FSSAI Registration (Food License)

The FSSAI was established as an independent food licensing and regulatory body by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. It was established in August 2011 in accordance with the terms of the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006.

The FSSAI licence, also known as the Food License, is one of the mandatory permits required to start a food venture and is obtained through the FSSAI Registration (Food Safety and Standard Authority of India) .

Anybody working in the food industry must register with the FSSAI. To operate the food business, one must obtain an FSSAI registration, regardless of whether the business is in processing, producing, packaging, distributing, or selling food.

FSSAI Registration provides with a 14-digit unique registration number to all enterprises involved in the food industry, including producers, traders, restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, importers, exporters, in-house food enterprises, dairy farms, processors, retailers, and online merchants. This FSSAI registration number should be printed on all the packaging material and should also be displayed on the premises of the food outlet.

The FSSAI License is entrusted with safeguarding and promoting public health through the regulation and oversight of food safety

Advantages of FSSAI Registration

Advantages	Description
Customer Trust	It will provide better service and safeguard clients from unwholesome and tainted food supplies, thereby retaining consumer trust
Government recognition	FSSAI registration is acknowledged by the Government of India, resulting into authentication of business and the product.
Business Expansion	The FSSAI licence will provide more flexibility and business expnsion arena.
FSSAI logo	The FSSAI mark will typically increase consumer trust in the products by demonstrating its reliability.
Legal benefits	FSSAI Accreditation will increase the likelihood of legal enforcement, provide the department more authority,
Brand Value	Once the business acquires FSSAI license, it’s brand value would increase significantly.

Who needs to obtain FSSAI license?

Each and every food business operator (FBO) who engages in the production, handling, distribution, and sale of food items is required to obtain an FSSAI Registration/License.

FSSAI Registration provides with a 14-digit unique registration number to all enterprises involved in the food industry, including producers, traders, restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, importers, exporters, in-house food enterprises, dairy farms, processors, retailers, and online merchants.

The 14-digit registration number contains the information regarding the producer’s permit and the assembling state of the product. This aims to increase the FBO's accountability for maintaining the quality of the food products. The Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, govern the licensing and registration process and standards.

An FSSAI Registration/License is mandatory for food business operators (FBOs) operating the following types of businesses:

• Food vendors that move from one site to another while selling packaged or fresh prepared meals (often on foot or in mobile carts).
• Small-scale retailers and retail establishments, including stores for snacks, confectionaries, baked goods, etc.
• Temporary stalls, permanent stalls, or food establishments engaged in the preparation, distribution, storage, and sale of food products, such as Samosa stalls, bread pakoda stalls, South Indian food stalls, sweet stalls, juice outlets, sellers of fruits and vegetables, chat, gol gappa, tea, snacks, etc.
• Dairy businesses such as Milk chilling units, ice-cream parlours, milk vendors, etc.
• Units for processing vegetable oil
• Meat & Fish processing units
• All sorts of slaughtering houses such as meat, chicken, mutton shops, etc.
• Food packaging units
• Hotels, Bars and restaurants
• Food vending units and catering units
• PG’s that provide food, tiffin services, Banquet halls providing food services

Each of the above-mentioned food business operators would require a specific kind of FSSAI license depending upon their eligibility criteria.

Types of FSSAI Registration/ License

FSSAI Registration/ License to be acquired depends upon the type of business, its turnover, and the production capacity of the unit. Depending upon the eligibility criteria FBOs ( Food Business Operators) can apply for Central License/ State License / Basic Registration.

• 1. Central FSSAI license: Food business operators having a turnover of above INR 20 crore per annum need to obtain a Central FSSAI license. In order to apply for the Central FSSAI license, Form-B should be filed.( For large Food Business Operators)
• 2. State FSSAI license: Food business operators having a turnover of above INR 12 Lakh and less than INR 20 crore per annum need to obtain a Central FSSAI license. In order to apply for the Central FSSAI license, Form-B should be filed.( For Medium Food Business Operators)
• 3. Basic Registration: Food business operators having turnover below INR 12 Lakhs per annum need to obtain a Central FSSAI license. In order to apply for the Central FSSAI license, Form-A should be filed.( For Small Food Business Operators)

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR FSSAI REGISTRATION:

The following documents are required for obtaining basic/ state/ Central FSSAI Registration/ License i.e.,

• PAN Card of the Food business operator
• Self-attested passport-sized photographs of the Food Business operator
• Business incorporation certificate/ Partnership Deed
• Address proof of the business premises (electricity bill/ water bill/ utility bill)
• NOC from the landlord if rented premises
• Property papers (If own property)
• Food safety management plan
• Layout of the premises
• List of food products produced
• List of equipment and machinery used
• Bank account details
• Report of water quality test
• If required, supporting documents such as NOC from the Panchayat/ Municipality.

For getting the FSSAI state license and FSSAI central license, additional specific documents must be submitted in addition to the ones mentioned above i.e.,

• Layout of the processing/ manufacturing unit demonstrating the dimensions and operation-wise area allocated to it.
• List of all the equipment used for the processing along with their number and capacity
• Name and Identity proof of all the Directors/ Partners/ Proprietors along with their address and contact details.
• A copy of the license/ certificate obtained via Multi-State Cooperative Act, 2002/ Cooperative Act 1861.

Besides these documents, in order to receive a Central FSSAI license few more documents are required such as

• Water quality test report
• Source of raw material procurement list
• For 100% Export oriented units, and a copy of the certificate issued by the Ministry of Commerce would be required.
• Import Export Code (IEC) issued by the DGFT
• Form-IX
• Proof of turnover
• Self-declaration form

Fee for application of FSSAI Registration:

• Fee for FSSAI Central License Registration is INR 7,500
• Fee for FSSAI state License Registration rages between INR 2,500 to INR 5000 depending upon the type of business unit.
• Fee application for Basic FSSAI Registration license is INR 100.

Procedure for FSSAI Registration:

• Step 1 log in to the FoSCos (Food Safety Compliance System) portal and fill the form-A (For basic FSSAI Registration) and Form-B(for Central and State FSSAI registration)
• Step 2. Food Business Operators can also submit Form-A or Form-B offline to the Food Safety Compliance department.
• Step 3. FSSAI Registration form must be accompanied by the submission of all the required documents or all the requisite documents should be physically attached if sending the form offline.
• Step 4. After receiving the application, the FoSCos department will verify the application along with the supporting documents.
• Step 5. Before issuing the FSSAI registration certificate, the Department may, if necessary, perform an inspection of the food premises.
• Step 6. The department will issue an FSSAI registration certificate with a registration number if it determines that the food business operator satisfies all of the necessary requirements.
• Step 7. After receiving the FSSAI Registration/ license number, the food business operator should display the FSSAI license number on the premises and on the packaging of the products.

Penalty for Non-Compliance:

If a food business operator (FBO) operates the business without registering with the FSSAI, then they may be sent to prison or pay a fine up to INR 5 lakhs or both.