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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION ON FSSAI / FOOD LICENSE


FSSAI license is very essential to operate the FBOs who are responsible for keeping food safe for human consumption. The licenses provided by the FSSAI are mandatory for any company who are dealing in the food business. This page will contain a list of answers which are related to FSSAI and quench the queries related to food licenses. The rules which are set up by the FSSAI are mandatory for the FBOs.

FSSAI is a group of central officials who can set up the process for the manufacturing, packaging, transportation and distribution of food items. The full form of FSSAI is Food Safety and Standards Authority of India who have the duty to set up the rules of food sold in market and it is indispensable for the FBOS to abide by these rules.

The FSSAI license increases the efficiency of the food business making sure that all operations are carried out in a professional way following certain rules and regulations and reaching international standards.

FSSAI is
1. Decentralization of licensing for food products.
2. Making the issuance of a food license easy and quick.
3. While registration is mandatory for all FBO's or the Food Business Operators. The Food Business Operators are the small business operators who are responsible for keeping food safe for human consumption. It is only the ones which are not small-sized and fit the criteria are eligible for the license.
4. Most importantly, FSSAI ensures the safety and security of the consumers and promises full compensation in case of injury or death of the victim.

FSSAI instruction are as follows
1. The FBO, (The Food Business Operators are the small business operators who are responsible for keeping food safe for human consumption) must be registered.
2. An additional Central License is necessary for the head office in case the business is operating in more than one state.
3. Only one Central License is permitted to importers under their Import Export Code Address.
4. One presumption with different types of food business is eligible for one registration only.
5. All the rules and conditions of the registration should strictly be followed by the FBOs.

The steps to register for FSSAI procedure are:
Step 1: Visit the FSSAI Registration Website
Step2: Fill all the details on FSSAI Registration Form
Step3: Make the online payment for your FSSAI Registration Application
Step4: One of the registration executives will process your FSSAI Registration / Food License
Step5: In a few working days you will receive your Food License certificate in your registered email address.

FSSAI food licence is indispensable for a person who is planning to sell homemade food on the online platform. It might be a very small scale business which has a turnover of 0 - 12 lakhs, but FSSAI licence registration is mandatory for the selling of any food item.

The FSSAI license can be renewed 30 days prior to the date of the expiry of the current license. The steps to renew the license are:
Step 1: Visit the FSSAI Registration Website
Step2: Fill all the details on FSSAI Registration Form
Step3: Make the online payment for your FSSAI Registration Application
Step4: One of the registration executives will process your FSSAI Registration / Food License
Step5: In a few working days you will receive your Renew Food License certificate in your registered email address.

For businesses operating in more than one state, FSSAI Central License is required.

Food Safety and Security Act, FSSA of 2006 is an Act which has been established so as to set standards for food products based on science. It regulates their production, storage, distribution, sales and imports. The main motive of FSSAI is to maintain a particular standard of food quality and to curb adulteration and substandard quality of food.

Yes, FSSA serves the purpose of a unified food law as it consolidates various food laws.

For implementation & enforcement of FSSA, 2006, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India with the help of State Food Authorities are responsible.

The FSSAI priorities are:
1. Setting and maintaining scientifically based standards for food items.
2. Regulating the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import of food items.
3. Ensuring the availability of food which is safe for human consumption.
4. To curb the adulteration and substandard quality of food.

FSSAI makes sure that the registered and licensed food businesses follow all rules and regulations set by the authority.

The following Acts/Orders mentioned in the second schedule of the Act are going to be repealed in Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006:
1. Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954
2. Fruit Products Order, 1955
3. Meat Food Products Order, 1973
4. Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order, 1947
5. Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation) Order, 1998
6. Solvent Extracted Oil, De oiled Meal and Edible Flour (Control) Order, 1967
7. Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992
8. Any other order under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 related to food

The critical shifts from PFA to FSSAI are as under:

Consumers are hugely benefited through the FSSA as the representatives of the consumer organizations are members of the Food Authorities and Central Advisory Committee. There is a fear of legal action which in turn makes it possible for only high quality food processing operations to exist within the registered FBOs. Consumers also get full compensation in case of injury or death.

The Food Authority looks after setting standards based on scientific research and regulating the manufacture, storage, import and sale of food items. It also is in the process of formulating and finalizing other guidelines for ensuring the safety and availability of food for human consumption.

1. The new regulations and amendments will be made in the FSSAI standards from time to time and is an on-going process.
2. The regulations and amendments will be placed before the Scientific Panels and Scientific Committee for their opinions on the same.
3. The regulation will be approved by the Food Authority and draft notified after the previous approval of the Central Government.
4. The draft notification is also notified to WTO Member Countries for their comments.
5. A time period of normally 60 days is given for the information of the persons likely to be affected thereby and sending the comments to the FSSAI.
6. The comments received on the draft notification are examined by the FSSAI. In case of divergent, comments are received on the draft standards.
7. The final notification is published in the Gazette of India giving the date of effects of its implementation and simultaneously notified to the WTO Member Countries for information and reference.

The New Act will focus on better auditing, Food Safety Management System (FSMS), traceability, recall and other systems in place which will help in curbing food adulterants.

FSSAI creates awareness about food safety with FBO and co-ordinates training with the help of accredited agencies and universities.

No, however, the FSSAI has supported an initiative taken by the industry, State Government and other agencies to develop safety and hygiene standards for eating establishments like small restaurants, street hawkers and more.

Yes, In the FSSAI regulations for foods in India, there are certain microbiological guidelines that are mandatory to be followed.

The functional food and nutraceuticals are explained in section 22 of the FSS Act and will be regulated by FSSAI under section 22 of the Act which is available on the FSSAI website.

The FSSAI is in the process of developing the regulation for Novel Foods, functional foods, food supplements, etc. which is under consideration of the Scientific Panel of functional foods, nutraceuticals, dietetic products and other similar products of the food authority. This will further be considered by the Scientific Committee, Food Authority and notified in the Official Gazette after the previous approval of the Central Government.

The food and food ingredients composed of or containing genetically modified or engineered organisms obtained through modern biotechnology or food/ food ingredients that are produced from the same is called GM foods. These categories do not come under FSSAI. Organic food, produced in accordance with specified organic production standards do come under FSSAI.

Yes, packed and bottled water comes under FSSA, 2006.

The FSSAI regulation 2010 available on the official website for food additives has specified the limit for the use of particular food additives.

The action taken to remove a marketed food from distribution, sale and consumption which is unsafe and violates the provisions of the Act and the rules and regulations made thereunder is known as 'Recall'. This helps to prevent, reduce or eliminate a risk arising from food to the consumer.

The Food Authority website has all the information on the recall of food products.

The consumer should not consume the product and return it to the shopkeeper from where they have purchased the product or return it to the company representative.

The consumer should complain to the Food Safety Officer or Designated Officer or DC of the area or Food Safety Commissioner of the State.

The information on food safety can be obtained from the official website of FSSAI.

The maximum penalty for breach of regulations related to the labeling of food items is up to 10 lakhs.

FSSAI has issued Advisory to the concerned Ministries /Departments for imposing immediate restrictions on the import of dairy products from China. The DGFT has imposed a ban on the import of milk and milk products from China up to December 2011 and until further orders.

The online available payment options are credit card, debit card, online net banking and through draft.

To make an online payment, you are required to fill up the online form and attach the mentioned documents.

Online mode is simpler to apply for than the offline mode. The procedure is almost the same in each case of offline and online mode. Time might be varying as in online mode being faster. The license which is achieved by the online mode is easier to approach and this can help the applicant to gain their licence in a short duration of time.

There will be different licenses issued under FSSA as the requirement of each product is different. For different processes in one premise like meat, milk and fruits, vegetables a separate license is required. For similar processes and connected activities, only one license is applicable.

Food Safety Management System (FSMS) is a network of interrelated elements which are combined to ensure that food does not cause adverse effects on human health.

The basic key elements of FSMS are:
1. Good Practices
2. PRPs Hazard Analysis Management Element
3. System Statutory and regulatory requirements Communication.

Section 16(2) of the FSS Act, 2006 describes the details of food safety and management which is inclusive of the FSMS. This section checks for the hygiene and health of the food which is supplied, hazard analysis of suspected items and other such goods and the safety-related points of them.

There are several companies which have been assigned by FSSAI to inspect or audit the FBOs. These companies are DNV, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, MS Certification, IR CLASS, SGS, BIS, TUV and INDOCERT. These companies are some national and others are international ones.

The food safety and management system was introduced to act as a preventive measure against any kind of harmful food. It checks for hazardous food, tries to reduce food-related harms and ensures the fact that the food is safe for consumption.

The inspections are to be ordered by State/Central Licensing Authorities. The training, annual auditing or consulting, FMS plans etc must be handled by the agency on FBOs requirements.

Food Safety Commissioners have the authority to decide on agencies for their states or areas. FBOs are allowed to choose as per the requirement.

If there is more than one agency which is located at the same place for an FBO inspection, the designated officer has the right to decide if he or his FBOs are responsible for such inspection. The power lies entirely with him to take decisions on such matters.

The registered company must be expected at least once by the authorities in the span of one year. More inspection can be conducted if the company is susceptible to any kind of complaint. However, the routine license requires inspection every once in a year.

The FSSAI license is the one which is provided by the food safety and security authority of India to food business operators to ensure that they provide food items which are safe for human consumption.

When there are multiple units in every state, the owner has to get a license from the central FSSAI unit. This is because most of the food will be imported through railways or airways. All of these are placed under the governance of the central government. The company must attain a separate license for each of the state's units from the state water authority.

Yes, FSSAI serves the purpose of a unified good law. It can consolidate several food laws and all of these are included within the framework of the FSSAI. Unified food law is inclusive of all regulations related to food. FSSAI accomplishes this successfully.

Rs. 3,000 is the government fee for the FSSAI registration. A Registration fee of Rs. 3000 is applicable for the production which is below the level of 1MT. A policy of Rs. 2000 is always applicable for all kinds of food service providers such as clubs, canteens and restaurants. All of these are the annual fees.

One can check the FSSAI number online by entering the 14 digit license number on the official website of FSSAI. Click on the check validity option by entering the respective user ID and password. This will show up your FSSAI license number.

The FSSAI or the food safety and standards authority of India is the regulatory authority under the food act in India.

The FSSAI regulates the food laws and food safety measures in a country by enforcing certain measures for imported and exported food. The food business operators are organized with the help of FSSAI.

The measures of enforcement which are taken on the basis of surveillance and are monitored, inspected and randomly sampled. All of these operations are carried out on food items by the officials related to the food safety department.

If the person who was previously holding the FSSAI license dies suddenly, the heir or the heiress of the deceased person can apply to get the license. The successor must approach the concerned authority. This is the only way by which the license can be transferred.

On violating the FSSAI rules, if any one stores, packs or sells the food products which do not comply with Packaged Commodities Rules, they may be charged a fine upto INR 5000 under section 39.

The types of complaints which are related to breaking the law as associated with the provisions of act and regulations of the FSSAI are:
1. Food adulteration
2. Poisoning of food
3. Labeling and packaging which is quite misleading in nature
4. Fake advertisements
5. Complaints related to the license
6. Artificial products
7. Low quality of the food

If the seller is dealing with a number of food items, he or she must attain a license for each of these products. It is essential that every product is inspected and licensed by the authorities.

If the total turnover of the business is less than 12 lacs, the owner can easily apply for a state license. As the registration is mostly based on the amount of turnover achieved in business, the turnover which is higher than 12 lacs needs the registration details from the central authorities.

The validity registration or license can vary from the span of one year to 5 years. It is dependent on the type of business and the type of registration which was applied for.

The food caterers were mostly operating in the public sector such as railways and airports must obtain their licenses from the central government. All of these sectors fall under the governance of the central ruling. FSSAI licenses from the state are not applicable in these cases.

The vendors who have a turnover of less than 30 crores and almost 100 wagons, are the ones who required the FSSAI State license. The ones with turnover greater than the stated value and more number of wagons mostly require the FSSAI Central license.

The company when it is sent with an improvement notice, in failure to comply with the orders can lead to suspension of the license.

When the stated company cannot comply with the improvement measures stated by the concerned authority, their license can be canceled. However, the company will be allowed to show cause at first. In failure to do so, the license will be canceled.

When the applicant does not reply to the required questions within a span of 30 days, the officer who is responsible for auditing the application can reject it. It is possible for the applicant to apply for new FSSAI registration.

Food recall mostly means the taking of the action by the Foodservice providers to remove any item from the good market which is not proper for consumption, hence disobeying Section 28 of the FSS Act, 2006. This factor is essential to withdraw harmful food from the market.

A food operating business which has their units in a number of states require both kinds of license, the state authority license and the central authority license. The central authority license will be provided to the company as a whole and the state authorities will provide a license to the units in their respective states.

The FSSAI units have licenses issued to the railway designated officers to monitor the food operators under the railway premises. This is a very important step which is mostly regulated by the central government.

The FSSAI license for operating the food business under the airport or seaport premises is issued by the APHO/PHO.

Yes, any service operators which are related to food items including the medical stores require the FSSAI license to sell dietary foods and nutraceuticals.

According to Regulation 2.1.7 (1) of FSS Regulations 2011, a license can be proved as a valid one for a period of 1 to 5 years as selected by the Food Business Operators. The day on which the license was initially issued marks the beginning of the validity period.

The requirements for labeling of the imported food items have their place under the food safety and standards regulations 2011, food safety and standards regulations 2017 and other regulations of FSS. Various guidelines are issued with the aid of FSSAI from time to time. They are also available on the official website.

The labeling particulars must be declared in either English or Hindi. No other language is accepted.

The balanced shelf life can be described as the date of import of the food product to the day of its expiry.

The shelf life can be defined as the day of the manufacturing of the food product to the day of its expiry.

1. Documents required for FSSAI Basic License:

• Latest Passport-sized photograph of the applicant.
• Identification proof (voter ID card or Aadhaar Card).
• PAN Card.
• Address Proof(Telephone or Mobile Bill/ Electricity or Gas Bill).
• Copy of Property papers (if owned).
• Copy of Rent Agreement and NOC letter from the Landlord (if rented).

2. Documents required for FSSAI State License:

• Form-B duly completed and signed by the Proprietor.
• Blueprint or layout of the area location.
• Proof of possession of premises.
• Partnership affidavit of Proprietorship.
• Contact details of the Directors.
• List and details of the types of equipment and machinery.
• Proprietor’s photo ID and address proof issued by the Government of India. In the case of a company, the Directors photo ID and address proof.
• List of food categories which have to be manufactured.
• Authority letter with name and address of the responsible person.
• NOC and copy of the license from the manufacturer.
• Food Safety Management System Plan or Certificate.

3. Documents required for FSSAI Central License:

• Form-B duly completed and signed by the proprietor or owner.
• Blueprint or layout of the area location.
• Contact details of the Directors.
• List and details of the types of equipment and machinery to be used.
• Proprietor’s photo ID and address proof issued by the Government of India. In case of a company, the Directors photo ID and address proof.
• Analysis of water report from a recognized/public health laboratory.
• Proof of possession of premises.
• Pesticide residues report of water in case of units manufacturing mineral or carbonated water from recognized/public health.
• NOC and copy of the license from the manufacturer.
• Food Safety Management System plan or certificate.
• NOC/PA issued by FSSAI.
• IE Code issued by DGFT for importers.
• FSSAI Declaration Form.
• Source of milk, if applicable.
• Supporting proof of turnover, if applicable.
• Source of meat and meat processing units, if applicable.
• NOC from the municipality and local body, if applicable.
• MCA Incorporation Certificate, if applicable.
• Certificate provided by the Ministry of Tourism, if applicable.
• Supporting proof of turnover for vehicles, if applicable.
• Validity and Renewal of Food License

Food businesses like canteen, clubs, tiffin centers, cafe, dhaba, food processors and distributors, restaurants, retailers, storage, supplier, transporter and more need FSSAI license.

The benefits of FSSAI certificates are:
1. Consumers tend to trust the certified businesses more which in turn increases profitability of the business.
2. There are various legal advantages when a certain business is FSSAI certified as the certificate is also a legal document of the fair practices/operations in the business.
3. The company acquires brand value automatically once it is FSSAI certified.
4. It helps to grow the business in various ways with the certificate as it comes with legal and administrative advantages.

The three different types of License are:
1. Basic FSSAI License
2. State FSSAI License
3. Central FSSAI License

There is not much difference between the food license and FSSAI. The FSSAI is responsible for providing food licenses to a FBO. It is the official body of the government of India who can do so.



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