FSSAI Registration or License, whether the state licence or Central License, applies to every food business operator (FBO). Call us to know the applicability of FSSAI Registration or License to your food business.
If you are already dealing in food products, you must be aware of FSSAI, an acronym of India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority. You might have seen The Logo of FSSAI on all the food packets you buy. Wondering, what it is, or the registration or license required to start and run the food business. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a government regulator to ensure the availability of Safe, Wholesome and Hygienic food by the Food Business Operators (FBO). To achieve its objective, the FSSAI has laid down several rules and standards, and it ensures the compliances of the set standards through regular inspection of the food businesses/FBO. The FSSAI has categorised FBOs into different categories. These categories of FBOs are elaborated further in the following sections “Type of Food business operator”. “Food business operator” is a unique word in the food industry. That means a person by whom the business is carried on or owned and is responsible for ensuring the compliance of Food Safety And Standards Act, 2006, rules and regulations made thereunder.
FSSAI must have the data of the businesses who are dealing in the food to ensure compliance with the set standards by the FBO. Thus, every food business operator(FBO), whether small or large, needs to either register themselves with FSSAI or procure a licence before starting the food business or related enterprise. The food licenses are of two types one is a state license, and the other is a central license. The state license is provided by state authorities, whereas the central licensing unit of FSSAI controls the Central Licence.
It is essential to know whether the FBO needs just registration or a central/state licence for its business. Typically, all small food business operators who are not doing any manufacturing or processing and having an annual turnover of less than 12 lacs and are carrying business in one state only need to seek FSSAI Registration. In contrast, the Other food business operator needs to procure a licence. A detailed description of the eligibility is discussed in the eligibility section of this page.
Even NGOs involved in distribution of surplus food or Temples organising langar or bhandara,offering prashad need FSSAI License or Registration as per their eligibility criteria.
The Law: Section 31 of The Food Safety And Standards Act, 2006 provides for Licensing and registration of food business. Before starting a Food Business, every person is required to register itself or obtain the State or Central License under the FSSAI. The applicable regulation is the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation, 2011.
The Law: Section 31 of The Food Safety And Standards Act, 2006 provides for Licensing and registration of food business. Before starting a Food Business, every person is required to register itself or obtain the State or Central License under the FSSAI. The applicable regulation is the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation, 2011.
FoSCoS: Recently, FSSAI has launched a Food Safety and Compliance System (FoSCoS) to replace the earlier Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS). Food Safety and Compliance System (FoSCoS) is a cloud-based, upgraded new food safety compliance online platform. FoSCoS will be one point platform that will enable the across-the-country data-driven regulatory approach. FoSCoS will be offering licensing, registration, inspection, and annual return modules. The said system is launched with the view of One Nation, One Food Law, the benefits of a centralized law, rules, and regulation, are as under:
Term & Renewal: The FSSAI Registration or the Licence is location specific and is term bound. FBO could apply for registration or license at a particular location for a term of one year to five years, depending upon the choice. The government for FSSAI Registration or License will vary as per the term chosen by the FBO while making the relevant application. As the FSSAI Registration or License is valid only until the term for which it is granted, the renewal application must be filed before the expiry of the validity. If the renewal is not done within the time, the applicants need to file a new application for registration or license for its food business. Further, the FBO engaged in Manufacturing and Importing of Food Products needs to file Return(S) with FSSAI regarding each class of food products handled by such FBO during the previous financial year.
