Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a directive under Section 16(5) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, to waive registration fees for Anganwadi (ICDS) Centers. As per the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, all food business operators must be registered or licensed to operate. Since Anganwadi centers provide supplementary nutrition to pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children up to six years old, they are required to comply with these regulations. To streamline the process, FSSAI has introduced a new Kind of Business (KoB) category specifically for Anganwadi (ICDS) Centers under Food Services. Additionally, the registration fees for new applications and renewals will be waived, and registration certificates will be granted for a fixed five-year period. However, fees paid for applications under process will not be refunded. This directive is effective immediately, and a user manual for registration is available on the FoSCoS website.
F. No. RCD-15001/3/2021-Regulatory-FSSAI (E-1142)
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
(A Statutory Authority established under the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006)
(Regulatory Compliance Division)
FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi-110 002
FoSCoS: [https://foscos.fssai.gov.in]
Dated, the 12 March, 2025
ORDER
Subject: Direction under Section 16(5) of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 regarding waiving of registration fees for Anganwadi [ICDS] Centers and introducing new `KoB’ – reg.
As per provision of the sub-regulation 2. 1 Registration and Licensing of Food Business of the FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation, 2011, all Food Business Operators in the country will be registered or licensed in accordance with the procedures laid down in the regulation. Further, as per Section 31 of the FSSA, 2006, it is mandatory for any food business operator to obtain a license for commencing or carrying on any food-related activities. The specific clause states that:
(1) No person shall commence or carry on any food business except under a license.
2. Since Anganwadi [ICDS] centres are involved in providing supplementary nutrition to every pregnant woman and each lactating mother upto 6 months after child birth, and every child in the age group of 6 months to 6 years (including those suffering from malnutrition), it is also required to comply with the provisions specified under para 1 above.
3. To facilitate the scheme, the Food Authority has decided to introduce a separate Kind of Business (KoB) `Anganwadi [ICDS) Centres’ under Food Services for Registration. Additionally, the registration fees for Anganwadi [ICDS] Centers will be waived, and they will be granted the registration certificate for five years (instead of giving the option for selection of validity from one to five years) when applying for new registration. This waiver of registration fees will also be applicable for the renewal of the registration certificate by all Anganwadi A user manual for applying for registration for Anganwadi [ICDS] Centres is available under the user manual section on the FoSCoS website.
4. This waiver of registration fees for Anganwadi [ICDS] Centers shall come into effect from the date of the order. The fees paid for existing applications which are under process will not be considered for refund.
5. This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority in exercise of power vested under Section 16(5) of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
(Inoshi Sharma)
Executive Director (CS)
Email: ed-office@fssai.gov.in
To:
1. Commissioners of Food Safety of all States/UTs
2. Directors of all Regionals Offices, FSSAI
3. CTO, FSSAI – with a request for uploading on the FSSAI website
Copy for information to:
1. PPS to Chairperson, FSSAI
2. PS to CEO, FSSAI.
