Food safety and standards act, 2006 an act of parliament which aims to consolidate the food laws in India. It empowers the central government to establish a national institution which will look into all the matters relating to its licensing.

FSSAI is a central institution having responsibility of laying down safety & security standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, and sale/import to ensure that quality product should reach the ultimate consumers.

FUNCTIONS OF FSSAI

• Framing of rules/regulations/standards/guidelines.
• Enforcing of various standards as notified under the act by FSSAI.
• Framing the mechanism and guidelines of certification.
• Procedure and guidelines for authorised laboratories & notifying the list of authorised laboratories.
• Provide scientific/technical advice to centre or state in food policy related matters.
• Collect and collate sample data for food consumption, contamination of biological risk, contaminants in food risk.
• Information about food security and issues of concern.
• Offering training programmes for all the new entrants in the business.
• Representation of India at the international level and contributing to the development of international technical standards.
• Encourage general awareness about food security and safety in the general public.

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DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

NEW REGISTRATION

RENEWAL

1. Form B duly signed by the partner. 2. Layout plan of processing unit. 3. List director with complete details. 4. Details of equipment/machinery. 5. Government issued Identity proof of proprietor. 6. Food category to be manufactured. Proof of possession of premise. 7. Partnership deed/AOA/MOA. 8. Copy of certificate. 9. Pesticide residue report of water. 10. Food safety management plan. Source of raw material. 11. NOC from municipal authority or local body and state pollution control board. 12.Waste disposal plan.

1. Change in information provided during grant of previous license. 2. Certificate plan of food safety management system. 3. Workers list with their medical certificates. 4. Details of technical person in-charge of the operations.

FSSAI Registration

FSSAI Registration is meant for all the food manufactures irrespective of their size that includes small retailer, temporary stall holder or any cottage industry having an annual turnover of INR 12 lakh or above. Every business operator having the above mentioned annual turnover is required to obtain food license from FSSAI.

FSSAI launched Food licensing & registration system (FLRS) in 2017 which made the complete process of registration in an online mode which facilitated the new entrants to track their application online. 36 State/UT’s have been issuing Food registration certificate online.

The following steps are needed to be fulfilled for the food registration process under Food safety and standards act (FSS Act), 2006 with the FSSAI.

1. Registration of petty food business

• Application for registration in Form A along with fees as prescribed under schedule 3.

• Follow basic hygiene and safety requirements specified under Part I of schedule 4.

• FSSAI on receiving the application can accept or reject it within 7 days of receiving the registration application.

• In case Inspection is ordered by FSSAI, the Food license will be issued if the authority is satisfied that all the safety requirements are met as contained under schedule 4 within a period of 30 days.

• Once the registration certificate is issued by FSSAI, which should be placed at a prominent place within the premise.

• The designated officer by FSSAI must carry out an inspection of registered enterprises at least once in a year.

To know more visit: Essentials to Get FSSAI License in India for Restaurant

2. License of food business

• Subject to regulation mentioned in Point (1), No person shall commence the food business unless possessing a food license.

• License for commencing & carrying on food business (not covered under schedule 1) shall be given license by concerned state/UT authority.

3. Application for license to the licensing authority

• Application shall be made in Form B under schedule 2 to the Licensing authority accompanied by the self-attested declaration with the applicable fees mentioned under the act.

4. Processing of application for license

• Subject to the provision mentioned under the law, licensing authority within a period of 60 days from the date of issue of an application.

• If on scrutiny of application within 15 days of application, the food licensing authority requires any further document for the application, the authority must serve a written notice to the applicant within 30 days.

5. Procedure for license in some local areas

• A single food license must be issued for different establishments in same local area for its units.

• A designated food officer must be appointed by the central government to ensure food safety in those establishments.

6. Business commencement

• An applicant may commence his business and food licensing authority shall not deny, if from the date of completed application a license is not issue within 60 days or the applicant has not received any notice within that period.

7. Validity/Renewal of Food license

• Valid for a period of 1-5 years as required by the food business operator from the date of issue of registration subject to remittance of fees.

• Renewal application shall be made in Form A or B as specified of schedule 2, not later than 30 days prior to expiry date indicated in the license.

• Any renewal application filed beyond the above mentioned expiry period will attract a penalty of INR 100 for each day of delay.

Read more: How to take central food license in Maharashtra

8. Suspension or cancellation Food license

• Food licensing authority in line with provisions of section 32 of the FSS Act, 2006 may after giving due time to the business operator for being heard during the hearing, suspend any registration or license in respect of all or any of the activities.

• A suspension of food license does not entitle the business operator to demand compensation of refund of fees paid in respect of registration certificate.

• After a period of 3 months from date of cancellation, the food business operator can make a fresh application.

9. Mode of payment

• All application fees & charges applicable are to paid via pay order/Demand Draft/Net banking/Net banking or any other mode of payment as prescribed.

10. Transfer of food license (in case of death)

• In the event of death of the license holder, such certificate or license shall subsist for the benefit of the legal heir/family member of the deceased until the expiry of-
  • 90 days from the death of the holder of registration certificate or license.
  • Such duration as designated food officer may allow.