driving license, Passport, Aadhar Card, Senior Citizen Card.
- Supporting documents if there are any like the NOC by municipality or panchayat, Health NOC.
Documents required for licensing
| Documents | Central | State |
| Form- B completed and signed by the Proprietor or Partner or Authorized Signatory. | In duplicate | Yes |
| Blueprint/layout of the processing unit showing the dimensions and operation-wise area allocation (Mandatory for manufacturing, processing units as well as repackers and relabellers). | Yes | Yes |
| List of Directors / Partner / Proprietor / Executive Members of Society / Trust with full address and contact details (Mandatory for Companies only). | Yes | Yes |
| Name and list of equipment and machinery along with the number, installed capacity, and horsepower used (mandatory for manufacturing and processing units only) | Yes | Yes |
| Identity and address proof issued by Government authorities for proprietor, partner, director(s), or authorized signatory | Yes | Yes |
| List of food categories desired to be manufactured. (In case of manufacturers) | Yes | Yes |
| Authority letter with name and address, the responsible person, nominated by the manufacturer along with alternative responsible person indicating the powers vested with them viz assisting the officers in inspections, collection of samples, packing & dispatch (for manufacturers or processors) | Yes | Yes |
| Analysis report (Chemical & Bacteriological) of water to be used as an ingredient in food from a recognized or public health laboratory to confirm the portability (mandatory only for manufacturing and processing units) | Yes | Yes |
| Proof of possession of premises. (sale deed, rent agreement or electricity bill, etc.) | Yes | Yes |
| Partnership Deed or Declaration for Proprietorship or MOA & AOA along with Certificate of Incorporation and List of Directors with the address. | Yes (optional) | Yes |
| Copy of certificate obtained under Coop Act – 1861 / Multi-State Coop Act – 2002 | In the case of Cooperatives | If applicable |
| NOC & Copy of License from the manufacturer (Mandatory for Relabellers and Repackers). | Yes | Yes |
| Food Safety Management System Plan or certificate. | Yes | If any |
| Source of milk or procurement plan for milk, including the location of milk collection centers in case of milk and milk products processing units | In the case of milk and milk products processing | If applicable |
| Pesticide residues report of water in units manufacturing packaged drinking water, packaged mineral water, and carbonated water from a recognized / public health laboratory. | Yes | Yes |
| Recall plan wherever applicable. | Yes | With details on whom the product is distributed |
| NOC from Municipality or Local Body (optional). | Yes | If applicable |
| Form IX: Nomination of persons by a company along with the board resolution | Yes | Yes |
| Certificate provided by the Ministry of Tourism (HRACC). | Yes | Yes |
| For transporters – Self-declaration of the number of vehicles. | Yes | Yes |
| Declaration form – For Delhi or Himachal Pradesh. | If IEC issued by DGFT | FSSAI declaration form |
What is the procedure for obtaining FSSAI Licensing / Requirement?
FSSAI Registration is done by submitting Form A (an application for registration) or Form B ( application for state and Central License) to the Food and Safety Department or by applying on the FoSCoS portal.
The application has to be accompanied by the required documents, it has to be submitted to the Food and Safety Department or uploaded online on the FoSCoS Portal while filling the application.
This application may be accepted or rejected by the department within 7 days from the application and the rejection is intimated to the applicant in writing
Suppose is apology is accepted then the department will have to grant a registration certificate with the registration number and the applicant’s photo.
Food Business Operator needs to prominently display the certificate of registration at the principal place of business during business hours.
All the common documents required for Basic, State, and Central Registration are passport size photos, a photo Id proof.
What are the benefits of obtaining an FSSAI License/registration?
After getting an FSSAI License/Registration the food business gets legal benefits, builds goodwill, ensures food safety, creates consumer awareness, and also helps in assisting the business expansion. Also, it helps in regulating the manufacture, storage, distribution, as well as sale of imported food.
Penalties and Offences for Non-compliance
Punishment for carrying a business without the FSSAI License
In case a person or a food business operator himself who is supposed to obtain the License manufactures, sells, stores or distributes, or imports any article for food without a license then it is a punishable offense with imprisonment for six months and a fine of Rs 5 lakh.
Penalties for False advertisement
Any person who publishes or is a party to the publication of an advertisement that:
- Falsely describes the food or
- Is likely to mislead as to the nature or substance or quality of any food or false guarantee then shall be liable to a penalty which can be extended to ten lakh rupees.
How to renew the FSSAI License?
The FSSAI License in India is very essential to commence with the food business as the validity of the business is for 1 to 5 years the business must apply for renewal 30 days before the expiry of the current license.
FSSAI Registration Plans
All Inclusive Pricing – No Hidden Fee
General questions
IEC stands for Import Export Code. It is required for any person importing or exporting goods and services to or from India.
Any person who proposes to import or export goods and services from or to India must obtain IEC.
Returns need NOT be filed for IE Code.
IEC is not a mandatory registration, only importers and exporters of goods or services must have IE Code. Therefore, there is no penalty for not having IE Code; however, import / export will not be possible without an IE Code.
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