A Comprehensive Guide For Restaurant FSSAI License

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an authoritative institution that issues the Food Safety License to the food business owners (FBO) in India. They have a responsibility to ensure food safety and hygiene norms. Restaurants must adhere to FSSAI guidelines to avail of the license.

FSSAI license is mandatory for all food business owners as well as restaurants. Through this article, we will enlighten you with a complete guide regarding the importance of the FSSAI license, document requirements, process and how to avail of this service via MUDS quickly.

Brief Outline of FSSAI License in India

FSSAI License assures the authorization by Food Safety Standards Authority of India which is also known as FSSAI Authority. FSSAI is a Government Authority under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The food business owners become eligible to open their restaurants and stores across India after availing of this license.  From small businesses to large chains or restaurants, it is a mandatory guideline from the Government of India to get this permit from FSSAI to follow the food safety protocol.

There are three main parameters to attain FSSAI License under the FOSCOS FSSAI Registration, which are:

• Annual turnover of the organization,
• Production estimate per day,
• Nature of business

The FSSAI license comes with a fourteen digit FSSAI number which is allotted to the Food Business Operator. FSSAI number must be stamped upon bundling of the food items. FSSAI Registration must be displayed in a conspicuous business environment.

FSSAI Food License gives authentication to the customers by the food business manager by ensuring the food quality, decreasing the degree of corruption, eliminate unsatisfactory items. This registration progression purposes to build more accountability on the FBO to manage the quality of their food products.

To gather the information switch to FSSAI Authority sites on the web address:

1) foodlicensing.fssai.gov.in

2) foscos.fssai.gov.in to apply for an FSSAI permit and FSSAI enrolment in India.

Who Requires FSSAI Registration?

• FSSAI registration is required by all FBO enlisted below,
• A food operator who sells and produce any sort of food items, be it, iterant vendor or temporary stallholder.
• A food operator who gives away food items including religious or social get together
• Caterers do not include in the list
• Small scale food businesses, with an annual turnover, not exceeding Rs 12 lakhs
• Central License is required for Large Food Business owners.
• State License is required for Medium Food Business owners. 

Advantages of FSSAI Registration and License

• It keeps the malpractices and misconduct regarding food safety out of the equation.
• It ensures hygienic food availability at food stores and restaurants.
• It builds trust among the consumers, the FSSAI trademark ensures the food quality labelled on food items. It secures consumers right in a way by providing the best quality of food products.
• It safeguards standardization of the restaurant’s kitchen set-ups, thereby guaranteeing more customers and even business development.
• It helps both the food business owners and customers to attract more consumers and availing the best quality products.

An FSSAI license holder can enjoy significant benefits, it ensures legal benefits, builds goodwill, guarantees food safety, generates consumer awareness, and support business growth. It also helps to regulate, manufacturing, storage, delivering and trade of import food.

Instructions to get FSSAI License for the Restaurant business:

Online application is required for FSSAI license, follow these simple steps to get your license quickly:

Step 1: Open this URL link:

URL-http://foodlicensing.fssai.gov.in to visit FSSAI’s

The application form will appear, read the eligibility criterion provided by the government. Now, the applicant has to enter the complete address for each premise individually and look for the eligibility independently.

Step 2: Sign up on the website, by entering your contact details such as phone number and email id.

Step 3: Applicant must create username and password, after adding all necessary details click on register to complete the sign-up process.

Step 4: The confirmation mail will be received on your contact details. Now applicant has successfully created his id on the portal.

*This user id will remain active for 30 days; you have to complete the further process within this period.

Step 5: After signing in to the portal and start filing the FSSAI license form. Fill up using a desktop, avoid mobile. Make sure you have all required documents ready with you.

Step 6: Take a printout of the form after filling in all the required details.

Step 7: Note down the Applicant reference number that appeared on the screen after you submit the form.

*ARN is used to track the progress of your application.

Step 8: Submit the hard copy of the application form to the respective regional authority with mandatory required documents within 15 days from the date of online application submission.

Fees for FSSAI License for Restaurants in India

• Central Level License: FSSAI has fixed the registration fees at Rs 7500 per year for those businesses who want to acquire a national level license.
• State Registration: The amount of Rs 100 per year and Rs 2000 per year applies to basic and state registration.

Required Documents for FSSAI license for the Restaurant business and FBOs

• Completely filled online form including the signature of the proprietor i.e. Restaurant Owner
• Identity Proof of the Restaurant Owner.
• Address Proof
• Business owners and stakeholder’s identification proofs
• Contact Details of Business Owners
• Food Safety Management plan (FSMS plan)
• Property Verification Documents; rent agreement, sale deed, electricity bill, etc.
• No Objection Certificate approved by the local bodies or Municipal Corporations.
• Complete kitchen Map
• ISI- Certified Water Quality Report
• Partnership Deed/ Affidavit of Proprietorship (For Partnership Businesses)
• Food Categories List
• Tools and Equipment’s List
• Medical Certificates of Employees.

Points To Remember

• FSSAI issues the license under the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006.
• The validity of the FSSAI license differs from 1 to 5 years.
• The Food Business Organizations are obliged to follow FSSAI’s norms.
• Under Food Safety Standard Act, 2006 FSSAI imposes huge penalties for non-compliance.
• The eligibility criteria for FSSAI’s food license includes parameters like turnover, production capacity, and scope of operation.
• Fees for an FSSAI license is Rs.7500 yearly.
• FSSAI validity varies from 1 year to 5 years.

What happens under Non-Compliance?

Due to any circumstances, if any fssai registered or licensed person does not adhere to the rules and regulations provided under the FSS Act, 2006 will have to pay a hefty penalty. Food safety officers inspect the restaurants, food business operator’s facilities where the production, storage and all other services take place. They ensure that the operator is following all the rules and protocols to attain food safety measures and delivering safe food to the consumers. The food safety officer marks the compliance level, as per the situation during the inspection as:

• Compliance (C)
• Non- Compliance (NC)
• Partial compliance (PC)
• Not applicable/Not observed (NA)

Based on his inspection, the food security officer can issue an improvement notice whenever required under Section 32 of the FSS Act, 2006. If the business owner fails to comply with the notice, the food safety officer may cancel his license after warnings. The food business owners who received an improvement notice may submit a plea to the State Commissioner of Food Safety. The decision further can be challenged at the Food Safety Appellate Tribunal/High Court.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

• Food Quality Non-Compliance: 2 Lakh for Petty Manufacturer
• Sub-Standard Food: 5 Lakh
• Misbranded Food: 3 Lakhs
• Misleading Branding: 10 Lakh
• Extraneous Matter in Food: 1 Lakh
• Non-Compliance with Food Safety Officer Instructions: 2 Lakh
• Unhygienic Processing or Manufacturing of Food: 1 Lakh

Conclusion

With the technological progression, the license and registration process has also been involved and become much efficient and easier for small business owners. The existence of an FSSAI’s online portal has diminished the distress of manual document handling, which was time-consuming and tedious work to do. However, some business owner still finds it difficult and have a busy schedule can always avail MUDS FSSAI license registration and renewal service. We provide professional assistance to our clients for quick registration service.