Introduction

FSSAI stands for the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India which is an Apex organization that controls and oversees the food business in India. It is an autonomous body that is established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.

The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act) which is a consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India. It ensures the food products undergo quality checks thereby curtailing food adulteration, malpractices, and the sale of sub-standard products in the market. It also ensures the quality of the food products. It is the body responsible for the registering and licensing of the Food Business Operators (FBO) in India and it lays down the rules and regulations for operating the food business in India.

FSSAI Registration:-

Every food business operator (FBO) who is involved in the manufacturing, storage distribution, processing & sale of food products must obtain the FSSAI License or Registration.

The FSSAI Registration & License is a 14-digit number provided by the FSSAI Department in India and printed on all food packages. The 14-digit FSSAI number gives the details of the assembling state and producer’s permit. A consumer in the market can check the details of the Food Business Operator (FBO) and whether the firm/company has an FSSAI license and registration number.

Food Business Operators (FBO) Who Require FSSAI Registration:- 

The FBOs carrying on the following kinds of business are required to obtain an FSSAI Registration / License:-

• Petty retailers and retail shops such as Snacks shops, small shops, Bakery/Confectionary shops, etc.
• Street food vendors like Gol Gappa Stalls, Chat stalls, Fruit/vegetable vendors, Dhaba, small restaurants, Samosa stalls, Chinese food stalls, etc.
• Hawkers sell packaged food or prepared foods by travelling.
• Meat and Fish Selling Vendors.
• Vegetable oil processing units.
• Exporters/importers of food products.
• Nutraceutical/Health Supplement manufacturer.
• Cold / Refrigerated Storage Facility.
• Wholesaler, Retailer, Supplier, Distributor, and Marketer of food products.
• Food vending agencies and caterers.
• E-commerce food suppliers including the cloud kitchen.
• Hotels, Restaurants, and Bars.
• Transporter of food products has a number of specialized vehicles like milk tankers, food wagons, food trucks, etc.
• Proprietary or Novel Food.

The type of FSSAI License / Registration required by the kind of Food business operator (FBO) depends on their eligibility criteria.

Types of FSSAI Registration:-

FSSAI Registration depends on the business type, turnover, and capacity of production. Depending upon the installed capacity of production and turnover, the FSSAI Registration is divided into three parts i.e. Basic registration, State license and Central license.

• Basic Registration: - If the turnover of a Food Business Operator (FBO) is up to 12 lahks per annum. The applicant can get the FSSAI Basic Registration by filing Form A.
• FSSAI State License: - If the turnover of a Food Business Operator (FBO) is above 12 lacks and less than 20 crores per annum. The applicant can get the FSSAI State License by filing Form B.
• FSSAI Central License: - If the turnover of a Food Business Operator (FBO) is above 20 crore, operates an E-commerce website, do export/import, then it is eligible for FSSAI Central License. 

Procedure for Obtaining FSSAI Registration Online:- 

• The applicant first needs to create login credentials on the FOSCOS online portal. After that the applicant has to select the Food Business Operator (FBO) category according to his business. Example: - Retailer, General Manufacturer, Exporter/Importer etc.
• Fill the application form with correct information of the Firm/Company like registered address, correspondence address, details of the authorized signatory/owner, etc.
• After filing all the mandatory information, attach the documents and pay the government license fees.
• After submission of the application, the FSSAI Department will scrutinize the documents attached and the information filed. If they find everything okay, the department will issue the license. If the department reverts back the application, then the applicant needs to correct the document and re-attach the document.

Fees for FSSAI Registration:-

• Government fees for FSSAI Basic Registration is Rs/- 100 per year.
• Government fees for an FSSAI State license is Rs/- 2,000 per year.
• Government fees for FSSAI Central License is Rs/- 7,500 per year.

Documents Required for FSSAI Registration:-

FSSAI Basic Registration:-

• Photo of the applicant.
• Rent agreement / Electricity bill.
• Self-signed Aadhar card of the applicant.

FSSAI State License:-

• Rent agreement / Electricity bill.
• FSMS Plan
• FSSAI Recall plan.
• Form IX.
• List of proprietor/partner/director.
• Authorized Letter.
• Photos of business premises. (For manufacturers).
• List of machinery. (For manufacturers).
• Water analysis Report (For manufacturers).
• Water analysis report (For manufacturers).

FSSAI Central License:-

• Rent agreement / Electricity bill.
• FSMS Plan
• FSSAI Recall plan.
• Form IX.
• List of proprietor/partner/director.
• Authorized Letter.
• Photos of business premises. (For manufacturers).
• List of machinery. (For manufacturers).
• Water analysis Report (For manufacturers).
• Water analysis report (For manufacturers).

Reasons for taking FSSAI registration:-

• All the Food Business Operator (FBO) must take FSSAI License or Registration to serve quality food items to the consumers in the market to ensure the safety of the public.
• There are a lot of poor-quality food items being sold by a lot of companies. To know whether a company sell good quality food, a consumer can check the 14 digit of FSSAI license number on the portal. The FSSAI License gives consumer confidence and hence leads to brand loyalty.
• Companies and government also prefer to purchase food items from a trusted company and FSSAI license can give the confidence to the clients that the respective Food Business Operator (FBO) ensures the good quality of food items.
• Non-compliance of FSSAI License leads to penalties and jail term for the management of the company. Hence a company must take FSSAI License.
• FSSAI License will ensure the standardization of the food items being sold in the market and will ensure the quality of food items.