FLRS TO FOSCOS
The FSSAI on December 18, 2020, has issued a Notification regarding the revised guidelines for Food Business Annual Return Filing. Now the Important Announcement is that Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS – https://foscos.fssai.gov.in) is operational pan-India w.e.f 1st November 2020 to replace the existing FLRS portal.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) mandates online submission of Annual Return Food Business involved in manufacturing and importing of food products with effect from FY 2020-2021. Earlier the website for Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS) wash this (https://foodlicensing.fssai.gov.in). FoSCoS has been launched for the users of Indian Railways/Konkan Railways w.e.f 1st January 2021.
Filing of Annual Return
The FoSCoS is formulated with a provision for filing Annual returns online.
FSSAI Annual Return – Form D1
Food Business Operators (FBO) involved in the manufacturing and importing of food products need to submit Annual Returns by 31st May of every preceding Financial Year.
The FSSAI Annual Return is required to be filed in a prescribed format (Form D1) laid down by the concerned Food Safety Commissioner concerning the category of food products manufactured or sold by the business during the previous Financial Year
FSSAI Half Yearly Return – Form D2
Manufacturers of Milk and Milk products need to submit Half-yearly returns within one month of completion of the previous half-year.
According to the FSSAI regulation, all manufacturers of milk and milk products having an FSSAI license need to file the half-yearly returns known as Form D2. The half-yearly returns in Form D2 are of 2 types as mentioned below:
♦ The one related to the period from 1st April to 30th September every year
♦ The one related to the period from 1st October to 31st March every year.
Eligible FBO for Annual Return Filing
Following Food Business Operator (FBO) need to file the FSSAI annual return online in the Form D-1 to the FSSAI about the category of food products manufactured or sold by them during the preceding financial year:
♦ Food manufacturers
♦ Labelers
♦ Importers
♦ Packers
♦ Every FBO except the ones dealing in milk and milk products.
Exemptions from Filing FSSAI Annual Return
According to the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and registration) Regulations, 2011, the following food businesses are exempted from filing an FSSAI annual return online in India:
♦ Fast food joints
♦ Restaurants
♦ Grocery stores
♦ Canteens
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Q.1 What is the user ID and Password of the FoSCoS application?
Answer: Login credentials of the FoSCoS application shall be the same as FLRS. New FBO can also create login credentials using the sign-up option.
Q.2 How to submit an annual return online on FoSCoS?
Answer: FoSCoS has a new online feature for submitting Annual returns. FBO can click on the tab “Annual returns”, fill the prescribed format and upload required documents and click on submit.
Q.3 How to check the eligibility criteria of your food business?
Answer: FBO can use the Search option “Eligibility of your food business” provided on the home page to view details pertinent to KoB/ criteria/ license/ registration and a fee per annum.
Q.4 How many documents required to be uploaded by FBO for issuance of license?
Answer: Only documentation pertinent to the selected KoB for license application is required to be uploaded. However, FoSCoS has provision for additional documents such as NoC from CGWA, NoC from local bodies, Water test Report, Vehicle RC, FSMS Plan, and any other document mandated by the state government by way of an official order.
Q.5 Does FBO need to re-submit the application fees if the application is rejected by the DO?
Answer: Yes, FBO is required to re-submit the application fees in case of rejection.
Q.6 I am a food product manufacturer with a valid State license. While applying for modification to Standardized product (product migration) In case if it necessitates a change from State to Central license. What to do?
Answer: A new Central license will need to be obtained and the previous State license may be surrendered.
Q.7 What are standardized food products?
Answer: Those products whose standards are specified under in “Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011”,” Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Food and Novel Food) Regulations, 2016” and “Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulation, 2018”.
Q.8 What should FBO do, if the product he wants to manufacture does not display in any category in the dropdown?
Answer: In such cases, if FBO does not find the products in the list of Standardized food products, then he needs to apply either in proprietary food or nutraceuticals or non-specified/novel food whichever is applicable.
Q.9 General manufacturing kind of business is applicable for which food business operators?
Answer: Those manufacturing products other than dairy, oil, meat, proprietary, nutraceutical, non-specified/novel food, are covered under “general manufacturing”.
Q.10 I am doing business in catering, whether individual products need to be mentioned in the license/registration?
Answer: No, only mention a broad category of food products.
Q.11 Is it mandatory for a milk product manufacturer to select a kind of business dairy processing unit, can’t they apply for general manufacturing?
Answer: No, milk product manufacturers should take a license under the dairy processing kind of business only. FBOs manufacturing products other than oil, meat, dairy, nutraceuticals, Proprietary food, non-specified/novel food can take a license under general manufacturing.
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