FSSAI Food License

How to Apply for Basic FSSAI Registration

FSSAI Registration, formed under The Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006 (FSS Act) is a license which is required by all food business operators. Any person who wishes to start a food related business need to obtain a food license to carry out their business.  Based on the budget and volume of the food business there are two types of FSSAI Registration – Basic FSSAI Registration and FSSAI License. Furthermore the FSSAI License is divided into two sub types which are State and Central FSSAI License.

What is Basic FSSAI Registration?

FSSAI Registration as stated above is of two types;

• Basic FSSAI Registration and
• FSSAI License

FSSAI License is needed by FBOs having a turnover above Rs. 12 lakhs. In other words we can say the large scale and medium scale businesses need FSSAI License. However, all food related businesses except the small scale FBOs need license.

Small scale food businesses need to obtain Basic FSSAI Registration. This is applicable for food related businesses whose annual turnover is not more than Rs. 12 lakhs.

For full information please read: Difference between Registration and License.

Why is there a need for FSSAI Registration?

Businesses involved in production, distribution, transportation, storage, or processing of food are required to have a certificate to prove their products are safe for consumption. FSSAI Registration is the proof.

These businesses need to display the FSSAI Registration/license during their working hours. Also, food businesses who manufacture/produce packed foods have to print the FSSAI Registration Number on the packaging.

FSSAI registration Procedure

Here given are the steps to obtain the FSSAI License by the food business owners:

• Firstly the applicant has to submit Form A to Food & Safety department.
• The Food & Safety department may accept or reject the application. The department also intimates the applicant in written. This process takes seven days.
• The Food & Safety department issues a registration certificate if the application is accepted.
• Consequently, after the completion of these steps, the applicant receives the license.

Documents Required for FSSAI Registration

Every food operator needs FSSAI Registration except a few exempted categories under the Sub-section 2, Section 31 of the FSS Act, 2006 (see Section 31-Licensing and registration of food business) to carry on their business. Ordinarily to obtain the FSSAI Registration the food business owner is required to submit some documents. These documents include;

• Photo ID of the owner
• Rent agreement/ utility bill
• Partnership deed
• List of food products that are manufactured
• Form B signed and completed

Basically, small scale businesses need basic FSSAI Registration. The large and medium sized food operators need license.

FSSAI non-compliance

The food safety officer visits the workplace of the food operator for inspection. Furthermore, the officer does this inspection to ensure the licensed operator produces or processes the food under the guidelines of FSS Act. Based on the compliance level their classifications are;

• Compliance (C)
• Non- Compliance (NC)
• Partial Compliance (PC)
• Not Applicable/ Not Observed (NA)

The food safety officer marks these levels of compliances.

Penalty for FSSAI non-compliance

The below table shows the penalties for various non compliance that are as follows;

Serial number	Specification	Penalty
1	Food quality noncompliance with FSS Act	2 lakhs, 25,000 for petty food businesses
2	Sub-standard foods	5 lakhs
3	Misbranded food items	3 lakhs
4	False description or advertisement	10 lakhs
5	Extraneous matter contained in food	1 lakh
6	Disobeying with the food safety directions	2 lakhs
7	Unhygienic processing or manufacturing	1 lakh

Closure

The Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006^[1] has made guidelines for Food businesses which are already running or for any person who wish to start a food related business. Therefore, these businesses according to the volume and budget need FSSAI Registration/ license. The large and medium scale food firms need license and small scale business requires basic registration.  The government also has set penalties for the non-compliance of these rules. Also, this has to be renewed regularly.

Read our article:How to Avoid Delay in Getting FSSAI License?