Looking to act on your ambitions and start your own food business? In India, the first step in launching your own food-related enterprise is getting it officially registered under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Better known as FSSAI, it is a government organization that supervises and controls all Indian food-related enterprises. Formed as an autonomous entity by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, it is tasked with the following:
- Getting Indian Food Business Operators (FBOs) officially registered and licensed for business
- Establishing rules regarding the monitoring and functions of Indian food enterprises, known as FSSAI guidelines.
FSSAI registration is essential for your business
Irrespective of specific business operations and vision, every FBO that produces, refines, stores, distributes, and sells culinary products is required to apply and get an FSSAI license or registration, depending on the magnitude and scope of business.
The products of a licensed food business will contain a 14-digit license or registration number, which provides information like the producer’s permit and the state responsible for assembly.
As a move to hold FBOs more liable for the quality of products and existing rules of production and distribution, the licensing and registration processes are decided by the Food Safety & Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Regulations, 2011.
How to get an FSSAI license?
Depending on the scale and place of your business, you will have to get either an FSSAI registration, a basic license, a central license, or a state license. Key factors that inform this decision are installed capacity, revenue, place of business, the residence of applicant/s etc.
The process of obtaining an FFSAI license online is simple. Given below are the related FSSAI guidelines:
- File an application;
- Obtain a unique application reference number
- Complete the application and get a unique application ID
- Your premises will be inspected after the application and issue inspection report has been received
- Thereafter, your license will be granted if all the formalities are completed within 60 days.
If any step is delayed due to lack of response or inspection or inspection report evaluation, then the concerned FBO may commence business after 60 days.
FSSAI requirements: what you need to register
For all small-scale FBOs, getting a basic FSSAI registration is enough. This type of registration is meant for the following enterprises:
- An FBO whose annual turnover is less than INR 12 lakh.
- Small-time food product retailers
- An individual who produces and/or sells food products herself/himself;
- Temporary stall owners who sell food items
- Any party that offer food items in social or religious events, barring caterers;
- Small-scale/cottage industries involved in the food industry
FSSAI registration process
The full FSSAI registration process is given below:
- First, you initiate the registration by submitting Form A (application) to the Food and Safety Department.
- The Department can deliberate whether to accept or reject your application up to a week since the day they received the same; if rejected, you will be informed in writing.
- Upon accepting your application, the Department will send a registration certificate containing a registration number and your photograph.
- You must display the registration certificate in the office during working hours.
For basic, state, as well as central licenses, you need to disclose some common documents: a photo ID proof and passport photograph. Additionally, to obtain a central or a state license, you must submit the following:
- Address proof
- List of equipment
- List of product categories
- Operation layout
- NOC from concerned municipal authority
- Incorporation certificate
- Full list of directors and partners
- MOA and AOA
- Water test report
- Import Export Code
FSSAI requirement: how to obtain an FSSAI license
In case your business does not fall in the small-scale business category, then you must obtain an FSSAI license before commencing operations. This license is given in two forms: state license and central license, according to whether you have a medium- or large-scale business, respectively.
Large-scale FBOs are huge manufacturers, exporters, or importers with capital-intensive operations. They must apply for a central government license. On the other hand, small- and medium-scale FBOs such as distributors, traders, small-scale manufacturers etc. must obtain an FSSAI license from the state government under whose jurisdiction their businesses fall (annual turnover between INR 12 lakh-20 crore).
There are a few additional conditions that warrant a state FSSAI license for your business:
- Manufacturing units with a total capacity of 2MT per day;
- Dairy enterprises regulating to 50000L per day;
- Three-star (and above) hotels;
- Repacking units;
- Relabelling companies;
- Clubs;
- Caterers.
A state FSSAI license is valid for at least one year and at most five years.
In case your business’ annual turnover exceeds INR 20 crores and you possess operational units in two or more Indian states, you will require a central government FSSAI license to operate. Every exporter and importer must obtain a central license, whose tenure is the same as the state FSSAI license.
Central License: Requisite Documents
Here are the documents you need to submit along with your application for a central FSSAI license:
- A fully filled and attested Form B;
- A detailed plan of your processing unit, containing exact dimensions and classifications of operational areas;
- A concrete list of directors, business partners, and proprietor (containing their photo ID proof, addresses, and contact information);
- A thorough list containing the names of all equipment used, their number, and their installed capacities;
- A food category list;
- Authority letter from the manufacturer, along with the name and address of the nominee;
- The analysis report of water required for production, to verify whether it is portable;
- Document revealing the source of inventory;
- A comprehensive recall plan (as necessary);
- Certification from the Ministry of Commerce (for 100% EOU);
- NOC/PA document (provided by FSSAI);
- IE code document (given by DGFT);
- Form IX;
- Ministry of Tourism certificate;
- Document displaying proof of premises possession;
- Proprietorship affidavit/ deed of partnership;
- NOC, along with a copy of the specific license obtained from the manufacturer;
- Food safety management system plan/ associated certificate;
- NOC from the concerned municipality or similar local authority;
- Supporting document showing proof of turnover and distribution/transportation;
- A declaration form.
State License: Required Documents
- A fully filled and attested Form B;
- A detailed plan of your processing unit, containing exact dimensions and classifications of operational areas;
- Concrete list of directors, business partners, and proprietor (containing their photo ID proof, addresses, and contact information);
- A thorough list containing the names of all equipment used, their number, and their installed capacities;
- A food category list;
- Authority letter from manufacturer, along with the name and address of the nominee;
- Analysis report of water required for production, to verify whether it is portable;
- Document displaying proof of premises possession;
- Proprietorship affidavit/ deed of partnership;
- NOC, along with a copy of the specific license obtained from the manufacturer;
- A copy of requisite certificate collected under the Coop Act 1861 or the Multi state Coop Act 2002;
- A solid plan regarding food safety management and a related certificate.
Why is an FSSAI license beneficial?
In a nutshell, an FSSAI license online enables your FBO to get legal benefits, garner respect and renown, maintain food hygiene and safety, improve customer awareness, and drive business growth. Furthermore, it allows you to control, produce, store, distribute and sell imported food products.
FSSAI rules: How to renew FSSAI license
The FSSAI rules on mandatory license renewal are clear. To resume your food business, you must renew your FSSAI license. To streamline the renewal process, FSSAI has even come up with an online license application system (Food Licensing and Registration System, FLRS). FLRS is available in five Regional Offices:
- Northern Region (New Delhi)
- Eastern Region (Kolkata)
- North Eastern Region (Guwahati)
- Western Region (Kerala and Mumbai)
- Southern Region (Chennai)
In summary, this article presents a detailed account of the guidelines, rules, and procedures of online FSSAI registration for FBOs. If you are thinking about starting your own food business venture, don’t hesitate to get it officially registered before it’s up and running. All the best!
