Each food business in India must be licensed under the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). In general, any food business engaged in manufacturing, storing, transporting, or distributing food items must obtain an FSSAI License or registration, as per their nature and size. Food Operating Businesses (FBOs) with turnover below 12 lakh a year are required to get FSSAI Registration.
Meanwhile, FBOs with turnovers of more than 12 lakh a year must obtain an FSSAI License, either state or central, depending upon the location they are serving. If an FBO’s operations are limited to a single state, it must take a State FSSAI licensing. However, if its operations are spread across the boundary of a single state or operating in more than one state, it must hold a Central FSSAI License.
What documents are required for FSSAI Registration?
Food-operating businesses must adhere to the list of prescribed documents necessary for FSSAI Registration/License. In a notification dated 19 March 2021, FSSAI stated a KoB-wise list of documents to be submitted along with the application for a license.
Required Documents for New FSSAI Registration Certificate
- Passport-size photo of the Applicant
- Proof of Identity issued by the Government such as AADHAAR, PAN or Voter ID Card, etc.
- Proof of Address of Businesses Activity
- Certificate of Food Safety Management System adopted by the FBO
- Medical Fitness Certificates of all Workers engaged in the Food Business
- Details of Technical Personnel in charge of the OperationThe documents required to apply for an FSSAI registration/license may vary slightly depending on the size and nature of Food-Operating Businesses.
Procedure to obtain a FSSAI Registration/License
The procedure to obtain a FSSAI Registration/License through the FosCos Portal is described below;
User Registration
To obtain an FSSAI Registration Certificate/License, an FBO first needs to ‘Sign Up’ on the FosCos Portal by accessing its homepage.
You can sign up by clicking on the Signup option displayed at the top right corner of the portal’s homepage, filling out the required basic details such as Name, Email ID, Mobile Number, Login ID, and Password, and finally clicking on the ‘Sign up’ button.
After submission, a verification code will be sent to the given Email ID and Mobile Number. Enter the Verification code in the box, then click on the ‘Submit’ option to verify the details.
Upon successful verification, the FBO can enter the portal using the username and password.
Procedure for New FSSAI Registration/License
When you log in to the FosCos Portal, the system dashboard opens. Then, click on the License/Registration option in the left menu and then on the ‘Apply for New License/Registration’ option.
- Click on the State and Read the Note carefully before proceeding.
- Read the Group Heads of Kind of Business. Select Restaurant from Food Service Group.
- Select the correct radio button for your food business and complete the application form.
- Fill in all the necessary details in the fields shown in Application Form B. Make sure to fill in the communication details carefully, as the authority will contact you through the details provided here, e.g., Mobile Number, Email ID, etc.
- Now, upload the required documents. Afterward, pay the fee using one of the modes supported by the portal.
- After successfully completing the fee payment, a receipt with a 17-digit reference number will be generated. Make sure to protect it for future reference.
Types of FSSAI Registration/FSSAI License
FSSAI Registration can be obtained based on business types, turnover, and production capacity. Depending on their installed capacity and turnover, food-operating businesses can obtain an Essential, State, or central license.
- FSSAI Registration: Food Businesses with a turnover of less than Rs. 12 lakh per annum must obtain FSSAI Essential Registration. Petty food business operators must also obtain this registration to ensure smooth compliance with FSSAI. To get this registration done, the applicants must fill out Form A.
- FSSAI State License: Food-operating businesses whose annual turnover is more than Rs. 12 lakh per annum but less than Rs. 20 crore and operate within a single state must obtain an FSSAI state license. To obtain this FSSAI license, the applicants must fill Form B. Food business operators; small to medium-sized manufacturing units, transporters, storage, transporters, retailers, marketers, distributors, etc. must obtain FSSAI state registration.
- FSSAI Central License: Food-operating businesses with an annual turnover of more than Rs. 20 crore must obtain the FSSAI Central license. These Businesses Are mainly 100% Export-Oriented Units, big manufacturers, importers, and food business operators in central government agencies, Airports, Seaports, etc.
Benefits of Procuring FSSAI Food License
As far as the benefits of a FSSAI Registration or License are concerned, the major ones are listed as below:
- Legal Benefits
- Establishes and Increases Market Goodwill
- Increases Brand Awareness among customers
- Easy Access to Funding Options
- Ensuring Quality of Food Products
- Ensuring compliance with Hygiene & Quality Standards by FSSAI number printed on packaging & labeling
Validity of FSSAI License / Registration
The validity of an FSSAI License/ Registration may vary from 1 to 5 years as chosen by the Food Business Operator. It’s important to keep in mind that the FBOs must apply for the renewal of their FSSAI license or registration 30 days before its expiry.
About Company
Setindiabiz is a tech-driven legal company in India that offers a one-stop solution to cater to different requirements of a business, primarily Compliance, Taxation, IPR, & Licenses, etc. Having years of extensive experience in these segments, it has carved a niche and enjoys a vast clientele. It has dedicated teams for the different segments, which will help you fulfill all your business requirements quickly and effectively. So, run your food business hassle-free by obtaining the most appropriate FSSAI license from Setindiabiz and ensure compliance!
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