FSSAI Introduces Instant License Registration for Food Businesses

In order to facilitate the ease of doing business, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has formulated a special provision known as (Tatkal) Instant License/Registration for food businesses. It’s basically in context to specific categories.

The decision clearly reiterates the intent of FSSAI to establish a favourable business environment while maintaining rigorous food safety regulations and legal compliance.

As per Sub-Regulation 3 of Regulation 2.1.1 of the FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, Licenses are to be issued within 60 days and registrations within 7 days.

A Glimpse of Eligible Categories of Food Businesses

The Food Authority, responsible for deciding the grant of licenses/registrations for smaller categories of food business, including wholesalers, distributors, retailers, transporters, storage without atmospheric control, importers, food vending agencies, direct sellers, and merchant exporters, will now do so through a process of instant issue.

This instant issuance by the Food Safety Compliance System, FoSCoS of FSSAI would be subject to digital verification by GST, CIN, PAN CARD, AADHAR CARD, etc., and other conditions. This method will be adopted in addition to the existing procedure for applying for and obtaining license/registration for food businesses.

Food businesses need to get an FSSAI License for their smooth functioning and streamlined operations.

Additional Changes and Conditions with Regards to the Existing Procedures

Following are the changes and conditions of the existing procedures of the Instant license/registration for food businesses:

Additional changes in reference to the Eligibility requirements:

This is only for the businesses (KoB) and certain food product categories within KoB are Importers, Merchant-Exporters, Wholesalers, Distributor, Retailer, Transporter, Storage without Atmospheric Controlled + Cold, Food Vending Machines, Direct Sellers, Petty retailers of snacks or tea shops and Hawker (Itinerant/Mobile Food Vendor)

Additional changes in reference to the Methods of Digital Verification of License:

• In the case of the Proprietorship Firm: The Digital verification of the License will happen through GST and AADHAR CARD.
• In the case of a partnership/Registered firm: The Digital verification of the License will happen through CIN/GST and AADHAR CARD.

Additional changes in reference to the Methods of Digital Verification of Registration:

• For petty FBOs such as Importer, Merchant-Exporter, Wholesaler, Distributor, Retailer, Transporter, Storage without Atmospheric Controlled + Cold, Food Vending Agencies and Direct Seller, digital verification will be done through PAN CARD and AADHAR CARD.
• On the other hand, petty retailers of snacks or tea shops and Hawker will require only AADHAR CARD for digital verification.

Additional changes in reference to the Declaration:

Under this, the applicant is legally bound to declare the following statement: ‘He/She does not possess the valid license/registration for food businesses in the same premises or his/her license/registration has not been cancelled by the authorities in the past three months.

Additional changes in reference to the Documentation:

The applicant is expected to upload photographs of the unit, one of which is mandatory: a photograph of the entrance/front facing of the unit. This will assist in identifying the food business unit for which license/registration has been sought.

Additional changes in reference to the Validity:

The validity of the instant License/registration is subject to a period of 1 year. After the expiration of 1 year, it may be renewed with the help of the already existing procedure of the renewal process of License/Registration, as the case may be.

Additional changes in reference to the Annual fees:

According to the current requirement by the Board of Licensing, the applicant will be expected to pay the full annual fee for the License/Registration at the time of application.  

Disclaimers included in the License/Registration copy:

• Instant License/Registration is granted based on the applicant’s self-declaration. Therefore, any false information may incur a penalty of up to Rs. 10 Lakhs, as specified in Section 61 of the FSS Act, 2006.
• This License/Registration copy does not constitute proof of ownership of the premises.
• The designated officers, including Jurisdictional Designated Officers, Registration Authority, and Food Safety Officers, shall have the authority to enforce food safety regulations within their jurisdiction, as per the FSS Act, 2006, and related Rules and Regulations, to ensure compliance with the instantly issued License/Registration.

Initially, the instant (Tatkal) License/Registration will be implemented in the states of Assam, Delhi, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir and Kerala, and it will be effective from June 28th, 2024, excluding the partnership/Registered firms as mentioned under pointer 2(ii).

The Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) will soon feature an option to apply for or obtain an instant (Tatkal) License/Registration for food businesses. In addition to this, a detailed user manual or guidance document will be accessible under the ‘user manual or guidance document’ Section on FoSCoS shortly.

Conclusion

The process of receiving License/registration for food businesses is a major step towards ensuring the ease of doing business in the food sector. Therefore, by streamlining the process and incorporating digital verifications, FSSAI has sought to ease and make the system more transparent to food businesses.

Apart from that, this initiative not only fastens the process of obtaining for certain categories of food businesses but also ensures that they comply with strict food safety regulations.

As the system is implemented in certain states, it will contribute to the creation of a favourable business environment, encouraging growth and guaranteeing public health safety.

Frequently Asked Questions

Read our article: How To Get FSSAI License? – Explained