Nowadays, Fast Food joint business is the most trending business. Every day, people are launching businesses which revolve around fast foods i.e. one prepared in a very less time, served quickly and affordable in nominal amount. Fast food joint is the joint which is involved in manufacturing, processing, packaging, selling and distributing of fast food. It is important that all the Fast Food Joints are storing eatables that are safe and not adulterated. The authority to keep a check on the quality of food is The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) that constantly monitors and comes up with guidelines to check that the food is proper and safe for human consumption.
The Guidelines of FSSAI License in India
The FSSAI fast food license is one of the main and essential requirements to start up with running this business in India. Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) is an updated version of Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS) which is an online platform under FSSAI for application for registration of food business for food safety regulatory needs.
FoSCoS is integrated with FSSAI’s other existing IT platforms such as Food Safety Compliance through Regular Inspection and Sampling (FoSCoRIS), etc for the regulation of food safety guidelines.
The FSSAI or Food Safety and Standard Authority of India license is issued under FSS (Licensing & Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. It is a distinctive 14 digit registration or license number which is given to manufacturers, producers and traders dealing with Fast Food Joints business and restaurants which should compulsorily be written on the packages of food.
The purpose is that it gives a guarantee that the food products are quality efficient, safe and not adulterated and that substandard product is not used while producing or trading with it.
Read our article:Let’s Understand the Process for Obtaining an FSSAI License Number
What are the Important Licenses Required for Fast Food Business?
The lists of licenses that are required are given below, which are as follows:-
FSSAI or the Food Business Operating License
This is the first and foremost essential license which a food businessman needs in order to initiate with the business. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is authorised to issue this license.
Shop and Establishment License
This license is applicable both for food businesses on food trucks and restaurants.This license is city specific.
Eating House License
Eating House License is issued by the licensing police commissioner of the city where the business is to open.
Certificate of Environmental Clearance
The food truck and the restaurant both have to ensure that they are morally and legally bound to protect the environment and that their business is in no way affecting the environment negatively. Hence, obtaining the Certificate of Environmental Clearance is mandated.
No Objection Certificate (NOC)
The NOC is required to be obtained by the Local Municipal Corporation and also from the RTO.
License from the Fire Department
License from the Fire Department is required which is to ensure safety protection from fire, the food truck and the restaurants are obliged to obtain this license.
Commercial Vehicle License
Where the food business operator is running the fast food business on food truck, he must ensure to obtain this license which is issued by the RTO and also obtain any other vehicle license as required. The basic documents which these business operators must have while applying for the above mentioned licenses are given below:
- Photo ID proof and Address proof
- Current email id
- Phone number and other contact details
- Affidavit, as applicable
- Kitchen layout plan
- Food Safety Management Plan Declaration
- List of the food categories
- Water testing report from ISI approved facility
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the owners or the partners
- Medical certificates of employees
Why Is Food License Important Before Running The Food Business?
Fast Food Joints license is a must for any company before dealing with any food or food related business and besides enjoying legal benefits they have several other benefits which include:
Consequences & Penalty on Non-Compliance of Fast Food Joint License
The registered or licensed Food Business Operator (FBO) under the FSSAI has to follow the guidelines and regulation under the FSS Act, 2006. It is generally the Food safety officer who manages the examination of the food quality and conducts survey on the Fast Food Joints and checks that whether they are registered or not and to what extent they are adhering to the norms and standard of the regulation.
On the basis of their observance level, the food safety officer has the responsibility to mark their observance as:-
- Compliance (C)
- Non-compliance (NC)
- Partial compliance (PC)
- Not applicable/Not observed (NA)
On the basis of the above observation, the food safety officer will give a notice for the required improvement to the concerned business operator under Section 32 of the FSS Act, 2006 which is also called “Improvement Notice”.
The food safety officer shall cancel the license only after given an opportunity to the business operator to act in accordance with the improvement notice. If any foods business operator is not satisfied with the improvement notice then they have the option to seek remedy and they can appeal to the State Commissioner of Food Safety.
After that they have the option to challenge the decision by an appeal to the Food Safety Appellate Tribunal/High Court. There is a list of penalty for all the Food Business Operator in case of failure to comply with the direction of Food Safety Officer where the food quality is not in accordance with the Act, involvement of substandard food & misbranded food, unhygienic process or manufacturing, etc for different kinds of non- compliance for they are mandated to pay the penalty.
Conclusion
FSSAI registration or License is a compulsory process for all the fast food joints in India. It is kind of regulation which secures the quality of eatables which is being manufactured, stored and distributed for business[1]. This is one of the emerging business in India and it is has a very important part in generating employment and developing India’s GDP. But at the same time it is very important to regulate this business for securing the quality of food that is consumed by public.
Hence, the FSSAI is the authority to manage the food safety management and it operates closely with food operators and business dealers to make sure that the food that is accessible to public is safe for human consumption in order to safeguard the public health and life. Therefore, FSSAI has made the license process mandatory, the absence of which attracts penalty and cancellation of the food business.
Read our article:Everything you need to know about FSSAI License Renewal & Validity
