FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) is a government-regulated institution that oversees & administers all entities working in the food sector. FSSAI operates under the ambit of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. FSSAI predominately takes the reference of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act) to sets out any guidelines for FBOs in India. Presently, every FBO in India is required to avail FSSAI food license without an exception.
The ultimate objective of this institution is to inculcate the environment of safety regarding food items among the masses and FBOs. Further, it also aims to mitigate illicit activities like food adulteration & the sale of poor quality products, which is quite prevalent in the food sector.
What is an FSSAI Food License?
Every FBO contributing their part in the supply chain of food (right from production to selling) is mandated to obtain a food license in India.
The issuance of the food license is primarily done based on the following parameters:
- Scope of business
- Annual turnover
- Production Capacity
FSSAI license is a 14 digit registration number mandated to be affixed on the food items accessible to the masses.
FSSAI license number is comprised of five sections, as shown in the table below:
| Section | Digits | Details Provided |
| 1 | 1st Digit | Manifest registration status of the business. |
| 2 | 2nd & 3rd digits | Highlight state code of business |
| 3 | 4th and 5th digit | Shows production year of the food item |
| 4 | Digits 6,7 and 8 | The quantity related to the enrolling master |
| 5 | Digits 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 | Shows Makers License Number |
An Overview on the Category of FSSAI Food License
FSSAI Food License is granted on the basis of parameters like annual turnover and scope of business. Presently, a food license is available under three major heads as given below.
- Basic food Registration (mainly issued to petty food businesses)
- State FSSAI license (Availed by FBOs operating in a single state)
- Central FSSAI license (availed by bigger FBOs having a pan-India operation)
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An overview of the FSSAI Food License registration process
- FSSAI grants the registrations above through its online portal, viz FOSCOS. Once you hop on this portal post login, navigate to the right menu and select the new application.
- Further, an e-form will be displayed on your screen where you need to render the details such as firm’s name, type of License, annual turnover, and so on.
- Post submitting aforesaid details and saving the same; the portal will open the new page where you need to upload mandatory documents such as FSMS, Rent deed, incorporation certificate, Aadhaar of partners, water test report, premise photographs, so on and so forth.
- On the last page, you will require to impart your consent to the declaration form. The FSSAI usually takes 7 to 10 days to process the application.
Prerequisites Regarding Basic FSSAI Registration
FSSAI Registration is mandated for all the FBOs, including petty food businesses. This category encompasses the following businesses:
- Any FBOs with yearly revenue of not higher than Rs 12 lakh
- Petty retailers
- Any individual who processes or trade any food items by himself
- Temporary stallholder
- Any person who distributes food items in any religious or social gathering, excluding the caterer
- Small-scale or cottage entities and the following
| Sl.No | Business | Production Capacity |
| 1 | Food production capacity (other than dairy product and meat products) | Up to 100 kg/litre/day |
| 2 | Procurement, handling & collection of Milk | Up to 500 litre/day |
| 3 | Slaughtering capacity | 2 large or 10 small animals or 50 poultry birds/day or less |
What about the FSSAI State and Central License?
- FSSAI State license, as the name suggests, is mandated for those FBOs whose annual turnover threshold falls between 12 lakh-20 crores. Other conditions include a manufacturing facility with a production capacity of 2 Metric Tons/day and dairy units with a production capacity of up to 5000l/day.
- 3-star hotels and above, relabelling units, repackers, clubs, catering business regardless of their turnover need to get this License. The service life of the state license is maxed out five years.
- The Central Food license must be obtained by those FBOs generating an annual revenue of more than Rs. 20 crores & operating in multiple states.
- All exporters & importers dealing with Food items must get this License. The validity of the Central food license varies from 1 to 5 years.
Documents Required for Obtaining the Central FSSAI food License
- The completely filed Form B enclosing the signature of the applicant
- Detailed floor plan/schematic of the manufacturing facility
- Photo ID, contact, and address detail of the /partners/Directors/ Proprietor
- List of equipment and machinery, along with the installed capacity, available at the facility
- Type of food items processed or manufactured by the FBO
- Water test report issued by the FSSAI’s recommended agency
- Source for the procurement of dairy products and meat products
- Recall plan
- Import Export Code granted by DGFT
- Form IX
- Certificate issued by Ministry of Tourism
- Proof regarding the possession of manufacturing facility
- Partnership deed/ affidavit of proprietorship
- Manufacturer’s License
- FSMS
- NOC issued by the local body or municipality
- Supporting document for proof of transportation & turnover
- Declaration form
Documents required for Obtaining the State License
- Completely filled and signed Form B
- Detailed floor plan/schematic of the manufacturing facility
- Photo ID, contact, and address detail of the /partners/Directors/ Proprietor
- Name and list of equipment and machinery used with the number and installed capacity
- List of equipment and machinery, along with the installed capacity, available at the facility
- Type of food items processed or manufactured by the FBO
- Water test report issued by the FSSAI’s recommended agency
- Proof pertaining to the possession of premises
- Partnership deed/ affidavit of proprietorship
- NOC & License copy from the manufacturer
- Certificate copy (duplicate) issued under Coop Act 1861/Multistate Coop Act 2002
- FSMS
There are different documentation and forms which are mandated to be submitted for the renewal, conversion, & amendment of the License.
Type of Businesses FSSAI Registration/License
Following entities/businesses are required to get registered under FSSAI license.
- Petty retailers & retail outlets such as snack shop, retail shop, Bakery shop, etc
- Fixed or Temporary stalls or food businesses engaged with the manufacturing, distribution, trading of food items such as chat stall, Gol Gappa stall, Tea Stall, fruits/vegetable vendors, Samosa stall, Tea Stall, juice shops, South Indian food stall, etc
- Hawkers utilizing movable carts for the selling of packaged food items
- Dairy facility including Milk Chilling Units, Milk Vendors, Petty Milkman
- Vegetable Oil Processing Facility
- Slaughtering house, chicken shop, mutton shop
- Meat & fish processing facilities
- All food manufacturing, processing, and repacking of food
- Proprietary & Novel food
- Cold/refrigerated storage facility
- Transporter having a no. of specialized vehicles like milk tankers, insulated refrigerated van/wagon, food trucks, etc.
- Wholesaler, distributor, supplier & marketer of food items
- Hotels, Restaurants & bars
- Canteens including mid-day meal canteens and Cafeteria Food stalls in fairs or religious institutions, and Home-Based Canteens
- Exporter and importer working in the food domain
- Online food supplier
The type of FSSAI Food license required by the above-mentioned businesses based on their eligibility criteria.
What is one concrete benefit of availing FSSAI Food License?
Obtaining an FSSAI food license can ensure innumerable benefits for the food business operators. Apart from providing food safety guidelines, food license allows businesses to operate hassle-free and built a good reputation over time.
Consequences of not complying with FSSAI’s norms
Every FSSAI license holder is mandated to comply with the norms drafted under the FSS Act, 2006.
FSSAI officials and safety officers often visit food business facilities to make some legal checks against the pre-determined FSSAI’s compliances. These officials report their findings in terms of the level of compliances being followed by the concerned FBOs. Based on the compliance level, the said officer marks it as:
Based on the above, the officials might grant an improvement notice as per Section 32 of the FSS Act, 2006. Failing to comply with the notice above could trigger the chance of license cancellation. Any FBOs having issues with the improvement notice can approach the State Commissioner[1] of Food Safety for reconciliation.
The decision conferred by the State Commissioner can be challenged in Food Safety Appellate Tribunal/High Court.
Penalty for FSSAI food license holder for Non- Compliance
The table below shows the different penal provisions for various types of non-compliance
| Sl.No | Particulars | Fine (INR) |
| 1 | Food quality is not accordance with FSSAI norms | 2 Lakh Petty manufacturer – 25,000/- |
| 2 | Sub-par food quality | 5 Lakh |
| 3 | Food items lacking proper branding | 3 Lakh |
| 4 | Affixing falsified information on food items or conducting Misleading advertisement | 10 Lakh |
| 5 | Food adulteration | 1 Lakh |
| 6 | Failing to follow the orders of food safety officers | 2 Lakh |
| 7 | Unhygienic manufacture or processing o | 1 Lakh |
Conclusion
The FSSAI food license is a legal compulsion for every FBO in India. The license holders must keep the tap on all the relevant compliances related to the quality of food items, packaging, renewal of food license, and so forth to stay isolated from prevalent penalties.
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