FSSAI Food License & Registration

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a legal authority that provides food licenses to all food business operators (FBOs) in India. FBOs must comply with FSSAI rules and regulations for food quality control.

FBOs require an FSSAI License or Registration, depending on factors such as the size of production, nature of food business activities, and range of operation. During the FSSAI Registration process, FBOs will receive a 14-digit number that must be printed on food packages.

FSSAI Registration ensures the security of food products and is necessary for obtaining a food safety certificate issued by the food authority in India. Manufacturers, traders, restaurants, grocery shops, importers, and exporters are all eligible to obtain an FSSAI License. FSSAI Licensing ensures that food products undergo specific quality checks, thereby reducing cases of adulteration and substandard products.

We offer expert advice and consultation on FSSAI compliance, including:

• Obtaining a 14-digit FSSAI License number
• Clarification on product categories
• Timely follow-up with the FSSAI Department
• FSSAI Renewal before the expiry date
• Legal documentation as required

We provide Basic Registration, State Registration, and Central Registration services to suit your needs. Contact us today to obtain your FSSAI License and ensure the safety and quality of your food products.

The FSSAI provides a food license to various types of food business operators (FBOs) in India, including wholesalers, distributors, suppliers, retailers, food vending organizations, hawkers, clubs, canteens, Dhabas, hotels, restaurants, and storage units. The FBOs can be categorized based on their annual turnover, such as those with a turnover of less than Rs. 12 lakh, between Rs.12 Lakh- Rs.20 crore or more than Rs. 20 crore. Petty producers manufacturing by themselves, substitute stalls selling food products, cottage industries related to food products, businesses selling food at social or religious gatherings, and proprietary foods are also eligible for FSSAI license. Dairy units, vegetable oil processing units, hotels, storages, importers, and caterers working under the central government are also required to obtain an FSSAI license. All food processing units, except for grains, pulses, and cereals milling units, with a capacity of over 2 metric tonnes per day, and FBOs involved in producing new food articles or using new processes or technologies are also required to obtain an FSSAI license. FSSAI registration ensures food quality control and reduces cases of adulteration and inferior products. FSSAI registration involves obtaining a 14-digit license number that must be printed on food packages. FSSAI renewal should be done before the expiry, and legal documentation is required on a need basis. Expert suggestions and FSSAI capability consultation are also available to ensure compliance with FSSAI rules and regulations.

Businesses involve in food activities are need to apply for food licence of different types based on turnover, scale of business and the type of activity. The Types of FSSAI Food licence are as follows:
FSSAI Basic Registration
The FSSAI registration is for food business operators (FBOs) which have small-sized business or start-ups. They have their yearly turnover less than Rs.12 Lakh. Basic registration can be upgraded based on your business sales graph productivity.
FSSAI State license
The State FSSAI License is for the FBOs which have medium- size business. They have their annual turnover more than Rs. 12 Lakhs or up to Rs.20 crores. The state licence can be more upgraded to central licence all based on your business sale graph productivity.
FSSAI Central license
The Central FSSAI License is relevent for FBOs which have large business annual turnover i.e. above Rs.20 crores. It is also necessary in cases where you require to supply at the government offices or import / export food products.

FSSAI license validity stretches out from 1 to 5 years. According to the FSSAI rules, the food business operator need to appeal for the renewal of the license in 30 days and it should be made before its expiry. Any FSSAI renewal application filed exceeding the expiry date is necessary to pay a late fee of Rs. 100 per day for each day of delay. So, it’s important to all food business operators to track and assure that the FSSAI license is valid at every time.

The FSSAI logo and FSSAI license number are regularly mentioned on the label of the food package in inverse colour to the background. In the case of different units’ manufacturer or packer, the FSSAI logo and license number of the brand owner must be mentioned on the label of the food package. The addresses of the different units on the label must carry the FSSAI license number.
In the case of imported food products, the importer must show the FSSAI logo and FSSAI license number with the name and address of the importer. These may both be pre-printed on the label or linked by a sticker before customs approval. The height of letters and numeral of license number shall be as directed in 2.3.3 of Food Safety and Standards i.e. Packaging and Labelling Regulation, 2011.
The Regulation 2.6.1 of Food Safety and Standards is related to present of FSSAI License number and logo. The image of FSSAI logo on the label of the food product is not a mark of certification but it suggested that the FBO includes a valid license under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The food license assigned has a validity of one year and can be increased to a maximum of 5 years by the food regulatory body. The moment license validity gets expired the food business operator becomes responsible for a FSSAI license renewal. The fssai renewal system is attainable and should be taken into the account as soon as possible to avoid penalties. Fssai has allotted the instructions that in 30 days and before the expiry of the licence the food safety registration has to get renewed.
Form A or B, as required
Statement by the Proprietor or Director, that they will follow with the updated Rules and Regulations under FSSAI
Photo ID proof of the Proprietor or Director
FSSAI officials will examine the details given in the application form. They might even visit and manage an query of the premises and check the machinery & equipment. They will supervise the performance and validity of the Food Safety Management System, whether it has not become out-of-date. They will avaluate that the documents and details given in the form are official or not.
If the FSSAI officials are satisfied with their querys And see that the instructions of the FSSAI are being adopted thoroughly. Your FSSAI License will get renewed. Again, the maximum period it would be valid for is 5 years.

All Food Business Operators (FBOs) have to follow the rules and regulations under the FSSAI. FSSAI holds a random inspection product or its processing. A Food Safety Official has the authority from FSSAI to investigate the working conditions along with the food handling techniques of the operators, associates, and staff.
Thereafter, they decide a level, based upon how adaptable the food business is, with the regulations set by the Food Authority, using a checklist. Based on the checklist, the Official registers a level for the FBO as:
Compliance (C)
Partial compliance (PC)
Non-compliance (NC)
Not applicable/Not observed (NA).
Further, the Food Official might issue an Improvement Notice, represent the areas or levels that require improvements. If the FBO fails to change these, within a specified time, a Show Cause Notice is sent.
This Show Cause Notice states a date of hearing by which this FBO has to verify, backed with documentary verification describing why it could not undertake the amendments or alterations. If the evidence are rejected, or the FBO fails to reply to the Improvement Notice, within the specified time, its FSSAI number will get canceled.
In case the aggrieved FBO feels that the enhancemnet notice is biased, it has the option to file an Appeal with the State Commissioner for Food Safety. The decision by the State Commissioner can be challenged by appealing to the Food Safety Appellate Tribunal or the high court.

Below is a list of FSSAI penalties for an FBO found non-compliant to the provisions:
If the food business is managing without taking an FSSAI certificate, the act is punishable under law. The FBO may face imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs. 5 lakh for this.
If the FBO is selling the sub-standard quality of food items, it may be charged for an amount up to Rs. 5 lakhs. In such a case, the person selling the sub-standard items, either himself or by a person working on his behalf, will be held answerable.
The business selling misbranded goods, either himself or by a person working on his behalf, can be punished up to Rs. 3 lakh.
All the FBOs included in sales, packers, storage, distributions, or importing of Food Items containing superfluous or extraneous matter, a penalty may get imposed of Rs. 1 lakh.
The penalty described in the above points may vary, following to the conditions. In extreme cases, where death occurs due to consumption of the particular food item, the fine may extend to Rs. 5 lakh along with imprisonment, depending upon the s the harm caused.