The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The FSSAI was established under the Food safety and standard Act, of 2006. Which reinforces statutes related to food security and regulation in India. It is an organization that governs and regulates the food business in India. FSSAI License is responsible for protecting public health through regulation and supervision of food safety. 

FSSAI License or registration is mandatory before starting any food business. FSSAI registration is required for all food-related businesses it 14-digit registration number or a food license number printed on food packages or displayed on-premises. FSSAI 14-digit license number gives data about the producer's permit or enrollment subtle elements, and the assembling state. 

FSSAI- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is the agency responsible for the nationwide food industry in India. It ensures that each food product receives an appropriate quality check. 

Business operators or FBOs establish the guidelines for operating a food business throughout India. Obtaining an FSSAI License from the State Authority is a requirement for all restaurants and food business owners.

Hawkers, food vendors, food chains, and everyone who is operating in the food industry needs to register with FSSAI. Irrespective of whether you are operating an online business or offline. Whether you are a local player or into the import or export of food products, you need to register with FSSAI. Based on the size and places they operate, they have to get one of the three types of licenses that following: 

If an individual's business falls in any of the following categories then, they require to get an FSSAI license for their business. 

• Petty food business owners, such as retail shops, bakery shops, confectionary or bakery shops, etc. 
• Fixed or temporary stalls of food premises involved in the preparation, distribution, sale, and storage of food products. Such as Pani puri stalls, tea stalls, fruit/vegetable stalls, samosa stalls, etc. 
• Hawkers- Those who sell packaged food or freshly made food for travelers.
• Dairy products- Products are made from milk and any other dairy item. It includes milk, petty milk vendors, etc. 
• Manufacturers- All food manufacturing units/ processing units that include repackaging of foods. 
• Importer and exporter of food items including food supplies. 
• PG with food serving facilities, banquet halls with catering arrangements, home-based food stalls, and canteens.

All the food business administrators who are occupied with doing food business administration in India are needed to apply for an FSSAI permit. Presently under a Food permit, there are three kinds of FSSAI Registration which are ordered by the yearly turnover of the business, nature of business food action, creation limit each day, and a lot additional main consider can be manufacturers, traders, restaurants, small eateries, grocery stores, importers, exporters, home-based food businesses, dairy farms, processors, retailers, and e-tailers. All those involved in the food business must obtain actions where a food business administrator can choose which FSSAI License applies/Food License applies. Following are the sort of Food permits that are needed to apply by FBO by keeping the above talked about factors. 

FSSAI Basic Registration

A fundamental Food License is needed for that food business administrator whose business size is little and for new companies. The yearly turnover of the food business up to 12 lacs can apply for FSSAI Basic Registration.

According to the new rules of Fosco's Fssai License, essential FSSAI permit is for minuscule business or independent companies like tea slow down, little bite or pakora shop, little retailing business, Dhaba, transitory slowdown holder, trivial retailer of snacks, and so forth. All the food business administrators who are having or expecting turnover in excess of 12 lacs yearly need to greater FSSAI permit like an FSSAI State permit or FSSAI Central License, not FSSAI essential enrollment. FSSAI fundamental permit requires not many archives like container card, Aadhar card, verification of business place (lease arrangement, power charge, deal deed, and so on to apply for FSSAI enrollment on the web. The complete preparation time to get the enlistment is 7-10 days. All petty food businesses require to obtain FSSAI basic registration online by filing and submitting Form A.

• Passport Size photo of Applicant.
• Self-attested Aadhar Card of the Applicant. 
• Proof of business address (Rent Agreement and Electricity Bill).
• Company Incorporation documents like Certificate of Incorporation / MOA & AOA / Partnership Deed / LLP Certificate.

How to Apply for FSSAI Basic Registration 

• Firstly, the applicant needs to visit https://foscos.fssai.gov.in/ to determine their requirements for FSSAI.
• Complete the registration form by filling in all the details and activate your account by using the criteria you’ve chosen.
• Now that you have logged in, begin completing the application form. Please ensure that you have all the documentation needed for the chosen criteria. 
• After completing the application form. You will be given a reference number that will enable you to keep track of your application updates. 
• After the successful submission of the application, the authorities will review the application and conduct an inspection after receiving it. 
• The authorities will review the application and conduct an inspection after receiving it. If the inspector is pleased, he or she will transmit the report, and the appropriate body will issue the license. It will take up to 60 days.

Obtaining a Food license can provide the food business with some legal benefits, build goodwill, and ensure food safety in restaurants as well as in petty food business stalls. Also, it helps in regulating the manufacture, storage, distribution, and sale of imported food. It will make the food business easy to obtain funds from investors when an FBO (Food Business operator) has FSSAI registration. 

The FSSAI logo on the food products ensures the quality of the food to the customers. The FSSAI registration number displayed on the food package indicates that the premises comply with hygiene and quality standards. 

Consequences of Non- Compliance

The licensed person under the FSSAI has to adhere to the rules and regulations under the FSS (Food Safety and Standards) Act 2006. The food safety officer generally conducts the inspection of the food business operator's facility and identifies the level of compliance with the regulation using a checklist. The food safety and standards officer marks according to the level of compliance such as 

• Compliance ( C )
• Non-Compliance (NC) 
• Partial Compliance (PC) 
• Not Applicable/Not Observed (NA) 

Based on the above-mentioned points, The food safety officer might have an issue with the improvement notice wherever it is required per section 32 of the FSS Act 2006. If the business operator fails to comply with an improvement notice. The officer after giving the licensing opportunity to show cause may cancel his license an opportunity to show cause may cancel his license. Any food business operator aggrieved by an improvement notice can appeal to the state commissioner of food safety. The decision theorem can be challenged by appealing to the Food Safety Appellate Tribunal/ High court. 

Penalty for Non- Compliance 

Here is the list of various types of non-compliances for which you can be penalized.

The FSSAI License/registration is mandatory to start a food business, similarly, it is imperative to renew the license. The license is issued for a validity of 1 year or 5 years. So, the business must apply for renewal 30 days prior to the expiry date of the current license.