Introduction
All the food business operators (FBO) need to acquire a food license from the Statutory Body Food Safety and Standards Authority of India(FSSAI). FBOs must ensure that food quality is maintained according to FSSAI rules and regulations.
For every Food Business Operator a FSSAI License or registration is mandatory also it depends on the management of the FBO and scope and limitations of the operations. The Operator will receive a 14-digit Registration number that must be marked on food items as part of the FSSAI registration Procedure.
The Food Authority of India (FDA) provides the FSSAI registration which acts as a Food Safety certificate. Also a Food License acts as a Legal document that allows a FBO to operate their business in India.
The FSSAI’s regulations
Among the important rules &Quality standards that the central FSSAI has implemented to ensure food safety and standards in India are-
- Regulations from 2011 on Food Safety and Standards (Licencing and Registration of Food Businesses): The process for applying for licences and registrations for food businesses in India is outlined in these regulations.
- Regulations for 2011’s Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling): To guarantee consumer safety, these regulations establish the requirements for food product packaging and labelling.
- Regulations governing food safety and standards (food additives and food products standards), 2011: To guarantee that they are safe for eating, these rules set the requirements for numerous food products and their additives.
- Regulations governing food safety and standards (contaminants, toxins, and residues), 2011: To safeguard the safety of food items, these regulations set maximum limits for pollutants, poisons, and residues.
Who needs to be FSSAI registered?
- FBOs with an annual turnover of less than Rs. 12 lakh per annum, between Rs. 12 lakh and Rs. 20 crores per annum, or greater than Rs. 20 crores per annum include wholesalers, distributors, suppliers, retailers, food vending businesses, hawkers, clubs, canteens, Dhabas, hotels, restaurants, and storage facilities.
- Small producers producing on their own food ingredients.
- A temporary market offering food items.
- Other than a caterer, businesses that offer meals during social or religious gatherings.
- Home-based businesses/Food catering arrangements that produce food
- Units/Kinds of Business that produce or refine vegetable oil using the solvent extraction process and refineries that include an oil expeller system. with a maximum daily output of 100 kg/liter (without milk products or meat).
- Dairy unit which are involve in Milk procurement, collection, handling, and chilling dairy systems with a dairy products solids capacity of little more than 500 liters of milk per day or 2.5 metric tonnes
- Meat shops/Chicken shops: A maximum daily killing capacity of two large animals, ten small animals, or fifty fowl/birds per day/meat products/fish products.
- Units that produce and refine vegetable oil, like oil expellers, use the solvent extraction process. has an annual revenue range of Rs. 12 lakh to Rs lakhs to Rs 20 crores per annum.
- 5-Star Hotel /Restaurants within Hotels/Food premises with star ratings of four stars or more or more than five stars.
- Large Scale Food Businesses Storage facilities with annual capacities of less than 50,000 metric tonnes or greater than 50,000 metric tonnes.
- Caterers/Eating House License employed by the central government or linked organisations, such as the railroads, airlines, airports, seaports, and the military, etc.
- All food manufacturing and processing facilities, barring those that mill more than 2 metric tonnes of grains, pulses, or cereals per day, including re-packers.
- All FBOs/e-commerce food suppliers engaged in the production of a food product, additive, or ingredient, raw material employing a novel technique or combination of techniques whose safety has not yet been certified by the FSSAI. Or perhaps they don’t have a track record of safe usage.
Different FSSAI Licenses
Businesses that engage in food-related and proprietary food activities must apply for a food license, which comes in a variety of forms depending on the type of activity, the size of the business, and the revenue. Following are the several types of FSSAI food licenses-
- Basic Registration with FSSAI
Food business operators (FBOs) with small or new firms must register with the FSSAI. Their annual revenue is less than Rs. 12 lakh. - State FSSAI licence
The FBOs with medium-sized operations must have a State FSSAI License. They generate more than Rs. 12 lakh or up to Rs. 20 crores per annum in revenue each year. Depending on your company’s sale graph productivity, the state license may thereafter be upgraded to a central license. - FSSAI Central certification
For FBOs with a substantial business yearly revenue of more than Rs. 20 crores per annum, the Central FSSAI Licence is applicable. Additionally, it is necessary if you need to serve government facilities or import or export food items.
The application process for an FSSAI license is online and relatively straightforward. However, it is important to note that the specific requirements for each type of license vary. It is therefore important to carefully review the FSSAI website and regulations before applying for a license.
Obtaining FSSAI Registration Has Many Advantages
Consumer Sensitivity
A FSSAI licence offers the benefit of a dependable and devoted consumer base, which all FBOs must be aware of.
Legal Benefit
The regulatory authority oversees FSSAI Registration, and sanctions may be applied for any non-compliance.
FSSAI Symbols
The FSSAI logo serves as a seal of approval and a guarantee to your customers that the food is safe to eat.
Business Growth
A business will become available thanks to the Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS).
Functions of FSSAI
The many tasks connected to ensuring food safety and standards fall under the purview of the FSSAI. Some of the FSSAI’s primary duties include-
- Setting Standards: FSSAI establishes science-based standards for food items, including those related to their composition, quality, safety, and labelling. The criteria are established to guarantee that the products are safe food suitable for human consumption and satisfy their nutritional needs.
- Registration and licensing: The FSSAI supervises the food supply sector by giving registrations and licenses to food firms that adhere to the set criteria. All food enterprises in India are required to have licenses and registrations, and the FSSAI regularly inspects them to make sure they are compliant.
- Monitoring and Surveillance: To maintain the safety and quality of food items, FSSAI monitors and performs surveillance. Additionally, the organisation looks into complaints about food and takes appropriate measures against firms that don’t comply.
- Building Capacity: To help food firms, regulators, and other stakeholders better understand food safety and standards, FSSAI offers training and capacity building programmes.
Relevance of the FSSAI
In India, the FSSAI is essential for maintaining food safety and standards. Its policies and operations have contributed to a decrease in food-borne illnesses, food adulteration and an improvement in the general health of the populace. FSSAI encourages the creation of new goods that adhere to the established standards, which encourages innovation in the food business.
Registration Eligibility with FSSAI
- Operators of food businesses with yearly sales of more than Rs. 12 lakh
- applicants who solely sell food products
- SSIs operating in the food industry
- Food service providers who produce and sell their own food
How to obtain a food licence?
The FSSAI application can be submitted to the government directly. The procedure is drawn out and takes 60 days to complete-
Step 1. Complete the FSSAI licencing registration form A online and pay for your application at the FBO in your neighbourhood.
Step 2. You must submit Form B to the government as soon as the payment confirmation appears in your FSSAI account. You must submit numerous declarations and resolutions together with your application. For instance, a board decision or owner self-declaration. A business secretary should ideally prepare these declarations.
Step 3. The government department will then need to be contacted again for an update on your application. If you don’t reply within 15 days of receiving the application, the government may send your application back for revisions and will reject it.
Step 4. The government department will assess and approve your application in 45 to 60 working days.
Documents needed to apply for an FSSAI food licence
The following documents are required to apply for a food licence:
- PAN card of the business
- Aadhaar card of the proprietor/partner/director
- Address proof of the business premises
- Passport size photograph of the proprietor/partner/director
- Form FSSAI-A (Declaration by the FBO)
- Form FSSAI-B (Application for Registration or Licence)
- Other documents, depending on the type of food business
Duration of the FSSAI Licence
The FSSAI licence is valid for one to five years. A late fee of Rs. 100 must be paid Food business owners must submit an appeal for the renewal of the licence within 30 days and before it expires, per FSSAI guidelines. Each additional day that an FSSAI renewal application is received after the expiration date requires payment of a Rs. 100 late fee. Therefore, it is crucial for all food business owners to monitor and ensure that their FSSAI licence is current at all times.
License Number for FSSAI
Food business owners are required by FSSAI regulations to submit an appeal for the renewal of the license within 30 days of the license’s expiration date. A late fess of Rs.100 should be paid for many units, the manufacturer or packer, the brand owner’s license and the FSSAI’s Logo must be written on the food package’s label. The address of various units must be listed on the label with the FSSAI licensing number.
Name, Address, FSSAI Licensing Number and insignia must be clearly on display. These could be pre-printed on the label or placed with a sticker marking customs clearance.
As of Now FSSAI license number and logo are related to regulation 2.6.1 of Food and Safety Standards. The logo of FSSAI on a Food Product suggests that the FBO has license under the 2006 Food Safety and Standards Act.
Renewal of FSSAI Licensing
The granted current license has a one-year expiration date. It may be extended by the food regulating agency for a maximum of five years. the moment the license’s validity expires and the owner of the food business is required to renew their FSSAI license. To prevent fines, the FSSAI renewal procedure should be taken into consideration as soon as feasible. According to FSSAI’s published requirements, the food safety registration must be renewed within 30 days of the license expiring and before.
Documentation Required:
A declaration from the Proprietor or Director stating that they will abide by the most recent FSSAI Rules and Regulations Officials from the FSSAI will review the information provided on the application. They might even pay a visit, ask questions, and inspect the machinery and equipment. It will keep an eye on the effectiveness and continued relevance of the food safety management system to make sure it is still relevant. It will look into whether the forms’ documentation and information are legitimate.
If the inquiries made by the FSSAI authorities were successful. The FSSAI will renew your license after five years.
Non-Compliance
The FSSAI has given food safety official power to examine the working conditions and methods used by owners and employees.
After that, they use a checklist to assign a level based on how closely the food business adheres to the rules established by the Food Authority. The Official enters a level for the FBO based on the checklist as-
- Conformity (C),
- Conformity in part (PC),
- Failure to comply (NC), or
- Not observed/Not applicable (NA).
The Food Official may also publish an Improvement Notice outlining the areas or levels in need of improvement.
This show cause notice specifies a hearing date. By this date the FBO must demonstrate, supported by documentation proof, as why it was unable to carry out revisions.
Penalty for Failure to Comply
- Running a food business without obtaining an FSSAI certificate is illegal and is subject to punishment. For this, the FBO risked jail time and a fine of up to Rs. 5 lakh.
- Businesses that sell misbranded products, whether they do so directly or through agents acting on their behalf, may face fines of up to Rs. 3 lakh.
Depending on the circumstances, the punishment mentioned in the aforementioned points may change. Depending on the injury caused, the fine may go up to Rs. 5 lakh in extreme situations when death results from consuming the specific food item.
Conclusion
An FSSAI license is a mandatory requirement for all food businesses in India, regardless of size or turnover. Obtaining a food license is a mandatory business requirement for any food business in India. Applying for an FSSAI license for food enterprises in India has many advantages and it makes sure that a product is safe to consume
Its rules and duties have contributed to an improvement in the populace’s general health and wellbeing. As food enterprises, it is our duty to adhere to FSSAI standards and make sure that our clients receive safe, high-quality food items.
