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FSSAI License and Registration in India
FSSAI License and Registration are required for commencing food-related business in India. The provisions and laws applicable have been provided under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The functions under this act are performed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, established by the Central Government.
It is the duty of the Food Authority to regulate the manufacturing, processing, distribution, sale, and import of food so as to ensure safe and wholesome food. The food authority shall specify the standards and guidelines in relation to the articles of food in India. Limit the use of food additives, crop contaminants, pesticides residues. Define food labeling standards. Perform various other functions as specified under the act.
The question comes to our mind whether do we need a food license in India.
Who needs a food (FSSAI) license in India?
No person shall commence or carry any food business without obtaining the license. However, a petty manufacturer, petty retailer, hawker, temporary stallholder, itinerary vendor, or small-scale cottage industries relating to food business or tiny business can commence without FSSAI License but their registration will be in a different way as specified by the authority.
The following businesses are mandatorily required to obtain fourteen-digit FSSAI License numbers to start food operating a business in India.
- Dairy units indulged in handling, processing, manufacturing packing, storing, distribution & transportation of milk and milk products.
- Entities indulged in vegetable oil processing means the processing of vegetables to produce vegetable oils by the process of solvent extraction/expeller and refining including oil expeller units.
- Slaughtering units indulged in a process of transporting, stunning, butchering, dressing, processing, storing & distribution of live animals/poultry birds.
- Meat Processing units indulged in further processing of slaughtered animals/poultry birds into meat & meat products, packaging, storing & transportation of meat & meat products. Further, it includes fish processing.
- Any entity indulged in the manufacturing of food or health supplements and nutraceuticals.
- Manufacturing of substances added to food or entities indulges in radiation processing of food.
- Other General Manufacturing units, Proprietary foods, and nonspecified food and food ingredients.
- Entities indulged in the Storage of food whether cold, controlled.
- Wholesaler, Distributor, retailer, food vending agencies, importer, eCommerce, export, and transporter of food products.
- Petty retailer of snacks/tea shops, hawker, restaurants, food vending establishments, club/canteen, hotel, caterer, mid-day meal canteen, and caterer.
The type of license whether basic, state, or central will depend upon the eligibility criteria.
What are the types of FSSAI licenses in India?
There are three types of licenses. They are as follows.
- Basic License: Basic license is necessary when the annual turnover is less than Rs. 12 Lakh. One needs to shift to other licenses after turnover crosses the threshold limit.
- State License: State license is obtained when the turnover crosses 12 lacs and is up to 20 crores. However, in the case of repacking and relabelling irrespective of the turnover one should obtain a state license.
- Central License: One needs to apply for Central License when the turnover crosses 20 crores.
What are the documents required for obtaining FSSAI Registration and License?
FSSAI Registration and License are two separate things. FSSAI registration is required for the petty food retailers, for them, basic registration is obtained with government fees of Rs. 100.
The documents required for FSSAI Registration are as follows.
- Passport Size Photograph of Food Business Operator (Applicant).
- Identity Verification Documents which can be Ration card, Voter ID Card, PAN card, Driving license, Passport, Aadhar Card.
- Proof of Premises, Non-Objection Certificate from Municipality, Panchayat, Health Non-Objection Certificate.
However, obtaining a State and Central FSSAI License requires a long list of documents.
Process of obtaining FSSAI Registration and License
FSSAI registration is obtained by submitting Form A, while for State and Central License Form B is filed online on the foscos website. The documents referred to above are attached with the application. The application may be accepted or rejected by the department within 7 days of application.
In case of any query, a response needs to be submitted online within 30 days of receipt of any query.
Penalties and Offenses under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
Under the act, there are various types of offenses have been provided and their penalties have been prescribed which are as follows.
- Act for selling food, not of the nature or substance, or quality demanded. The penalty for such an should not exceed Rs. 5 Lacs
- Act of Selling Sub Standard food. The following person shall be liable for a penalty which may extend to 5 Lakh rupees.
- Act of Selling Misbranded food. The person shall be liable for a penalty that may extend up to Rs. 3 Lacs.
- Act of Misleading Advertisement. Penalty for publication of an advertisement that which falsely describes food or is likely to mislead as to the nature or substance or quality of any food or gives a false guarantee shall be liable to a penalty which may extend to ten lakh rupees.
- The penalty for providing food that contains extraneous matters shall extend up to Rs. one lac.
- Any person who does not comply with the directions of the Food Safety Officer shall be liable for a penalty which may extend up to Rs. 2 Lacs.
The above is a summary of important penalties and offenses. However, the act prescribes detailed penalties and offenses.
