Online FSSAI License in India – An Overview
Food
Licensing and Registration System Provides the Food License also Known as FSSAI
License, Which determines the Food Quality. A Food Licensed person only
Authorized to sell his Food. As per Section 31(1) of FSS Act, 2006 Food
Licensing is mandatory for Food Business Operators in India.
FSSAI
is the short form of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, and it is
responsible for providing FSSAI license to food products and to the food
business owners. Fssai License online in India is essential for all types of
food business operators such as food product manufacturers, food traders, and
food store operators to receive the license of FSSAI. It is the apex body which
was incorporated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Government of
India is answerable for preparing and launching the standards for selling,
storing and packing of food items in India. Additionally, this license works as
per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Moreover, there are two types of
food licenses according to the size or scale of the business, they are FSSAI
Registration and FSSAI License. And FSSAI License is again divided into two
parts.
Types
of Food Safety License
All
types of food-related businesses must apply for a food license. And the type of
Food License which you need to get depends on the various factors like turnover
of the food business, the scale of the food business and the kind of operations
or activities you are indulged in. Basically, there are two types of FSSAI
License or food Safety license or FSSAI registration. One is the FSSAI
License, and the other is the FSSAI Registration. But, how do you determine,
which one of them is right for you?
Let’s
dig in detail to get more information about Food Licenses:
Basic FSSAI Registration is needed by petty food business owners.
The turnover of such food- related business should not exceed more than Rs. 12
lakhs per annum such as a petty retailer, itinerant vendor hawker or temporary
stallholders.
FSSAI State License is a license issued to a business that has a turnover
of between Rs. 12 Lac to Rs. 20 Cr. Furthermore, the turnover limit is the same
for an FSSAI State Manufacturing license or an FSSAI State trading license.
Central FSSAI License registration is a license issued to the food
businesses which hold a turnover more than Rs. 20 Crore. Some of the FBOs that
come under this category are Manufacturing, Trading and Storage units and so
on.
Why does a Food Business need a Food License?
The
point of getting a food license is to ensure that the food items or products
packed, which are traded and sold by Food Business Operators are up to the
quality standards dictated by the FSSAI. The ultimate aim of the Food Safety
and Standards Authority of India is to reduce the chances of inferior food products,
food adulteration and to improve the activity of food manufacturers by granting
them a FSSAI food license for food business or service.
Documents needed for FSSAI Registration in India
Following
is the list of documents required to get your food license:
- Filled
and signed Form B
- Photographs
of food business operator for identity proof
- Rent
agreement for the proof of possession of the premise
- MOA,
Partnership deed, AOA, etc. are required as per the type of entity
- List
of food items or food products involved
- Complete
plan or draft of the food safety management system
Documents needed for Central FSSAI License
- Filled
and duly signed Form B
- Blueprint
of the food licensing business unit
- List
of equipment and machinery used in the business unit
- Details
of partners, directors, proprietors, and so on as per the type of entity
- List
of food products or food items to be dealt with
- Sources
of raw materials used in the production process
- Form
IX
- Copy
of certificate from the Ministry of Tourism
- Copy
of certificate from Ministry of Commerce for 100% EOU
- Rent
agreement is required if the premise is rented place
- NOC
or No Objection Certificate issued by FSSAI
- Authority
Letter
- Declaration
Form
- NOC
from Manufacturer and a copy of the license
Documents required for FSSAI State License
- Completed
and duly signed Form B
- Blueprint
of Food business unit
- List
of equipment and machinery used in the unit
- Complete
details of partners, proprietors, directors, etc. as per the type of
entity
- List
of food products or food items to be dealt with
- Authority
Letter
- Proof
of possession of the premise such as rent agreement.
- Certificate
of Food Safety Management System
Any other needed document
Additional documents needed for Manufacturers
- The
layout blueprint of the processing unit
- Complete
details of machinery or equipment of the unit
- Details
of food license online categories that is to be produced or manufactured
- Report
for pesticide residues on the water
Penalty for selling food without a license
All
FBOs apart from the exempted group as per Section 31 (2) of the FSS Act need to
get a food license depending on their eligibility criteria to run their food
related business. To make it clear, Food Business Operators who are not
obtaining afssai food licence is liable for fine or penalty as prescribed
below:
- Quality
of food not in-abidance as per the Act: Rs. 2 Lakhs, Rs. 25000 for petty
manufacturers
- For
misbranded food products: Rs. 5 Lakhs
- For
substandard or low quality food products: Rs. 3 Lakhs
- For
false promotion or misleading advertisement or false description Rs. 10
Lakhs
- For
not pertinent matters in the food product: Rs. 1 Lakh
- For
failing to follow with the food safety officer's directions: Rs. 2 Lakhs
- For
using unhygienic methods of processing or preparing or manufacturing food
items: Rs. 1 Lakh
Renewal
of FSSAI License
All
the food businesses operators should follow the rules and regulations defined
in the FSSAI Act 2006 . Receiving FSSAI license is a must for every food
business owner or operator. And the majority of the population doesn’t aware
that getting FSSAI License renewal is equally important as obtaining FSSAI
license. It is mandatory to get FSSAI license renewal within the prescribed
time period. As an entrepreneur it is essential to obtain food certificates
online whether your food business is all about processing units or
manufacturing units or distributing units or food packaging units or trading
units in every 1-5 years.
14
Digit FSSAI License Number
FSSAI
license is a 14-digit unique number granted to all registered FBOS or Food
Business Operators; it has five sections, each one provides different
information about the FBO or food business operator. The introductory
information of the FSSAI License should be given on the package of the food
item along with the logo of FSSAI.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all food
export units need to obtain the FSSAI License?
Yes,
all food export units need to obtain the FSSAI central license as the
license is mandatory for both importing and exporting food products.
Do I need an
FSSAI License to import food products in India?
Yes,
FSSAI central license is needed for your business and it is the import-export
code. The FSSAI license is mandatory for all importing or exporting food
products.
Do I require
the FSSAI License if I only manufacture food items?
Yes,
an FSSAI license should be obtained for all kinds of food-related businesses
such as trading, transportation, manufacturing or distribution of food items.
What is food
'recall”?
The
term 'Recall” is nothing but the action taken by FBOs to draw back any food
product or food item from the source or market which does not follow the rules
of section 28 of the FSS Act, 2006.
How to obtain
a FSSAi License or food license for a restaurant?
The
process of obtaining a food license for a restaurant or a catering service is
the same as obtaining any other license.
Is there any
requirement to file an annual return for FBOs?
Yes,
certain FBOs defined by law need to file an annual return in the specified
manner.