Introduction

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a central agency of the Government of India that is responsible for the food safety. This means that any company that is in the food chain whether as a producer, processor, distributor or a retailer has to secure an FSSAI license. The following are the different types of licenses of FSSAI and the required eligibility besides focusing on the various procedures of obtaining the licenses. Whether you are a food startup or a business firm, it is important that you know about the licensing process of FSSAI

What is FSSAI?

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) works under the Ministry of health and Family Welfare, government of India. It was formed under the enactment of the Food Safety and Standard Act of the year 2006. The first responsibility of FSSAI is to control and monitor food safety. Like other food businesses, the FSSAI license is a requirement when selling foods due to its guarantee on the foods’ safety.

Why is the FSSAI License Important?

The FSSAI license is more than just the legal obligation that the business entities must meet. It offers several benefits to businesses:

Legal compliance: It helps your business organization abide by the existing food hygiene standards and policies provided by the government.
Consumer confidence: This is also true when it comes to the FSSAI logo which will be required that you print on the product to signify that your foods are safe for consumption.
Expansion opportunities: If your business is established and have an FSSAI license, it will not only enable your business to seek other markets locally and internationally but also to expand your business across the country.
Avoiding penalties: Thus, carrying on business without an FSSAI license can cause fines of up to handsome amounts or even the permanent shutdown of your business.

Types of FSSAI license

Based on the scale of your business, there are three categories of FSSAI license. Licensing is quite crucial to ensure legal compliance to prevent getting caught up in complicated legal issues when selecting a proper license.

Basic FSSAI Registration

This is for micro food operations such as, food business having an annual turnover below ₹12 lakh. Such businesses may be small manufacturing firms, stores or any other petty business undertakings such as warehousing companies.

State FSSAI license

This depends on the business turnover if it is between ₹12 lakh and ₹20 crore it requires a State FSSAI license. This is applicable to the medium food chain businesses like the food manufacturers, food storage facilities as well as food retailers.

Central FSSAI license

Restaurants having an annual turnover above ₹ 20 crores from food business needs a Central FSSAI license. This category also applies to greenfield ventures which engage in the importation and exportation of food products.

Basic requirement for obtaining FSSAI license:

There is a prerequisite to consider when opting for FSSAI license which is known as the food business license category whereby the applicant has to meet certain standards in light of the nature and size of the business.

Basic FSSAI Registration:

It should not be an annual turnover of more than ₹ 12 lakh. Obviously appropriate for small food producers and basic food retailers. Examples of non-specialty stores include street vendors, small-scale storage units as well as distribution units.

State FSSAI license:

It should have an annual turnover of ₹ 12 lakh to ₹ 20 crore turnover. Applicable for medium size manufacturing industry, warehouses and transport facilities. Indeed multiple site food distributors and retailers also fit the bill.

Central FSSAI license:

It is expected that the company’s annual turnover should be more than ₹ 20 crore. Designed with large food Companies, importation and exportation companies in mind. Any company supplying food to government departments or airports are also in this category.

List of Documents required for FSSAI license:

When applying for the license, it is also important to prepare all the documents required for the application. The documents need depend on the type of license that one is applying for.

1. Basic FSSAI License:

Any one identity proof of the Aadhar/PAN/ Voter id card/ passport in photographic format.
Two recent identical passport size photographs of the applicant.
Copy of identity proof (E. G Electricity bill, Rental Agreement ETC).
Business characteristics, where the business is established and what the business is called.
Declaration form.

2. State FSSAI license:

Photo identity proof and address proof documents which can include Passport, Voter ID, Aadhar Card, Driving license and Ration Card.
Two passport sized photographs of the applicant.
Affidavit/ undertaking of the applicant about the business address/ tenancy/ ownership of the premises in which the business is to be carried.
Food safety management plan.
Form B in its original form together with a duly accomplished and signed copy.
Incorporation documents from the companies: partnership deed/certificate.
If applicable the NOC from the local authority.

3. Central FSSAI license

Photo ID of the business owner or any partner or any director, and proof of the business address.
Form B Original completed signed.
Business establishment documentation, which may include; rent receipts or sale agreement.
Note of the type of foods that are managed by the business.
License Number (importer and exporter license number, import export code).
permits such as NOC from local authority or the municipal authority.
Annual water quality test report of a particular business (for those companies specifically dealing in manufacture and distribution of water).
Audited financial statement.

How to Apply for FSSAI license?

It is now possible to apply for an FSSAI license through an online process, which will be of great relief to business owners. Below, find a step-by-step procedure of how to fill the FSSAI application form successfully in order to be granted a license. It then becomes important to ensure that one clearly identifies the type of license required by him or her.

Step 1:

The first thing you should do is to identify the type of FSSAI license you would want depending on the turnover of your business and size. Review the sections above in order to find out which license you require: Basic, State or Central.

Step 2:

Visit the FSSAI official website (https://www. fscos.fssai.gov.in and it is mandatory is to register as FBO (Food Business Operator). Some of the aspects that should be provided include, name, contact information, business information among others.
There it is clear that the next step to be taken after the identification of the problem is to fill out the application form;

Step 3:

Once you have registered, you can proceed to fill out the appropriate application form based on your license type: Once you have registered, you can proceed to fill out the appropriate application form based on your license type:

True and False: Application Type for Basic Registration
. For the State and Central licenses they are in form B.

Make sure that all the information provided is correct for it can take some time for you to apply for a new license or your application will be rejected.

Step 4:

Scanned copies of the documents needed are then uploaded onto the system.

Following submission of the application form, one is supposed to attach the documents mentioned earlier in this section. It would be pertinent to make sure that these documents are well written and easy to read to avoid any misunderstandings that may arise.

Step 5:

Pay the Application Fee You will be prompted to pay the application fee of $150- $200 through credit card.

The next step is to then pay the application fee. The fee is, however, calculated with regard to the specific type of licence applied for. They have the following options of payment through the FSSAI payment portal, namely; Net banking, Debit Card payment and other forms of payment acceptable by the FSSAI online portal.

Step 6:

Once the applicant fills the application form and scans the necessary documents, next step is to submits the application online. You shall be issued with an acknowledgment receipt with a reference number to enable you to check the status of your application.

FSSAI Authorities Verification & Inspection or FSSAI Physical Verification for FSSAI Registration, FSSAI License, FSSAI Conversion for Small Scale Food Processors, FSSAI Registration & License for Imported Products among others.

After the submission of your application, FSSAI authorities will conduct a scrutiny to your application and may even visit your business premises to check whether it meets the required standards of food safety. As mentioned earlier, the inspection may differ based on the type of license to be acquired.

Step 7:

Grant of FSSAI license

FSSAI will issue your license if the above requirements of the application and the premises have been fulfilled. You will receive an email notification and you will be able to download the license from FSSAI online website.

FSSAI license Fees

The cost of getting an FSSAI license depends on the following factors; Firstly, the type of license applied for and secondly the period applied for. Below is a brief overview of the fee structure: Below is a brief overview of the fee structure:

Basic FSSAI Registration

₹100 per year.

State FSSAI license

It varies with business turnover and type ranging between ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 in one year.

Central FSSAI license

₹7,500 per year.

Conclusion

It is almost mandatory for any food business, which is operating or willing to operate a food business in India, to- have an FSSAI license. Although it is quite easy, there are certain principles which need to be followed correctly and ensure that hygiene rules of food industries are followed strictly. Both for the new entrepreneurship and for the expansion of an already existing food business, it is crucial to obtain the proper FSSAI license, not only to be legal, but also to gain the trust of the citizens and access the further development.

If you’ve read this guide, you should now have no problem going through the FSSAI licensing process and positioning your business for the long

Links

FSSAI website: https://foscos.fssai.gov.in/

Documents for applying FSSAI license: https://foscos.fssai.gov.in/assets/docs/DocumentListMarch.pdf

How to Get FSSAI license: A Step-by-Step Guide