The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has announced that hawkers, defined as individuals selling packaged or freshly prepared food while traveling, are exempt from the registration fee mandated by the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation, 2011. The fee waiver applies both to new registrations and renewals, and hawkers will receive a registration certificate valid for five years instead of having the option to select the validity period. This change, effective from 28th September 2024, aims to support itinerant food vendors. However, any registration fees paid for applications submitted before this date will not be refunded. This decision has been made under the authority of Section 16(5) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
F. No. RCD-01003/1/2024-Regulatory-FSSAI (E-12332)
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-1 10 002
Food Safety Compliance System [https://foscos.fssai.gov.in]
Date: 30th September 2024
[Direction under Section 16(5) of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 regarding waiving of registration fees for Hawkers].
Provision 2.1.1 of Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation, 2011 mandates every petty Food Business Operator to register themselves with the registering authority by submitting an application for registration in Form A under Schedule 2 of these regulations along with a fee as provided in Schedule 3 i.e Rs.100 per year.
2. ‘Hawker’ means a person involved in selling packaged or .freshly prepared food by travelling (usually on foot or movable carts) from one location to other and is also required to comply with the provisions specified under para 1 above.
3. The Food Authority has decided to waive off the registration fees of hawkers and grant them the registration certificate for five years [instead of giving option for selection of validity from one to five years] when applying for new Registration. This waiver of registration fee will also be applicable for renewal of registration certificate by all hawkers.
4. This waiver of registration fee for hawkers has come into the effect from 28th September 2024. The Kind of Business for Hawkers category in FoSCoS for applying Registration is ‘Food Services -> Hawker (Itinerant / Mobile food vendor)’.
[Note: The fees paid for existing application [prior to 28th September 2024] 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 udder Section 16(5) of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
To:
1. All Food Business Operators, Associations, Food Safety Mitra and other stakeholders.
2. Commissioners of Food Safety of all States/UTs
3. Directors of all Regionals Offices, FSSAI
4. 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.
