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Food Safety And Standards Authority Of India Licence

The food and food products industry has witnessed tremendous growth in the recent 5 years. More players have entered the market which makes it necessary to have a strict control mechanism to ensure food safety. The Food Safety and Standards Authority is the supreme authority governing the best practices in the food industry by regulating through registration and licensing. Let us understand how the FSSAI licence operates.

Governing Act

  • Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
  • Food Safety and Standards (Licencing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations,2011

Who Should Get A FSSAI Licence?

Manufacturers

Dairy products, vegetable oil, meat products, novel food products and all processing units and repackers

Traders or dealers

Storing, wholesaling, retailing, distributing, transporting, supplying and marketing and food vending agencies.

Small businesses

Food services like snacks, tea shops petty retailers, hawkers, restaurants, clubs, canteens, caterers, mid-day meal providers, e-commerce food supplies, cloud kitchens

Central Government

Food catering, storage, wholesale, distribution and retail sale of food products to units under Central Government agencies.

Also Read: Types of loans for the food and beverage industry

Eligibility For A FSSAI Licence

For Small businesses - FSSAI Registration Certificate

  • Annual turnover not exceeding Rs 12 lakhs
  • Production capacity - 100 litres or kgs per day for food products, 500 litres for milk products
  • Slaughtering houses - 2 large animals or 10 small animals, 50 poultry birds per day
  • Governance And Compliances For FSSAI Licence

For Other Food Business Operators - FSSAI Licence

Annual Turnover

Size

Licence

Exceeding Rs 12 lakhs not exceeding Rs 20 crores

Medium FBO

State

More than Rs 20 crores

Large FBO

Central

Documentation Required For A FSSAI Licence

Proof of identity

Aadhar card, PAN card, Voter ID of the authorised signatories

Proof of address for business

Certificate of incorporation, property tax, latest utility bills

Kind of Business (KoB) wise documentation

There is detailed documentation for each type of business and product. Refer notification dated 19th March 2021 issued by FSSAI. Also refer circulars and notifications in the FSSAI website for updates.

Compliances and Guidelines

  • Usage of food additives
  • Handling of contaminants and toxic substances
  • Usage of pesticides, drugs and harmful chemicals
  • Ban on genetically modified foods
  • Labelling clearly mentioning the ingredients

Benefits Of Getting A FSSAI Licence

  • Legally recognised
  • Assurance of quality
  • Promotes excellence in quality manufacturing practices
  • Increased consumer awareness
  • Easy funding

How To Get A FSSAI Licence or Registration?

Through website

  • Visit the official food safety compliance system of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India called as FoSCoS.
  • Scroll down the page. Click on the “Apply licence/Registration” yellow icon and again on the red icon on the redirected page.
  • Enter the state where the production premises will be located.
  • Select the category of business - manufacturer, trader, food service, central government agencies and the relevant food products you want to register.
  • The general categories of food products that can be registered are dairy products, vegetable oil, meat products, novel food products, catering, storage, transportation, distribution, petty food business operators, and food service to central government agencies.
  • Select the place of the registered office if you want to operate in more than one place with the same business name.
  • Select the number of years you want to apply for.
  • Enter the communication details, business registration details and upload all the required supporting documents.
  • Click on “Proceed” after you add all the details.
  • Pay the requisite fee either online or through a treasury challan and submit the application.
  • Your User ID is a 17 digit reference number which you can use for future reference.

Through Mobile App

  • The “Food Safety Connect” application can be downloaded from Google Play store also
  • The details to be entered are the same as that of an online application.
  • The only difference is you will be required to create a password for logging into the mobile application. The user id is the 17 digit reference id generated.
  • Submit the OTP from your mobile number and email.
  • You will receive a notification that sign up is successful. Once a licence is issued user id will be the licence number.
  • Upload all the necessary supporting documents.
  • Preview the application form.
  • Pay the required application fee.
  • Submit the application fee

Offline

You can visit the FSSAI office in your state and submit an application and the supporting documents in Form A for licence and Form B for registration.

Approval Process For FSSAI Licence

  • The licensing authority of the state will scrutinise the documents. He will raise queries as and when required.
  • You should check the FoSCoS portal frequently to ensure the queries are answered within 30 days.
  • The authority will physically inspect the premises if necessary.
  • The FSSAI licence or registration certificate with an embedded QR code will be issued to the applicant via email and also available in the FoSCos portal.
  • No hardcopy of certificate or licence is issued.

Fees Structure For FSSAI Licence and Registration

Type

Central licence (1 year)

Registration (1 year)

Railways

New

Rs 7,500

Rs 100

Rs 2,000

Renewal

Rs 7,500

Rs 100

Rs 2,000

Certificate modification

Rs 7,500

Rs 100

Rs 2,000

Duplicate licence or certificate

10% of the licence fee

10% of the certificate fee

10% of the certificate fee

Validity Of FSSAI Licence

You can apply for a FSSAI licence for 1 to 5 years. The licence can be renewed 180 days prior to the date of expiry.

Conclusion

A FSSAI licence can be a great value addition to your food business. It indirectly inculcates quality manufacturing and selling practices. The process of getting a FSSAI licence and the governance is largely simplified. The authority gives a complete support system not only to the consumers but also to the licence holders. It is also to be noted that the contravention of food and safety regulations is a serious offence.

FAQs of FSSAI license

1. What are all the broad categories of products that require a FSSAI licence?

Dairy units, vegetable oil and processing units, meat processing and slaughtering units, fish and fish products, food or health supplements, general manufacturing, proprietary food, non-specified food and food ingredients, additive substances, radiation processing, etc.

2. What is the time taken to get a FSSAI licence?

The turnaround around time is 15 to 30 days from the date of application.

3. What is the penalty for not holding a FSSAI licence?

Any eligible food business operator without holding a valid FSSAI licence shall be fined up to Rs 5 lakhs and get an imprisonment up to 6 months.

4. What are all the areas of governance of a FSSAI licence?

Food safety and manufacturing protocols, guidelines for labelling, packaging and reselling, usage of quality ingredients, hygiene and maintenance of manufacturing and selling premises etc.

5. Can I transfer my FSSAI licence?

Yes you can transfer your FSSAI licence only in case of death of the owner.

1. Log in to FoSCoS.

2. Click on apply for surrender or transfer of licence.

3. You will see the list of licences.

4. Click on “Transfer”.

5. Enter the mandatory details like death certificate, legal heir certificate and remarks for transfer.

6. Submit the transfer application form.

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