What is Eligibility for FSSAI Licensing ?
FSSAI stands for the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, it is a statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, responsible for the regulation and supervision of food safety to guarantee safe and healthy food for consumers.
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Clients include Bidada Foods, Silvertip Foods, Good Food Innovations, Minimal Food, Alluring India Foods and Beverages, Auroras TEA Company, Ania Consumer Products, Ginger Foods Company, Magnalis Foods, ND Spices, Antara Assisted Care Services, Aggriveda Pharmaceutical (12 of 350+ served since 2018).
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- Food and consumer goods
- Bidada Foods · Silvertip Foods · Good Food Innovations · Minimal Food · Alluring India Foods and Beverages · Auroras TEA Company · Ania Consumer Products · Ginger Foods Company · Magnalis Foods · ND Spices
- Pharma and healthcare
- Antara Assisted Care Services · Aggriveda Pharmaceutical
- Logistics and trade
- Solankili Logistics Management · 23North Logistics Solutions
- Non-profits and education
- All India Hindu Mahajot Foundation · Manovikas Charitable Society
- More clients
- Cure and Care Wellness · Seven Turns · Akshamaala Solutions · Krisba Healthcare · Matha Exports International · Indo Gulf Company · Crescent Biologicals · Cura Consumer Health · Biolush · Cura Consumer · Ethics Prosperity · Rocking Deals · Subohi Agriparks · Aurous International Merchants · Anagh Traders · Shin Traders · Zexcorp Services · Aprodite Infotech · Grandmaz Organics · Instruments and Chemicals · Aaravbabbar Enterprises · DUA OLD Age Caring Institution · Goenka Scrapco · Prime Health
What is FSSAI?
FSSAI stands for the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, it is a statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, responsible for the regulation and supervision of food safety to guarantee safe and healthy food for consumers. Any person or entity involved in the manufacture, processing, storage, distribution or sale of foodstuffs in India, is required to secure a FSSAI Registration or Licensing, depending on the scale or type of its business. FSSAI licensing helps build trust with consumers and maintain food quality and safety standards across the country.
Why FSSAI Licensing is Important
FSSAI licensing is vital for any food business to guarantee the safety, quality and hygiene of food products being generated or sold. It forms trust with consumers and helps businesses function legally within India’s food safety framework.
- Legal Requirement: FSSAI registration is compulsory under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 for all food-related businesses in India.
- Consumer Trust: A valid FSSAI license ensures customers that the food is safe, hygienic, and fulfills quality standards.
- Brand Credibility: Licensed businesses gain more credibility and market recognition, helping build a solid brand image.
- Business Expansion: With FSSAI approval, it's easier to enlarge operations and enter new markets, comprising exports.
- Regulatory Protection: An FSSAI license safeguards businesses from legal penalties and helps in resolving food-related disputes efficiently.
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ELIGIBILITY AND LICENSING UNDER FSSAI
Eligibility Criteria for Central FSSAI License:
The below-mentioned businesses are required to obtain a Central FSSAI License:
- Dairy units and milk chilling units furnished to manage or process more than 50,000 liters of liquid milk per day or 2500 MT of milk solid per annum.
- Units processing Vegetable oil and producing vegetable oil by the process of solvent extraction and refineries including oil expeller unit processing more than 2 MT per day.
- Slaughtering units are managing more than 50 large animals or 150 small animals or more than 1000 poultry birds per day.
- Units processing Meat more than 500 kg of meat per day or 150 MT per annum.
All food processing units also re-labellers and re-packers processing more than 2 MT per day except grains, cereals and pulses milling units.
- All manufacturers of proprietary foods
- All 100% Export Oriented Units
- All imported food items including food ingredients and additives for commercial use
- Storing units other than those having a controlled atmosphere and cold environment have a capacity of more than 50,000 MT.
- The storage capacity of Cold or Refrigerated Storage is more than 10,000 MT.
- Controlled Atmosphere + Cold Storage having a capacity of more than 1,000 MT.
- Wholesalers with a turnover of more than Rs.30 crores per annum.
- Retailers are having turnover of more than Rs.20 crores per annum.
- Distributors are having turnover of more than Rs.20 crores per annum.
- Suppliers are having turnover of more than Rs.20 crores per annum.
- Caterers whose turnover is more than Rs.20 crores per annum.
- Hotels – Five Star & Above.
- Restaurants are having turnover of more than Rs.20 crores per annum.
- Transporters owing more than 100 vehicles or having turnover of more than Rs.30 crores per annum.
- Marketers are having turnover of more than Rs.20 crores per annum.
- Establishments giving food catering services and units under Central Government Agencies like Defence, etc.,
- Storage or Wholesalers or Retailers or Distributors having premises in Central Government Agencies.
- The Food caterers at seaports located at Kandla, Tuticorin, Vishakhapatnam, Kolkata, Marmagoa, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai, JNPT, and/or airport located at Kolkata, Trichy, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Amritsar, Cochin, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Trivandrum, and Ahmedabad.
Documents Required for Obtaining Central FSSAI License:
The documents to be submitted with the FSSAI for obtaining Central FSSAI License are as under:
- Form- B is complete in all respect and signed by the Proprietor/Partner/ Authorized Signatory.
- Layout plan of the processing unit displaying the dimensions and operation-wise area allocation (Mandatory for manufacturing and processing units only).
- List of Directors / Proprietor / Executive Members of Society / Trust/ Partner with full address and contact details (Mandatory for Companies only).
- List of equipment and machinery along with the number, installed capacity and horsepower used (Mandatory for manufacturing and processing units only).
- Identity and address proof issued by the Government for Proprietor / Partner / Director(s) / Authorized Signatory (Optional).
- List of desired food categories to be manufactured. (For manufacturers only).
- Authority letter with name & address of responsible person nominated by the manufacturer along with alternative responsible person indicating the powers vested with them viz assisting the officers in inspection, collection of samples, packing and dispatch. (For manufacturers and processors).
- Survey report (Bacterial & Chemical) of water to be used as an ingredient in food from a recognized / public health laboratory to confirm the portability. (Mandatory for manufacturing and processing units).
- Proof of possession of premises (Sale deed / Rental Agreement / Electricity Bill) (Optional).
- Declaration of Proprietorship or MOA & AOA or Partnership Deed with Certificate of Incorporation and List of Directors with the address. In case of the Company, mentioned pages must be uploaded: Certificate of Incorporation, Authorization of food business activity and List of Directors with addresses.
- Certificate (Copy) obtained under Coop Act – 1861 / Multi-State Coop Act – 2002 in case of Cooperatives. (If applicable).
- Copy of License and NOC from the manufacturer (Mandatory for Re-labellers and Re-packers).
- Food Safety Board System Plan or Certificate (if any).
- Source or procurement plan for milk including location of milk collection centres in case of milk and milk products processing units. (if applicable).
- Cause of raw material for meat and meat processing plants. (if applicable).
- Pesticide remaining report of water in case of units manufacturing packaged drinking water, packaged mineral water and/or carbonated water from a recognized / public health laboratory.
- Recall plan wherever applicable, with details on whom the product is distributed (optional).
- NOC from Municipality or Local Body (optional).
- Ministry of Commerce Certificate for 100% EOU.
- Supporting documentary proof of turnover.
- NOC/PA documents issued by FSSAI.
- IE Code document issued by DGFT.
- FSSAI Form IX : Nomination of Persons by a Company along with the Board Resolution.
- Certificate provided by Ministry of Tourism (HRACC). (Mandatory for Hotels).
- Proof of turnover document or self-declaration of a number of vehicles (Mandatory for Transporters).
- FSSAI Declaration Form
Eligibility for State FSSAI License:
The following businesses are required to obtain State FSSAI License:
- Dairy units having milk chilling units furnished to handle or process 501 to 50,000 litres of liquid milk per day or more than 2.5 MT to 2500 MT of milk solid per annum.
- Units processing Vegetable oil and units producing vegetable oil by the process of solvent extraction and refineries including oil expeller unit processing upto 2 MT per day and turnover of above 12 Lakhs.
- Slaughtering units are handling more than 2 to 50 large animals or more than 10 to 150 small animals or more than 50 to 1000 poultry birds per day.
- Meat processing units process up to 500 kg of meat per day or 150 MT per annum.
- All the units processing food also re-labellers and re-packers processing more than 100 Kg/ litre to 2 MT per day including grains, cereals and pulses milling units.
- Storage units other than those having a controlled atmosphere and cold environment have a capacity of up to 50,000 MT.
- Cold or Refrigerated Storage having a capacity of up to 10,000 MT.
- Cold Storage plus Controlled Atmosphere having a capacity of up to 1,000 MT.
- Wholesalers having turnover of upto Rs.30 crores per annum.
- Retailers having turnover of upto Rs.20 crores per annum.
- Distributors having turnover of up to Rs.20 crores per annum.
- Suppliers having turnover of upto Rs.20 crores per annum.
- Caterers having turnover of up to Rs.20 crores per annum.
- Dhaba, Boarding houses serving food, Banquet halls with food catering arrangements, home-based canteens/Dhaba wallas, Permanent/ Temporary Stallholder, Food Stalls/Arrangements in Religious gatherings/fairs etc. having turnover of upto Rs. 12 Lakhs per annum.
- Three-star Hotels & with above rating but below Five star or upto Three star and turnover of more than 12 Lakh.
- Restaurants where turnover is upto Rs.20 crores per annum.
- Transporters having up to 100 vehicles or turnover upto Rs. 30 crores per annum.
- Those marketers with a turnover of up to Rs.20 crores per annum.
- Establishments giving catering services and units under Central Government Agencies like Railways, Air, Defence, etc., i.e. Food catering services in seaport/Airport excluding seaport located at Kandla, Tuticorin, Vishakhapatnam, Kolkata, Marmagoa, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai, JNPT or excluding airport located at Kolkata, Trichy, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Amritsar, Cochin, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Trivandrum and Ahmedabad.
Documents required for FSSAI State License.
- Form- B is completed and signed by the Proprietor or Partner or Authorized Signatory.
- Layout plan of the processing unit showing the dimensions and operation-wise area allocation (Mandatory for manufacturing and processing units only).
- List of Directors (in the company) / Proprietor (sole proprietor)/ Partner (firm)/ Executive Members of Society / Trust with full address and contact details (Mandatory for Companies only).
- List of equipment and machinery along with the number, installed capacity and horsepower used (Mandatory for manufacturing and processing units only).
- Identity and address proof issued by the Government for Proprietor / Partner / Director(s) / Authorized Signatory (Optional).
- List of food categories desired to be manufactured. (For manufacturers only).
- Authority letter with name and address of responsible person nominated by the manufacturer along with alternative responsible person indicating the powers vested with them viz assisting the officers in inspection, collection of samples, packing and dispatch. (For manufacturers and processors).
- Investigation report (Chemical & Bacteriological) of water to be used as an ingredient in food from a recognized / public health laboratory to confirm the portability. (Mandatory for manufacturing and processing units).
- Proof of possession of premises (Sale deed / Rental Agreement / Electricity Bill) (Optional).
- Deed of Partnership or Declaration for Proprietorship or MOA & AOA along with Certificate of Incorporation and List of Directors with the address. In case of the Company, mentioned pages must be uploaded: Certificate of Incorporation, Authorization of food business activity and List of Directors with addresses).
- Certificate (copy) obtained under Coop Act – 1861 / Multi-State Coop Act – 2002 in case of Cooperatives. (If applicable).
- Copy of License and NOC from the manufacturer (Mandatory for Re-labellers and Re-packers).
- Food Safety Board System Plan or Certificate (if any).
- Source/procurement plan for milk including location of milk collection centres in case of milk and milk products processing units. (if applicable).
- Pesticide waste report of water in case of units manufacturing packaged drinking water, packaged mineral water and/or carbonated water from a recognized / public health laboratory.
- Recall plan if applicable, with details of where the product is distributed (optional).
- NOC from Municipality or Local Body (optional).
- Supporting documentary proof of turnover.
- NOC/PA documents issued by FSSAI.
- FSSAI Form IX: Nomination of Persons by a Company along with the Board Resolution
Conclusion
FSSAI license is essential and compulsory for all food business operators (FBOs) in India to ensure food safety and public health standards. Whether it is a small unit or a large one, all businesses will have to adhere to the eligibility criteria for state or central FSSAI licensing based on the scale of their operations and annual turnover. Documentation and application processes may differ, but timely registration demonstrates the business’s commitment to hygiene, quality, and legal compliance. FSSAI registration not only increases trust among consumers, but also builds brand reputation of the business in the competitive food industry.
About the Author
Shamshad Alam
Head - Digital MarketingExperienced Digital Marketer with a demonstrated history of working in the Internet industry. He likes to write about the latest technology trends, Skilled in Digital Marketing likes. Search Engine Optimization, SMO, SEM, PPC, Content Writing, and, Designing, etc.
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