How to Get a Food Production License in India?

FSSAI or Food Safety & Standards Authority of India, was established under the FSS Act, 2006, a consolidating statute related to food regulation and safety in India. It ensures the food quality, and it is responsible for the registering & licensing of the FBOs or Food Business Operators in India, and it lays down the rules & regulations for running the food business in India. If you are planning to commence a food business in India, then it is necessary to obtain a Food Production License. In this write-up, we are going to discuss how to obtain Food Production License in India.

Different Types of Food Production License

There are three different types of Food Production License in India:

• Basic License: Food Business Operators having a turnover of less than Rs. 12 lakh per annum should obtain a Basic License and for this license, the applicant has to fill out Form A.
• State License: Food Business Operators having an annual turnover of more than Rs. 12 lakh and less than Rs. 20 crore per annum must obtain State License and the applicant need to fill the Form B.
• Central License: Food Business Operators having an annual turnover of more than Rs. 20 crore must obtain the Central License and the applicant need to fill out Form B.

Who Needs Food Production License in India?

The Food Business Operators carrying on the following kinds of business are compulsorily required to obtain a Food Production License:

1. Hawkers who sell freshly packaged prepared food or packaged food by travelling from one location to another;
2. Vegetable oil processing units;
3. Proprietary food & novel food;
4. Exporters & importers for food items, including food ingredients;
5. Petty retailers & retail shops like Snacks shops, Retail shops, Bakery shops, etc.;
6. Fixed stall or food premise or temporary stalls involved in the distribution, storage, preparation, and sale of food products like chat stall, tea stall, sweet stall, Gol Gappa stall, juice shops, etc.;
7. Dairy units comprising Petty Milkman, Milk Chilling, and Milk Vendors;
8. Meat Processing & Fish Processing Units;
9. Cold or refrigerated storage facility;
10. Bars, hotels, and restaurants;
11. PG provides food, Banquet Halls, Dhaba with food catering arrangement, food stalls, and home-based canteens;
12. E-commerce food suppliers comprising cloud kitchens;
13. Transporter of food items or products having a number of specified vehicles like insulated refrigerated wagons or vans, food wagons, food trucks, milk tankers, etc.;
14. Slaughtering houses like chicken shops, lamb meat, mutton shops, meat shops, etc.;
15. Supplier, marketer, distributor, and wholesaler of food items or products;
16. Cafeteria and canteens, including mid-day meal canteens;
17. Food vending agencies & caterers.

Documents Required for Getting Food Production License in India

The following documents are required to obtain Basic License, State License, and Central License in India:

• Documents Required for FSSAI Basic License:

1. Photo id of the FBO or Food Business Operator;
2. Business Certificate i.e., Incorporation Certificate, Shop & Establishment, Partnership Deed or other Business Registration Certificate;
3. Food safety management system plan;
4. Details of bank account;
5. Possession of proof of business premises, i.e., rental agreement, NOC or No Objection Certificate from the owner or proprietor of the rented premises, utility bills, etc.;
6. List of food products processed or manufactured;
7. Supporting documents (if needed) like No Objection Certificate by Panchayat or Municipality, Health NOC, copy of the license from the manufacturer, etc.

• Documents Required for FSSAI State License:

1. Completed and duly signed Form B;
2. List of Partners or Directors or Proprietors with complete address, contact numbers and photo ID;
3. Name & list of machinery and equipment used with the number & installed capacity;
4. Analysis of water report to be used in the process to confirm the portability;
5. Copy of certificate attained under Co-operative Act 1861 or Multi-State Co-operative Act, 2002;
6. Processing unit plan showing the dimension & operation-wise area allocation;
7. Authority letter from the manufacturer nominated a responsible person’s name & address.

• Documents Required for FSSAI Central License:

1. Form B duly signed & completed;
2. List of Partners or Directors or Proprietors with complete address, contact numbers and photo ID;
3. Name & list of machinery and equipment used with the number & installed capacity;
4. Analysis of water report to be used in the process to confirm the portability;
5. Authority letter from the manufacturer nominated a responsible person’s name & address;
6. Raw material source for meat, milk, etc.;
7. NOC or PA document issued by FSSAI;
8. Form IX;
9. Declaration Form;
10. Certificate from Ministry of Tourism;
11. IE Code Document issued by DGFT^[1];
12. Recall plan wherever applicable;
13. Ministry of Commerce Certificate for 100% EOU;
14. Supporting document for proof of transportation & turnover.

Procedure for Obtaining Food Production License in India

Following is the procedure for obtaining a Food Production License in India:

• Food Business Operators can obtain Food Production License online by filling & submitting the registration form, i.e., Form A for Basic License or Form B for State and Central License, on the official website of FoSCoS. The Food Business Operators can also register offline by submitting Form A/Form B to the Food & Safety Department.
• The FSSAI Registration form should be submitted with the required documents and documents should be uploaded online on the official website of FoSCos during filing the application or submitted to the Food & Safety Department along with the application.
• The form can be accepted or rejected by the Food Department within seven days from the receipt date of an application online via the FoSCoS. In case the application is rejected, it has to be intimated to the applicant in writing.
• The Department will examine the documents submitted.
• The Department may carry out an examination of the food premises before granting the Food Production License, if necessary,
• If the Department is satisfied that the Food Business Operator meets all the required criteria, then it will grant the Registration Certificate with the registration number and the application photo & email id. The applicant can also download the certificate by logging into the FoSCoS website.
• After getting the Registration Certificate, it should be displayed at the business place during business hours.

How to check the status of the Food Production License?

An applicant is notified by SMS or Email at many stages of application processing by FSSAI. The applicant can also check the registration status by entering the application number issued after submitting the application to FSSAI.

The different stages of the registration status can be checked by tracking the application status. When the registration status is shown as “Application Reverted”, the FSSAI authorities have reverted back the application for vital modification or clarification. The applicant requires to submit the response within 30 days from the reverted date to avoid the rejection risk.

Renewal of Food Production License

The Food Production License is vital to starting the food business; similarly, it’s imperative to renew the Food Production License. The FSSAI License is issued for a validity of one to five years, so the business should apply for the renewal 30 days prior to the expiry of the current license.

Conclusion

Obtaining a Food Production License in India can provide the food business with legal benefits, ensure food safety, build goodwill, and help in business expansion. It also helps regulate, distribution, sale, manufacture, and storage of import food. It’s easy to get funds from investors when an FBO has FSSAI Registration.

Read our Article:FoSCoS FSSAI Portal: An Improved Version of FLRS